Dorothy Purtzer Scholarship

The Dorothy Purtzer Scholarship is created for students majoring in the WSU’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Criteria

1. Each recipient must be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time (minimum 12 credit hours) at Winona State University.
2. Each recipient must be classified as a junior and be in good standing at Winona State University.
3. Each recipient must be a declared major in Winona State University’s nursing and health sciences program.
4. Other qualifications include: A) The student must demonstrate high financial need; B) the student must demonstrate caring and concern for others through significant humanitarian efforts, and; C) if two or more candidates meet the above-mentioned criteria, the following criteria will be used to select the scholarship recipient: a) a student from a community of 5,000 residents or fewer; b) a student who was active in 4-H, and; c) a student who was active in scouting (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or Explorers).

Biography/Motivation

Dorothy B. Purtzer devoted her life to care and concern for others, through both her professional and volunteer activities. A native of Hebron, Nebraska, she was a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a major in Hospital Dietetics. She completed her internship in professional dietetics at Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, institutions.
She was a therapeutic staff dietitian at Weld County Hospital in Creeley, Colorado, and then was head therapeutic dietitian at both the University of Oregon Hospital in Portland and at Up-State Medical Center in Syracuse, New York.
After moving to Winona with her husband, Wayne R. Purtzer, a Winona State University professor, she worked part-time for 15 years as a dietitian at Community Memorial Hospital and then at the Winona Clinic.
She was a member of Make Today Count, Order of Eastern Star, YWCA, River Trails Girl Scouts, Winona County 4-H Advisory Board, American Cancer Society, Winona Hospice Coalition, the American Dietetic Association, and Central United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Purtzer passed away on June 25, 1990. This scholarship fund is established in her memory by her husband, their son, Ray A. Purtzer, their daughter, Jill, family and friends of the Purtzer family.