Alyssa Connelly one of five Luther College students awarded $1,000 Karen Julesberg Scholarships for 2026-2027 academic year

Five students of Luther College in Decorah have each been awarded a $1,000 Karen Julesberg Scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year. The scholarship recipients for this year include Alyssa Connelly, Hattie Miller, Yves Muhire, Yasmin Ramadan and Emily Righter.

Alyssa Connelly, a 2025 graduate of Waukon High School from Harpers Ferry, will be entering her sophomore year at Luther this fall. She is majoring in elementary education and plans to be a special education teacher after graduation. Connelly is a student-athlete on the Lady Norse women’s golf team, and her hobbies include diamond art and puzzles. She enjoys her work-study position at Marty’s in the lower level of the Dahl Centennial Union at Luther.

“These scholarship recipients exemplify resilience, determination and commitment to service, community and self,” said Jennifer Hanifl, Ed.D., director of TRIO Student Support Services at Luther. “The selection process was highly competitive. These students demonstrate exceptional perseverance, a deep appreciation for the value of a liberal arts education, and a genuine desire to use their education to create meaningful change in their communities.”

The Karen Julesberg Scholarship benefits first-generation students, income-eligible students and students with disabilities involved in the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at Luther College. TRIO SSS is a federally funded program, and Luther College has sponsored TRIO programs for more than 50 years. The program serves 165 students annually.

While the TRIO SSS program is federally funded, the scholarships are funded by private donations. Karen Julesberg (Luther College Class of 1960) of Madison, WI, has sponsored this scholarship since 2012.