Patricia King Mertes & Frank Mertes

The Patricia King Mertes and Frank Mertes Scholarship is created to encourage and benefit students who are majoring in Health Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences, preference to those majoring in the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program; or if none of the above, then Nursing students. Preference to returning Veterans, Single parents.

Criteria

1. Each recipient must be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time and in good standing at Winona State University. (minimum of 12 credits per semester, Fall and Spring)
2. Each recipient must be a declared Nursing Department and Health Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences major, preference for a student majoring in the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (ERCR) program.
3. Each recipient must be considered a Junior (3yr.) or Senior (4th yr.) status
4. As part of the application process for this scholarship, the student must submit an essay describing the following:
A. Explain your financial need and why this scholarship will make a difference
B. Explain your future goals and career aspirations
5. Final selection of the recipients shall be made by a faculty committee within the Nursing Department and Health Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences Department. This scholarship shall be given to a recipient who meets the selection criteria and the purpose and motivation requirements of this scholarship.

Selection Process and Criteria
The criteria used in selecting a scholarship award recipient will be, in order of importance, the student’s:
1. Academic record (ACT score)
2. Interest in and aptitude for nursing and health sciences
3. A declared intention of becoming a health-care professional and
4. The recipient shall be recognized for this award at an appropriate ceremony hosted during the academic year by the WSU Foundation.

Biography/Motivation

Frank G. Mertes, a Winona native and lifelong resident, knew early on that he was meant to work at J.R. Watkins Company. According to family legend, when Frank was only ten, he took his camera, walked over a mile, photographed the Watkins Administration Building, and said, “Someday, I’m going to work in this building.” Frank did work at Watkins, serving in many capacities stateside and in Australia and Africa. He retired from Watkins as Vice-President.

Patricia King Mertes, the great granddaughter of J.R. Watkins, was adopted by Mariel King, J.R.’s granddaughter, and her husband, Ralph Boalt. Much of Pats youth was spent east at Shipley School. Although Pat traveled extensively, her roots were in Winona.

It was love at first sight when Frank and Patricia met during the summer of 1948. As a good friend said, “When Frank saw Pat, he was struck by lightning”. Within a few years Frank and Pat married; four children followed: Tricia, Buz, Hunter, and Shannon. The Mertes clan has since grown to include seven grandchildren.

When Frank and Pat’s youngest child was just a few years old, Pat suffered debilitating injuries in a car accident. Frank lovingly cared for his wife until her death in 1991. The compassionate care also provided by WSU nursing students impelled Frank to create an endowed scholarship in Pat’s name to the WSU School of Nursing.

Another reason Frank set up a scholarship was that he knew how hard it was to be a spouse, parent, full-time employee, and college student all at the same time. He was not able to attend college full-time and graduate in four years. However, Frank firmly believed in the value of a college education and persevered in getting his business degree from WSU even though it meant taking night classes and juggling work and family obligations.

Today Frank suffers from a series of physical ailments, which are common to many men his age- 81 and counting! Again, WSU students from both Nursing and the Cardio-Rehab program are providing care, which has prompted Frank to include Health Exercise and Rehabilitative Science students in the scholarship.

Frank was and is committed to helping students achieve a college education . . . hence, the Frank G. and Patricia K. Mertes Scholarship.