This is hereby established with the Minnesota State University, Mankato Foundation, Inc. (the "Foundation"), the Rachel Salomonson Memorial Art Scholarship (the "Fund").
Background
Rachel Salomonson was an art student whose life ended tragically in a car accident. Rachel was a vibrant personality whose passion for art, music, family, and friends was well known. This scholarship is established by her family and friends in loving memory of Rachel.
Procedures
The Foundation and the Minnesota State University's (the "University") College of Arts and Humanities (the "College") shall establish a scholarship entitled the Rachel Salomonson Memorial Art Scholarship.

Any and all contributions designated for this Fund shall be credited to the aforesaid project name. All such contributions shall be administered in the manner set forth herein, and Fund disbursements shall be made in accordance with the provisions specified in this document.
Fund disbursements shall be made in accordance with the Foundation payment procedures that are in existence at the time of payment and shall be used exclusively to support the Rachel Salomonson Memorial Art Scholarship.
The Board of Directors of the Foundation, or its designee, has and shall have full and plenary power and authority to take, hold, manage, invest, and reinvest any principal hereunder, and any increase or accumulation to it, and any income from it, consistent with management policies of the Board of Directors, or its designee.

Uses and Purposes
The Fund is established to support an art scholarship. Preference will be given to a female student. The student will be a sophomore in good standing whose passion is painting/drawing. The scholarship award will be $1,000.
Scholarship funds will be disbursed twice annually: one payment to be made in the fall semester and one payment to be made in the spring semester. The Foundation will seek to follow the disbursement practices and policies of the financial aid office of the University.
The uses and expenditures of this Fund shall be consistent with the University policies. This Fund shall be administered by the chairperson of the Art Department or his/her designee (s).
Any program or project supported hereunder must be consistent with the tax-deductible status of gifts made to the Foundation.

Contact Information: 
Amber Power -'03
Interim Associate Development Officer
College of Arts & Humanities

Minnesota State University, Mankato
126 Alumni Foundation Center
Mankato, MN  56001
Office:  507.389.6180
Cell:  507.327.6700

2016/2017

Jessica Reich is a second year transfer student. She came to us from MCTC in Minneapolis and we are delighted to have her here.

Her work is a dynamic mash-up of process, fantasy imagery and gunky paint. Jess is really into the paint. She is always hanging out in the painting
studio messing around with mediums, brushes, canvas and varous goopy mediums. She actually has a pair of pants that are so covered with paint that I believe they would stand on their own. Jess is a dedicated painter, interested in the history and craft of paint.

Her future plans are to graduate, go out into the world and get more experience as a artist the return to get her MFA. Eventually she would like to teach painting at the University level.

2015/2016

Britta Sturm is a great drawer and an extremely hardworking print maker. She consistently takes her assignments above and beyond course requirements projects. Britta has a local GPA of 3.74 and an overall. She is focused on her future and will be opportunities this summer. summer. Britta regularly
exhibitions at the 410 and MSU, and she selected for the Carnegie Juried Show last March.Britta is currently the Secretary of Works on Paper, but undoubtedly take over as the president in the Fall. She done a great job bringing new energy into 'he club, and pursuing an ambitious amount of programming like the recent live auction / live printing fundraiser in early March. While her work is always technically strong the cusp of a breakthrough conceptually the positive re-enforcement of a scholarship her confidence and help her grow at this stage in the program.

2014/2015

Ashton Bird

Ashton is a ceramics and printmaking studio major that graduates next fall. His pursuits have led towards installation art, which he plans on majoring in after his undergraduate program is completed. A new degree is being offered at MNSU, which he will be one of the first students pioneering the new degree program as a graduate student.

2013/2014

Megan Moriarty is a  really high achieving female senior. This year she applied to participate in our University Research Symposium and her application was accepted. She will present her research here on campus and she was also selected to present at a larger conference in LaCrosse in April. We’re all very proud of her. "Megan is a sculpture major who has been conducting research in the sculptural potential of acrylic gel medium.  She has found that the gel can be manipulated and dried to produce a wide variety of forms and effects, and it can be made to be either opaque or transparent, allowing some of her forms to be lit from within. The Undergraduate Research Creative Foundation supported her research with two grants last year, and she received an Outstanding Presentation Award at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at MSU in April. Her research, and the intriguing sculptures that it has produced, were responsible for an invitation to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, last month. Congratulations, Megan, on your excellent achievements and best wishes for your continued success."

