» Giving
The Karen Gruhn Scholarship, honoring a mother's dedication to service and supporting first-generation students in art and criminology.
Northwest alumna Gina Gruhn recently created the Karen Gruhn Scholarship to honor her mother, a true inspiration when it came to serving others.
Gina, a 1993 Northwest graduate and a new member of the Northwest Foundation Board, gifted $28,000 with her husband, Randy Hurley, to establish this scholarship. It's specifically for first-generation students from Iowa or Missouri who are majoring in art or criminology.
"Northwest is in my blood and I’m so proud to be a Bearcat," Gina shared.
Her mom, Karen, always emphasized the importance of education and a strong work ethic. "She was my biggest cheerleader. She saw the value of a four-year degree," Gina said, recalling how Karen, who didn't get to go to college herself, worked hard to ensure her children did.
Karen was also incredibly artistic, creating beautiful paintings and enjoying sewing and refinishing furniture. This is why Gina chose to include art majors for the scholarship, believing "the world needs more beautiful things," and wanting to support an area that doesn't always receive a lot of scholarship funding.
Beyond her artistic talents, Karen was a trailblazer! She was among the first women to graduate from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and served with the Iowa Capitol Police. "She saw a career, and she saw a way to make an impact and serve her community," Gina noted.
Just like her mom, Gina has dedicated time to volunteer work and leadership roles in her community and at Northwest. She hopes the Karen Gruhn Scholarship encourages recipients to get involved on campus and become community leaders after graduation.
Gina wants other alumni to know that setting up a scholarship is easy and a great way to give back and honor loved ones. "Northwest represents all that she stood for – high-quality, affordable education and supporting students and the local communities in which they live."
To make a gift to support Northwest and its programs, contact the Northwest Foundation at 660.562.1248 or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/GiveOnline.
