Eric Barr Scholarship

The Eric Barr Scholarship is created for students who have a declared major in any WSU’s Liberal Arts program.

Criteria

1. Each recipient must be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time at Winona State University.
2. Each recipient must be classified as a senior and be in good standing (not on academic probation) at Winona State University with a grade point average (g.p.a.) of 2.75 (4.0=A).
3. Each recipient must have declared major in any Winona State University Liberal Arts program.
4. Other qualifications should include, but are not limited to, involvement with the Resident Assistant or Security program, Student Senate, Performing Arts or community service organization.

Biography/Motivation

The Eric S. Barr Scholarship committee is comprised of some of Eric’s closest friends. They, like many others who knew Eric, were touched by his presence in their lives and dedicated their time and resources to raising funds for this scholarship. An auction was held in April of 1996 with donated items as well as many of Eric’s personal belongings, contributed by his family. The auction raised more than $6,000 for the scholarship fund.

The son of Daniel and Carol Mickey Barr, Eric was a graduate of Winona Senior High School and received a bachelor of science-teaching degree from WSU in 1990. While attending Winona State, Eric served on the Student Senate from 1987-88 and Judicial Board 1988-89. He served on the Winona Student-Community Relations Board from 1992-95. He was named to the 1988-89 edition of Who’s Who Among Students at American Colleges and Universities.

In 1990-91, Eric was Student Activities Director at Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan. In 1991, he returned to Winona to be the Chief Hosing officer at St. Teresa Campus Schools, where Lourdes Hall is located, a residence hall for many WSU students. From 1993-95, he was the Resident Director/Conference Coordinator at the WSU Residential College Academic Program based in Lourdes Hall.

Eric was a member of the Upper Midwest Region of the Association of College and University Housing Officers which presented him with their Media and Technology Award in 1994.

Eric had a zest of life that many found infectious. He enjoyed making people laugh, often times by playing good-natured pranks. He had a special way of making others feel at ease because of his genuine interest in them. This scholarship was created as a way to honor his memory and the committee hopes that the recipients will represent Eric’s exuberance for life.