Two Project Friendship mentors receive Premier Bank scholarship

A Carleton College student and a St. Olaf College student who mentor Northfield youth through Project Friendship have each been given a $1,000 scholarship from Premier Bank for their volunteer leadership and service to the community.

Project Friendship, a nonprofit organization that pairs children in grades 2 through 7 with college student mentors from Carleton College and St. Olaf College, was founded in 1964. Today, over 200 college students mentor over 200 youth who meet weekly for one-on-one outings, group activities, and annual events.

Project Friendship’s goal is to foster friendship, confidence and academic success among children and college students, and to create a positive impact in the community.

The scholarship announcement and award ceremony was held Thursday during the Culver’s annual fundraiser that supports Project Friendship by donating a percentage of the sales to the non-profit organization.

The scholarship can be used for tuition, books, or other educational expenses.

Tiffany Wright, Premier Bank operations supervisor, and Abby Meyers, vice president and loan officer, presented the award to Natalia Crimmel, a Biology major and French minor at Carleton College, and Claire Keech, a Kinesiology/Biology and Business Management major at St. Olaf College. Both mentors have been volunteering with Project Friendship since their freshman year of college, and have formed strong bonds with their mentees.

Crimmel became involved in Project Friendship after feeling disconnected and isolated due to the Covid Pandemic and wanted to find meaningful, positive community involvement and connection. Her favorite part of being involved in Project Friendship was to have uninterrupted conversations with her mentee and explore downtown Northfield.

She explained the scholarship would allow her more time to focus on giving back to the community while building relationships with people who are important to her. Besides Project Friendship, Crimmel also volunteers at the Maliheh Free Clinic, a low-cost clinic for uninsured people in her home state of Utah.

Claire Keech joined Project Friendship because of the understanding of just how impactful a one-on-one relationship with a child can be after volunteering as a high school student. Keech and her mentee enjoy a range of activities from sporting events to designing t-shirts. The scholarship validates the time and commitment Keech puts into volunteering, she said.

Holly Schoenbauer, Project Friendship director, said she was grateful to Premier Bank for their generosity and support of our mission to foster friendship and mentorship among children and college students.

“This scholarship not only rewards their community service, but also encourages them to continue their commitment to give back to the community,” she said.

For more information, visit www.projectfriendship.org.