MINNESOTA ADMINISTRATORS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • About
    • Join/Membership
    • Board
    • Committees
    • MNSELF Foundation
    • Stenswick/Benson Scholarship
    • Staff
    • Strategic Plan
    • Mission/Bylaws
    • Local Lodging
  • Awards
    • MASE Distinguished Service Award
    • MASE Legacy Award
    • MASE New Special Education Leader
    • MASE Special Education Administrator of the Year
  • Calendar
  • News
  • Legislative
  • Resources
    • New! Online Toolbox: MASE Members’ Best Practices Collection of COVID-19 Resources
    • Slice of Collaboration
    • 2021 Board Nominations
    • Spring Conference Handouts
    • Best Practices Conference Handouts
    • Fall Conference Handouts
    • Higher Ed Program Resources
    • Member Directory
    • Model Contracts
  • New Leader Cohort
  • Business Partnerships

2021 Stenswick/Benson Scholarship Program

Applications due April 5, 2021


The Stenswick Benson Scholarship Award Program began in February of 1991 through MASE (Minnesota Administrators for Special Education).  Its purpose is to recognize the legacy of the many leaders within Special Education represented by Ellsworth Stenswick and Loren Benson through a scholarship award to an individual completing exemplary graduate study in the field of special education.
 
Funds have been raised primarily through our new raffle, silent auction, and our wine tasting donations every other year during the Special Education Directors' Fall Conference.  We started with $4500 in 1991 and this year our endowment is over $250,000.00.  You are all amazing!
 
We will maintain our current practice of requesting that you identify scholarship candidates during 2020.  Please distribute the application to highly qualified individuals you know are pursuing graduate special education studies.  MASE, at the recommendation of the Scholarship Committee will offer four (4) $2,000 awards this spring.  We encourage you as Directors of Special Education to recommend a candidate you think deserving of this award. 
 
Candidates must be in a private or public Minnesota graduate program leading to special education licensure.  This includes psychology, and any related services as well as teacher licensure.  It could also include someone entering the program to obtain Special Education Director licensure.  (Note:  Students attending non-Minnesota schools will also be eligible if the school the individual is attending is located geographically close to Minnesota).  Strong consideration will be given to candidates working to obtain licenses in highest areas of need across Minnesota; regional needs will also be considered when they are different.

  1. Download the writable application form, which includes an overview of the award and all submission instructions.
  2. Candidates: Complete their section of the application.
  3. Special Education Directors recommending each candidate:  Submit the final (completed) application to Shannon Erickson by April 5, 2021.
  4. Applications may be delivered electronically.

Please have the candidate complete their section; the Special Education Director will be responsible to submit the final document for consideration to Shannon Erickson by April 5, 2021.  If you have questions, contact Shannon via email at serickson@fergusotters.org or by phone at 218-998-0935.

Shannon Erickson
MASE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Fergus Falls Area Special Education Cooperative
518 Friberg Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Or submit electronically to:  serickson@fergusotters.org


History
The MASE Stenswick/Benson Scholarship Program awards scholarships annually to graduate students completing exemplary study in the field of special education leadership. The program began in 1991. It recognizes the legacy of leaders within special education as represented by Ellsworth Stenswick from Bloomington and Loren Benson from Hopkins, both considered special education pioneers. These fine colleagues and their families wanted to make a lasting contribution to our field.


Funds have been raised primarily through an auction now held every other year during the Special Education Directors' Fall Conference.  We started with $4500 in 1991 and this year (2019) our endowment is over $250,000.00.  You are all amazing!



