Barbara & Dr. Robert DuFresne Music Education Scholarship

In 2013, the Barbara and Dr. Robert DuFresne Music Education Scholarship was established in the Winona State University Foundation as an annual/endowed scholarship. The scholarship will benefit students who are majoring in Music Education aspiring to be a Music Education Teacher.

Criteria

Each recipient must be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time and in good standing at Winona State University (minimum of 12 credits per semester)
Each recipient must be a declared Music Education major
Each recipient must be a Junior, Senior or 5th year student at the time of the award
Each recipient must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0

Biography/Motivation

Robert DuFresne is a native Minnesotan, having been born and raised in Brainerd. He received his undergraduate degree from St. Cloud State University, a master’s degree from the University of Colorado and his doctorate from the University of North Dakota. He taught in public schools before joining the faculty of Mankato State University in 1959. He then spent three years as head of the Education Division at Kearney State College in Nebraska prior to coming to Winona State University as its president in 1967.
Dr. DuFresne served as president for ten years, resigning in 1978 to return to teaching. In that same year he was designated a Distinguished Service professor by the State University Board. In 1990, Dr. DuFresne retired as president emeritus and continues to observe the political scene, play golf with friends and travel to warm places.

Barbara DuFresne received her bachelor’s and master of music degrees from the University of Maryland, where she was subsequently on the faculty in the Music Department. She later received her master of arts in library science from the University of Minnesota and has worked in public and academic libraries in Maryland, Ohio and Minnesota, including 11 years as director of the Winona Public Library. Loving both libraries and music, she later taught music at Saint Mary’s University and for 13 years at Winona State University. After retirement, Barbara remains active in the local music scene, directs the Winona International Dancers, and if there is any energy left, plays tennis.

After long affiliations with WSU both Robert and Barbara look upon that past association with affection, watch the continuing development of the university with delight, and look forward to assisting students in some small way toward their futures.