Virgil Amelia Mourning Linderoth Education Scholarship

The Virgil Amelia Mourning Linderoth Education Scholarship was established with the Winona State University Foundation in September of 2021. This scholarship will benefit and encourage the next generation of educators at Winona State University.

Criteria
• Recipients must be a declared major in WSU’s Teacher Education program.
• Recipients must be enrolled as a fulltime student taking at least 12 credit hours of courses.
• Recipients must be in good standing at WSU with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Recipients must be in financial need as demonstrated through WSU’s Financial Aid Office.

Background and Motivation
Karin Linderoth Reep established this scholarship in memory of her mother, Virgil Amelia Mourning Linderoth. Virgil was born in Cochrane, WI on February 18, 1915. After graduating early from Winona High School at age 16, Virgil attended Winona State Teachers College as a freshman in 1932. Her family lived just off campus on Mark Street, where they were able to watch football games from their home. Virgil earned a teaching degree from St. Cloud State Teachers College in 1958 and then earned a B.S. in teaching from University of Minnesota in 1962. She met and married Karl Linderoth while he was working in the Winona area. The couple made Minneapolis their home.

Virgil held a lifelong passion for learning and always wanted to share that passion with her students. Her teaching career began as a substitute teacher throughout Minneapolis and in 1969 she started teaching 6th grade at Cooper Elementary School. She especially loved teaching math, science, history, music, and art. Virgil was well-liked by her students, parents, and fellow teachers and she was often recognized for her active, engaging, and innovative lessons. Her dedication and effectiveness earned her a nomination for the 1975 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award. She retired from Cooper Elementary in 1982.

Virgil was as a longtime member of her church, served as a Girl Scout troop leader, taught horseback riding, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels, American Cancer Society, and the American Red Cross of Hennepin County. She passed away on July 12, 2009 and is dearly missed by her family and community.