Scholarship Recipients
2020

• Patrick Archibald, Southwest/West Central Service Coop, pursuing a Director’s License at Southwest Minnesota State University
• Regina Magedanz, Rocori Public Schools, working toward a Director’s License at St. Cloud State University
• Shelly Theis, Hutchinson Public Schools, pursuing a Director’s License at Minnesota State University
• Eric Fergen, St. Paul River's Edge Academy, working toward a Director’s License at the University of Minnesota


2019
• Krista McElligott, South Washington County Schools, Director License, St. Mary’s University

• Erin Nelson, Edina Public Schools, Director License, St. Mary’s University

• Tiffany Kanz, Edina Public Schools, Director’ License, Minnesota State University, Mankato

• Larry Syverson, Rocori Public Schools, Director License, St. Cloud State University

2018
• Craig Horejsi, SW Metro Intermediate District 288, O & M certification, University of Northern Colorado
• Martha Smithson, Brainerd, Director License, St. Cloud State
• Abby Lyon, Benton Sterns Ed District, Director License, St. Cloud State
• Heather Fugate, Red Lake, ASD License, Bemidji State


2017
• Zandra Bail-Lalonde, Northern Lights Special Education Coop - University of North Dakota
• Meagan Blake, Moorhead Public Schools - MSUM Moorhead
• Candace Burckhardt, Indigo Education - Bethel University
• Sonni Sellner,  St. Francis Schools - St. Cloud State University


2016
• Melissa Hanson- SCSU
• Dana Maney- U of M Twin Cities
• Leslie Sagan- MSU Moorhead
• Amy Zanotti, Moorhead,
- MSU Moorhead

2015
• Amber Haluska-SCSU
• Emily Cooley-Dobbins- St. Thomas
• Jackie Mergner- MSU
• Brett Kosidowski- Concordia

2014
• Michele Mogen-UMN
• Susan Bartling-UMN
• Amber Messner- St. Marys
• Tanya Tacker-SCSU

2013
• Kristen Hillesheim
• Laurie Hume
• Deanna Lawrence

2012
Sarah Brown
Jackie Budden
Christine Tangen
Wendy Tuominen

2011
Jill Krautkremer- Hamline
Erin Dohrmann- SCSU
Keely Swartzer- MSU
Susan Currens- SCSU

2010
Robin Grooters- MSU
Jamie Nord- SCSU
Ruth Paisley- Hamline
Heidi Springborg- USM

2009
Sherry Colter-SCSU
Mary Kelly-  Hamline
Gretchen Priebe- St. Mary's
Ellen Voigt-SCSU

2008
Lana Talberg
Donna Miller
Sandra Fladeland
Erin Home

2007
Brenda Ackerson- MSU
Irvin Andrews- St. Mary's
Chad Erichsrud- St. Mary's
Lowell Haagenson- SCSU
Guadalupe Isola- Hamline
Allison Kral- Bethel
Nicole Lucas- St. Thomas
Diane McCarron- SCSU
Tonee Thiegs- St. Mary's
Kimberly Welsh-
Mary Zak- St. Thomas

2006
Brent Brunetta, Grand Rapids

Nancy Kutzman - Centennial Schools
Karrie Ingebretsen- Crow River Sped
Amy VandenBerg- Burnsville Schools
Monica Lewis- Benton-Steams
Nicolas Falde- White Bear Lake Schools

2005
Pat Bergstrorn- SCSU
Suzanne Busacker- SCSU
Carol Hokanson- MSU

2004
Corinne Graham- MSU
Pat Dourna-SCSU

2003
Cecilia Dodge-SCSU
Ann Goldage- MSU
Carly Gordy- MSU
Laura Pingry-Kile-  MSU

2002
Rick Bishop- MSU
Julie Karlson- MSU
Christina Lain-SCSU
Jeannine Matthies, SCSU
Kara Williams- SW State
Angela Sutherland- MSU

2001
Howard Armstrong- SCSU
Reggie Engebritson- SCSU
Carol Svingen-  MSU
Kathy Hedin- MSU

2000
Deb Pearson-Winona
Colleen Farley-Winona

1999
Lisa Dernbouski- MSU

1998
Arny Ziegler- SCSU
Dorothy Thornas- SCSU
Lisa Wiederholt- SCSU

1997
No Recipients

1996
Wendy Manson

1995
Michelle McNeamey

1994
Hilda Caples
Picture




​1884 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108

members@mnasa.org 651-645-6272