Who would know if GFW High School is preparing graduates for college better than some recent graduates? We checked in with class of 2024 alumni Catherine Stoll and Ryan Magnusson with a few questions about how GFW prepared them, their experience with the scholarship program and what they want the folks back home to know.
Catherine Stoll - MSU Mankato - Social Studies Education
GFW prepared me extremely well for college, in both educational and realistic ways. They offered college credits, which helped take some of the workload off my shoulders when I was looking at the long four years ahead of me and also provided each student with a huge amount of scholarship opportunities for all career/college paths. GFW staff also did not hesitate to write a letter of recommendation, proofread essays, or give ideas on how to better scholarship applications!
The Dollars for Scholars program is such a great resource for all GFW students. They provide a scholarship to everyone who completes the application! Yes, the applications will look extremely daunting, but the reward is SO worth the hard work that goes into it. Another great resource to use is the scholarship tab on the GFW Schools website, it is all neatly organized in one place, and can be easily accessed by students and parents.
College is SO fun! Meeting new people, joining clubs and intramurals, choosing a career path, finding a new job, and so so so many more things are going to happen during the first few months of college, enjoy it! I have enjoyed my time at MSU Mankato so much, and am so excited to continue my journey there. Put yourself out there and take advantage of what you’re paying for!
Ryan Magnusson - Jacksonville University - Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics
As a student at GFW, I had the opportunity to work closely with the teachers and build relationships. They encouraged me to be my best self and work hard. One class I truly enjoyed was the personal finance class.I also took the option to do PSEO my junior and senior year. This gave me the confidence I needed when looking for the right college for my next few years.
GFW has an amazing scholarship program! The school created a list for you of local scholarships and if you put the effort into the scholarships, you will reap the benefits. Throughout high school, note your community service hours, your activities and also your involvement outside of school. Look at all areas of your community, from your banks, to the co-ops, to the Dollars for Scholars program. Make a calendar and stay focused. The scholarships I obtained from dollars for scholars and other local options provided me the opportunity to focus on my studies and acclimate to the opportunities at my college.
The GFW community created a great base for all of us! Reach out to those that surround you in college and put yourself out there and try new things. There are many opportunities and a support system at your college if you look for them.