Scholarships

Our Summer Employees Earn Scholarships

Rod Tjaden Memorial Golf Tournament
When Rod Tjaden, the former president of TRMF, was not ambling along the boardwalks of Medora greeting visitors, he could most often be found on a golf course.  It is fitting, then, that a golf tournament started in his memory now provides much of the income for the Tjaden Scholarship Fund.  Each June, on Father's Day weekend, the Rod Tjaden Memorial Golf Tournament, held at Bully Pulpit Golf Course, draws golfers from across the region and the country to play this spectacular Badlands golf course and to contribute to the Tjaden Scholarship Endowment Fund.  Each year, the tournament, which has become one of the premier charity golf events in the state, generates about $30,000 for the Fund. Earnings from the permanent endowment fund provide scholarships to outstanding Medora summer employees who are continuing their college education. A four-person team entry fee is $1,000, of which $500 qualifies for a charitable gift deduction.

Here's more information on the various scholarship programs for Medora summer employees. For employment opportunities in Medora, which can lead to scholarships, contact Stephanie Tinjum, Personnel Manager, stepht@medora.com

Tjaden Educational Assistance Awards
Each year, up to twenty-five Tjaden Educational Assistance Awards of $1000 each are awarded to Medora seasonal employees who have demonstrated outstanding work qualities, leadership, and good character. 

The Tjaden Scholarship Endowment Fund was established in 1997 to honor the lives and impact of Rod and Sandy Tjaden on Historic Medora, an association with Medora that stretched out more than 30 years.  Rod served as Director of Medora Operations for the Gold Seal Company and was the first Executive Director and President of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. Recipients of these scholarships for the summer of 2009 are:

• Jaclyn Bauer-Carpio, ND; Meghan Benson-Auburn, WA; Lance Fulton-Beach, ND; ^Kristen Haas-Bismarck, ND ; Laura Heide-Dickinson, ND ; Natalie Huebner-West Jefferson, OH; Alyssa Jackson-Chaseburg, WI; Mary Jo Krile-Forest River, ND; Nicholas LeTang-Mandan, ND; Jenny Marboe-Dickinson, ND; Chimednyam Purev-Ochir-Mongolia; Kayla Sell-Knox, ND; Abby Solberg-Plentywood, MT; *Julie Stoen-Valley City, ND; ^Drew Turner-Glendive, MT

^Denotes Tim Johnson Award-additional $500 award

*Denotes Winston Satran Award-additional $500 award

Hubbard Scholarship
Two students attending the University of North Dakota will be presented with a $1,500 Don Hubbard Educational Assistance Award.

The Hubbard Scholarship is an annually funded scholarship awarded to two students attending the University of North Dakota.  This year, two scholarships were awarded in the amount of $1,500 each.  Joanne Hubbard funded this scholarship in recognition of her husband, Don, who was able to attend college because of Harold Schafer's generosity.  After completing college, Don went on to become a Brigadier General in the Air Force and a pilot for Delta Airlines.  Recipients of these scholarships for the summer of 2009 are: 

• Elizabeth Coash-Fargo, ND
• Tyler Maasjo-Valley City, ND

Minot State University Board of Regents
Up to four $1500 scholarships are awarded to employees who attend Minot State University. 

The Minot State University Board of Regents, the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, and Minot State University collaborate to sponsor this scholarship.  The MSU Board of Regents will fund up to four $1,500 scholarships per year to TRMF, and TRMF will award these scholarships exclusively to MSU students working in Medora.  The board members will voluntarily make these contributions for a minimum of five years. 

• The 2009 scholarship is Sarah Meduna, Plaza, ND

Sheila Schafer "Sunshine Award"
A $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student worker who is a true "daymaker" -someone who enriches the lives of co-workers and guests through a positive attitude, energy in their work, and genuine kindness.

This $1,000 scholarship is given in honor of Sheila Schafer and funded by Madge Rieke.  The winner of this scholarship is a student worker who is a true "day-maker" - someone who enriches the lives of co-workers and guests through a positive attitude, energy in their work, and genuine kindness. 

• The recipient of this award in 2009 is Steven Hurst-Brooten, MN