Generosity Creates Opportunity: NTC Foundation Celebrates Scholarship Recipients

October 30, 2026

Opportunity created through generosity was on display as Northwest Technical College and the NTC Foundation celebrated students at their annual scholarship breakfast, October 29 in the NTC Community Commons.

More than 70 people were in attendance as the Foundation recognized 66 recipients of scholarships worth a total of $92,500.

Henoc Preciado, head of staff for NTC's Office of the President and NTC Foundation director, speaks into a microphone.
Henoc Preciado, head of staff in NTC’s Office of the President and director of the NTC Foundation, speaks during the event.

NTC recognized recipients of scholarships sponsored by the Bemidji Career Academies, the Delta Dental Foundation, Fred Breen Endowment, G.W. Neilson Foundation, Mississippi Headwaters Blood Bank Fund, Paul Bunyan Communications, Paul Bunyan Vintage Auto Club and Sanford Health Bemidji, the Tom & Sandy Johanning family and the Uran family.

NTC Foundation president Sue Sutton speaks into a microphone behind a lectern with the "NTC" logo on the front
NTC Foundation Board President Sue Sutton.

Sue Sutton, former NTC faculty member and newly elected president of the NTC Foundation, provided a welcome for the event.

“It’s wonderful to see a room full of community members, family and faculty celebrating the power of education and generosity,” Sutton said. “Each year we get to see how scholarships change lives, allowing students to focus on their studies, care for their families, and prepare for the meaningful careers that strengthen our region.”

Dr. Ketmani Kouanchao, NTC’s executive vice president for academic affairs, said the event showed the college’s students that they had people in their corners.

“These scholarships are more than just a reward; they are a reminder that your hard work matters,” Kouanchao said. “And, you have a community cheering you on.”

NTC Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Ketmani Kouanchao speaks into a microphone behind a lectern with an NTC logo on the front.
NTC Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ketmani Kouanchao

In total, the NTC Foundation has awarded $660,280 in scholarships to NTC students.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

  • Usman Adem, health sciences broad field, Minneapolis, Minn.; Uran Family Scholarship
  • Alexa Adkins, nursing LPN step-in and health sciences broad field, LaPorte, Minn.; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship
  • Shem Bange, nursing, Crystal, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Cassidy Benham, health sciences broad field, Deer River, Minn.; Mississippi Headwaters Blood Bank Scholarship
  • Lilee Bock, nursing LPN step-in and health sciences broad field, Bemidji, Minn.; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship
  • Kepha Bundi, health sciences broad field, Shakopee, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Anthony Boes, nursing, Bemidji, Minn.; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship
  • Kenneth Chiedozie, nursing, Bemidji, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Mari Cobenais, dental assisting, Red Lake, Minn.; Delta Dental Equity & Education Scholarship
  • Erin Crandall; Uran Family Scholarship
  • Reagan Dougherty, health sciences broad field, Bemidji, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Mercy Duo, practical nursing, Plymouth, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Brennan Elting, nursing, Bemidji, Minn.; Sanford Health Bemidji Scholarship
  • Layla Engebretson, dental assisting, Clearbrook, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Lilian Farrington, health sciences broad field, Akeley, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Josie Fortman, cardiac sonography and health sciences broad field, Erskine, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Cierra Fournier, cardiac sonography, Bemidji, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Justin Gill, nursing, Park Rapids, Minn.; NTC General Scholarship
  • Rachel Graham, nursing and health sciences broad field, Superior, Wis.; Uran Family Scholarship
  • Chelsea Guevara, health sciences broad field, Foreston, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Kenly Hallstrom, health sciences broad field, Mizpah, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Amy Haug; health sciences broad field and nursing, Bemidji, Minn.; Sanford Health Bemidji Scholarship
  • Sarah Hindmarsh, medical coding, Pocola, Okla.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Vania Ishimwe; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Christian Jamike, health sciences broad field, Cottage Grove, Minn.; NTC General Scholarship, Tom & Sandy Johanning Compassion Award Scholarship
  • Natali Jarnot; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Josue Jeanty, nursing and health sciences broad field, Park Rapids, Minn.; Uran Family Scholarship
  • Violet Joshua; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Jeffrey Kemp; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship
  • Cierra Kilpela, community health worker, Bemidji, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Eleanor Kordiak, nursing, LaPorte, Minn.; Sanford Health Bemidji Scholarship
  • Reilly Kral; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Victoria Lahr, nursing, St. Cloud, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Janis Lappinga, health sciences broad field, Park Rapids, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Roger Lashua, automotive service & performance, Osage, Minn.; Paul Bunyan Vintage Auto Club Scholarship
  • Noah Lundberg, electrical construction & maintenance, Shevlin, Minn.; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship
  • Madisen Malterud, nursing, Bagley, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Meseret Misrak, nursing, Lakeville, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Keshia Ndikum, nursing, Minneapolis, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Emma Neubeck, nursing LPN step-in, Bemidji, Minn.; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship, NTC General Scholarship
  • Joshua Olorunyemi, health sciences broad field, Bemidji, Minn.; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship, Tom & Sandy Johanning Compassion Award Scholarship
  • Kaylin Olson, nursing, Blackduck, Minn.; Sanford Health Bemidji Scholarship
  • Shane Olson, automotive service & performance, Bemidji, Minn.; Paul Bunyan Vintage Auto Club Scholarship
  • Madison Peterson, medical coding, Bemidji, Minn.; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship
  • Karina Pitzl, cosmetology, Blackduck, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Cassandra Rockers, health sciences broad field, Bemidji, Minn.; Mississippi Headwaters Blood Bank Scholarship
  • Tiana Roy, nursing, Mahnomen, Minn.; Sanford Health Bemidji Scholarship
  • Raven Roybal, health sciences broad field, Cass Lake, Minn.; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship
  • Audrey Schuver, business, Bemidji, Minn.; Bemidji Career Academies Scholarship
  • Claudia Sharipoff, dental assisting, Erskine, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Peyton Skelly, health sciences broad field and nursing, Bemidji, Minn.; Sanford Health Bemidji Scholarship
  • Krista Stout, nursing and health sciences broad field, Minneapolis, Minn.; NTC General Scholarship, Sanford Health Bemidji Scholarship, Tom & Sandy Johanning Compassion Award Scholarship
  • Lyla Stout, dental assisting, Bemidji, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Nataly Stout, nursing, Bagley, Minn.; Paul Bunyan Communications Scholarship
  • Ean Sturm, automotive service & performance, Bemidji, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Hannah Swartzentruber, health sciences broad field, Clearbrook, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Domanick Thompson, electrical construction & maintenance, Leonard, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Sophia Vidal, cosmetology, Thief River Falls, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Chastine Walker, nursing, Bemidji, Minn.; Fred Breen Endowment General Scholarship
  • Elizabeth Wendt, cosmetology, Littlefork, Minn.; G.W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship
  • Sierra Wiegman, nursing LPN step-in and health sciences broad field, Bemidji, Minn.; Mississippi Headwaters Blood Bank Scholarship