First year student Christina Timm is pursuing a double concentration in drawing and graphic design.  In my Art 110: Drawing Foundations course, I was immediately impressed with Christina’s enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to try new materials and approaches.  I would often find her working in the classroom long after class ended, and her solutions to assignments were among the most successful I’ve seen in a foundation-level course.  Christina has proven equally impressive in Drawing 210.  Her cheerful demeanor and quiet, persistent commitment to art-making elevates the level of the class as a whole.   She researches ideas and materials in a manner that I normally expect only of 300 and 400 level students.  Every once in a while I forget that this is only her first year in our department!
In addition to her achievements at MSU, Christina is actively involved in a number of other activities.  She is a published poet and recently received an award of High Merit in a poetry competition.  She enjoys working with children and will spend her summer working as a teacher’s assistant as part of the West Metro Education Program. And she volunteers at the Hennipen County Champlin Library during the summer.  All this while making the deans’ list.
I can’t wait to see what Christina accomplishes next.  Please join me in congratulating Christina Timm on her receipt of the 2011 Rachel Salomonson Memorial Scholarship.

Marla Bonner is a drawing major who is currently completing her freshman year.  The energy and enthusiasm she displays towards her work make her a standout.  She approaches each new challenge with ambition, diligence, and a positive attitude.   Marla’s work in my 210 drawing course is consistently among the most challenging and innovative.  During the spring semester, she has completed an array of successful works in a variety of media.   Her drawings and paintings exemplify a keen sense of composition and color as well as an amazing attention to detail.  Her excitement about her work is contagious—she elevates the dialogue in class critiques and discussions, and is a delight to converse with. In turn, I am delighted to present Marla Bonner as the recipient of the Rachel Salomonson Memorial Art Scholarship. 

Liz Miller  - Assistant Professor--Drawing/Foundations Minnesota State University, Department of Art

Amy Magnuson received the Rachel Salomonson Memorial Art Scholarship at Minnesota State University Mankato:

Amy is an art student who will be a sophomore next year, and her emphasis is in painting. She is also a student athlete who serves as a member of the track team, competing as a pole-vaulter. 

Amy approaches her painting with vitality and energy.  Professor Brian Frink states "Amy is in my beginning painting class.  After two weeks into the semester she mentioned that she had been also working on paintings in her dorm room.  She asked if I would mind critiquing them.  I told her to bring them in thinking that she might bring in one or two. Well, she brought in seven finished works that she had done in those two weeks.  Throughout the rest of the semester, Amy continued to create works at a remarkable pace."

This story is typical of Amy¹s hard work, discipline, dedication and exceptional commitment to painting.  It is with pleasure that we have selected Amy to receive the Rachel Salomonson Memorial Art Scholarship for her excellent achievements in art.

Melissa Seifert of Pelican Rapids, MN is the first recipient of the Rachel Salomonson Memorial Art Scholarship. She is completing her freshman year at Minnesota State University-Mankato and is majoring in art with a concentration in drawing and painting. She was nominated for the scholarship by Liz Miller, the faculty member who was also Rachel’s drawing instructor. The final selection was made by a committee of faculty members from the Art Department and the award will be available for fall of 2006.

The accompanying photographs are of Melissa and James Johnson, chairman of the Art Department.

As Rachel’s parents, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Jane Early, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, James Johnson, Chairman Department of Art, Vickie Apel, Director of Development, Minnesota State University Mankato Foundation who facilitated the creation and awarding of this scholarship.

These individuals demonstrated the greatest sensitivity and understanding of our situation as they worked with us to establish the scholarship. Their concern for our Rachel, a student lost, was impressive and we were equally impressed with their concern for current and future students.

We would also like to thank the PepsiCo Foundation, who matched the scholarship fund, allowing art scholarships to be awarded for the next 8 years.

Denny is employed by Quaker Oats which is a PepsiCo company and Minnesota State University qualified for matching funds.

We live in sorrow over the loss or our daughter but we have been blessed and are thankful for all of the people in our lives who keep her memory alive and pass her giving, artistic spirit along to others.

On behalf of the Salomonson Nesheim family, we would like to extend our most heartfelt appreciation for your donations.  Your contribution will be put toward the purchase and planting of trees, the purchase of park benches and two additional years of scholarships for the Rachel Salomonson Memorial Art Scholarship at Minnesota State University-Mankato. 

The trees and benches will provide a lasting and living gift that will form a canopy over the Reflection Walkway and further enhance Central Park in Grayslake, IL. The trees and benches will be marked with bronze markers noting the generous donations made by PepsiCo QTG Sales and Category Management employees in memory of Rachel M. Salomonson. 

Thank you again for your kind and generous donation.