Rita Zbylicki Sullivan Scholarship

Rita Zbylicki born and raised in Winona, Minnesota, was the oldest of five brothers and sisters to Walter and Anne Zbylicki. Rita’s mother died when Rita was in high school, and because she was the oldest, she had many home responsibilities in taking care of her younger siblings while attending high school in Winona.

Upon graduation from Cathedral High, Winona, Rita was employed as the office worker for the former National Youth Administration (NYA) regional office in Winona. Rita oversaw the job training programs for young people including clerical skills training, domestic skills, machinist tool and die, and sheet metal work.

Rita’s job responsibilities included the building and equipment maintenance, and when she was asked if she would help arrange a sale of the site by a local manufacturer, she told him her first duty was to NYA. Impressed by her loyalty, Rita was hired by the same manufacturer to be the office manager for his foundry. This experience led to her appointment as the executive secretary to the District Manager of Shell Oil’s bulk plant in Winona. With a Shell Oil career spanning thirty years, Rita was promoted to jobs in the St Paul, Milwaukee, and Winona offices.When asked to transfer for yet another promotion to Shell’s world headquarters in Houston, Texas, Rita politely declined because of her love of the Midwest and in particular, the Winona community.

Her love of music led her to become an active board member to the Winona Music Guild. Her adventurous side led her to be one of the first women fliers and members of the local Civil Air Patrol. Because of her love of community and as an advocate for others, especially children, health care, and her Polish heritage, Rita gave back to the Winona community through her leadership activities in Beta Sigma Phi for career women, Shriner‘s Auxiliary, Harvest House, Polish Heritage Society and the Winona Historical Society, St. Anne’s Extended Healthcare, and Winona Health Auxiliary where she logged over 13,000 volunteer hours.

Considering it important for youth in the greater Winona community to financially afford to attain their education goals, Rita’s final act in giving back to her community was to establish a lasting legacy with the Rita Zbylicki Sullivan Music Scholarship. Her caring spirit for others looks upon those who are the recipients.

Scholarship contacts are John Sullivan (husband of Rita) and Mary Zbylicki (sister of Rita).