Detroit Lakes Dollars for Scholars

09/11/2026

And just like that, we’re already wrapping up Week 2 at DLHS! 📚

Senior parents, how are you doing? Those “last firsts” of high school hit a little differently. ❤️ Now that everyone’s had a chance to settle into the school year, we’d love to look back at those first-day moments. Drop your senior’s first-day or one of their senior pics in the comments!

And to our Detroit Lakes Dollars for Scholars recipients from last spring who are starting college, beginning training or taking their next step, we’re thinking of you and cheering you on! 🎓 Alumni, tell us where you landed and what’s next for you!

Here’s to a great year ahead for all of our students, families and alumni!

05/22/2026

What a fun recap! 👏 Well done & Happy Graduation Day! 🎓

This video celebrates the Class of 2026!

05/19/2026

05/06/2026

A little snippet from Monday night. ☺️

05/05/2026

Thank you to all of the scholarship sponsors, parents, family, friends, and students who joined us for our Awards Ceremony last night. What an incredible evening celebrating this year’s recipients! 🎓

While we work on pulling together a full photo album to share later this week, we wanted to start by recognizing two very special students.

A big congratulations to our 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 & 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 recipients, 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 and 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠. What an amazing accomplishment and so well deserved. 👏

In total, 𝟗𝟗 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝟐𝟐𝟐 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 $𝟒𝟏𝟕,𝟓𝟎𝟖 this year. An incredible reflection of the generosity and support behind this program.

Here’s a little more about the Robert & June Paulson Scholarship Fund:

Robert H. Paulson was born in 1918 in Detroit Lakes, MN. His wife, June, was also born in 1918. The idea for a scholarship fund began when Bob was graduating from Detroit Lakes High School. Although he experienced the advantages of living in town, he recognized that many rural students did not have the same opportunity to continue their education.

Inspired by his mother’s commitment to community and education, Bob put himself through college at Bowling Green University in Ohio and went on to spend his career teaching in rural high schools. He and June also renovated homes and operated a small antique shop. The couple had no children of their own.

Later in life, the Paulsons spent winters in Arizona, where they expanded their antique business and started a mortgage financing venture to help fellow seasonal residents purchase homes. Through these efforts, they achieved financial security and were able to bring Bob’s long-held vision of a scholarship fund to life.

In 1994, they established the Robert & June Paulson Scholarship Fund to support Detroit Lakes High School graduates. This annually renewable scholarship provides meaningful financial assistance for continued education. The fund is managed by the Minneapolis Foundation, with Detroit Lakes Dollars for Scholars facilitating the local awards.

Robert and June Paulson both passed away in 2004, within three months of each other, after more than 50 years of marriage.

Because of their generosity, Detroit Lakes students will continue to benefit from their vision for years to come. 🤗

05/04/2026

Tonight’s the night 🎓

Join us at 6:30 as we celebrate our scholarship recipients and recognize the donors who make these opportunities possible.

It’s always a special evening, and all are welcome to attend and share in the celebration.

05/03/2026

Here's a peek @ the numbers for our event tomorrow night! 👇

We're so excited to celebrate with all of our recipients & want to extend a huge THANK YOU to all of the sponsors for making these scholarships possible.

See you tomorrow at 6:30 pm to celebrate our recipients! 🎓

04/28/2026

Just a reminder 📢 Our Scholarship Ceremony is less than 1 week away!

We’re looking forward to a special night celebrating our scholarship recipients and thanking the generous donors who make it all happen.

The community is invited to join us in celebrating this amazing group of graduating seniors!

More details here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1J3xbvNr6y/

02/25/2026

📢 DLHS Seniors!

Have you submitted your Detroit Lakes Dollars for Scholars application yet?!

This is your chance to apply for local scholarships that can help support your education and future goals. One online application connects you to both local and national opportunities.

🗓 Applications are open thru March 11
🔗 Apply here: https://public.dollarsforscholars.org/index.php?action=userLogin

We are so grateful for the sponsors who make these scholarships possible and so excited to see where the Class of 2026 is headed next. Let’s go, Lakers! ⛵

01/27/2026

📚✨ A new semester is underway in Detroit Lakes
& it’s a great reminder of how much community support matters.

Detroit Lakes Dollars for Scholars scholarships are made possible by people who care deeply about this community- local businesses, families, and individuals who want to invest in students, or honor the legacy of someone they love.

As we prepare for scholarship applications opening this February, we want to pause and say thank you. Thank you to our current donors for your continued support, and thank you to the volunteers who help guide this work with care year after year.

If supporting students in our community is something you’ve ever considered—now or down the road—we’re always happy to connect. Together, we’re helping create opportunities that last well beyond this semester. 💙🎓