For Immediate Release: 35 Years of Spud Scholars

Reaching this 35-year anniversary is a testament to the generosity of our community. ~Janelle Leiseth, Executive Director

The Moorhead Legacy Education Foundation (MLEF) is proud to mark a significant milestone this spring as it celebrates 35 years of the Spud Scholars program. Since its inception in 1991, the
foundation has been a cornerstone of support for Moorhead Area Public Schools ISD152, awarding over $2 million in scholarships to approximately 2,200 graduating seniors to assist in their pursuit of post-secondary education.

This year’s awards ceremony continues a powerful community tradition of "Spuds helping Spuds." In 2024, the foundation reached a major financial goal by building its endowed scholarship funds to $1.52 million. This milestone ensures the perpetuity of the program, allowing the foundation to use interest from these funds to provide annual scholarships ranging from $500 to several thousand dollars to deserving students. “The Spud Scholars program has been awarding scholarships to graduating seniors since 1991, and reaching this 35-year anniversary is a testament to the generosity of our community,” says Janelle Leiseth, Executive Director of MLEF. “Every donation, from our annual Spud Phonathon to individual endowments, helps create a lasting legacy for learning for Moorhead students."

The scholarship awards are funded through individuals who set up endowments, through business and organizational support, and through the annual Spud Phonathon, which is completely driven by student callers. MLEF is awarding 76 individual scholarships to graduating seniors, and 4 Moorhead alumni scholarships later this spring, totaling over $117,000.00 in financial support for post-secondary education. A full list of scholarships is published in an anniversary booklet online:  https://canva.link/q4wms9jdjc47y3y

A full list of this year's Spud Scholars and their respective awards will be published and announced following the MHS Award Ceremony, which will be held on Wednesday, April 29th at 7pm.

About Moorhead Legacy Education Foundation:
The Moorhead Legacy Education Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the educational experiences of all students within the Moorhead Area Public Schools district. Beyond the Spud Scholars program, MLEF supports students and staff through the Food for Thought initiative and Spud Impact grants for innovative programming and classroom projects.