Meet the 2016 Twin Cities Linden Scholarship winners

Contessa Boorman hopes to graduate from the Carlson School of Management in just two years with a degree in International Business and a double minor in French and Spanish–that after taking college level courses while still in high school.

Contessa says the accelerated timeline will allow her to finish with minimal debt and move on quickly to graduate school in law or business.

Her dream is to travel the world, working for the United Nations and advocating for women’s rights.

Contessa graduated from Woodbury High School with a 3.86 GPA, while taking challenging classes. She also served as a board member on the National Honor Society, was captain of the Speech team and participated in Girl Scouts. If that isn’t impressive enough–she did it while holding down a job and an internship.

The $3000 scholarship is particularly helpful, Contessa says, after her mother was diagnosed with advanced cancer. Her illness meant Contessa needed to work during school and pay for her own college education.

Congratulations on your scholarship, Contessa!

Daniel Cocchiarella plans to go to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and major in business, with the goal of becoming an officer in the United States Air Force after graduation.

Cocchiarella was a celebrated Cadet in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC), while a student at Park High School in Cottage Grove. He plans to enter ROTC training in college and eventually serve his country.

In addition to his AFJROTC duties, he has an exceptional school record with a GPA of 3.5 and many awards for academic excellence. He was an active Boy Scout and a volunteer for The Minnesota National Guard as well.

This hardworking young man also held down a variety of jobs outside of school and his other activities.

Congratulations, Daniel on winning a $3000 scholarship to St. Thomas!

Mikayla Hildenbrandt is headed to the University of Northwestern St. Paul in Roseville, Minnesota in the fall with her $3000 scholarship.

She has a lifelong passion for helping others and sharing the light of Christ and Mikayla hopes to find a job she loves, possibly as an event planning.

A graduate of Stillwater High School with an impressive 3.5 GPA, she’s a gifted musician who played principle clarinet in band and also served as a clarinet tutor.

Mikayla has volunteered for many organizations. She participated in week-long mission trips to places like the Quad Cities, Washington D.C and Canada. She volunteered for years with her church and as a Salvation Army Bell ringer and Toy Shop helper. Mikalya also served as a senior officer in the Stillwater High School band, organizing fundraisers.

This busy young woman succeeded in school while working as a bank teller and a soda fountain manager at camp.

Congratulations on your scholarship, Mikayla!

Tracey Magooba will be attending the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota with a $3,000 scholarship from The Salvation Army.

She plans to major in either Business or Communications, with plans to land a job where she has a sense of purpose and knows she is helping people to make a change.

This eager and successful student graduated from Henry Sibley High School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota with a GPA of 3.6. While there she challenged herself with advanced classes, and served as editor of the student journal.

Tracy was an active member of Upward Bound and a Link Crew Leader, which is an organization that welcomes 9th graders and helps them transition to high school.  She also volunteers many hours at places like Feed My Starving Children, Second Harvest Heartland and the Eagan Community Center.

She managed all of that, even after leaving her family home and living on her own during her senior year of high school.

Congratulations, Tracy on your scholarship and continued success!

Dustyn Montgomery will be using the $3,000 scholarship at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul this fall, where he will be studying exercise science.

After college, Dustyn plans to also pursue a master’s degree in the same subject, with the hopes of becoming a strength coach for a college or professional sports team. He’s also passionate about working with youth to teach them about exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

Dustyn graduated from Tartan High School with a GPA of 3.5. While there, he challenged himself with accelerated classes and played varsity football. He also participated in a variety of extracurricular activities like Youth in Government, Minnesota Youth Council and Relay for Life.

In spite of growing up with many financial challenges, Dustyn volunteered for more than 250 hours during high school. Dustyn gave his time to Tubman Women’s Shelter, Students Today Leaders Forever, senior citizen groups and as a mentor to elementary school students. He credits his mother with encouraging that volunteer spirit, she taught him that others had even tougher challenges and needed his help.

In addition to all of that, Dustyn also held down several jobs at a variety of places throughout high school.

Congratulations on your scholarship!

Abaynhe Worku is no stranger to success, after all, he graduated from Como Park High School with an impressive 4.03 GPA.

He plans to use his $3,000 scholarship at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he will study biochemistry. After college, Abaynhe wants to go to medical school and become a doctor.

As a student in high school, Abaynhe took difficult classes, making the A honor roll with distinction every year and earning other academic honors.He also was a star member of the soccer and track and field teams, as well as a student leader at Como High School.

Outside of school, Abaynhe volunteered for a variety of organizations, including his church and at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

This exceptional student achieved all of this while also learning English as a second language, after his family moved to the United States.

Congratulations on your scholarship, Abaynhe!