Seawolf Opportunities Scholarship Profile: Dusten Voehl

Growing up on a family farm in Wisconsin helped shape Dusten Voehl's strong work ethic. The values he learned from his family's business helped him get a good paying job in the field of construction, where hard work is a necessity.

During the summer of 2007, he was the assistant foreman on the residential construction of an unusually designed home, an earth-sheltered home. "The time spent on the project was rewarding because I was able to see someone's dream fulfilled and be a key part of that process."

Growing up Voehl was amazed with the idea of inventing things. "As a young man, a mechanical engineer's job has always fascinated me as I watched them create machines and production processes to make a better quality of life for civilization," Voehl said.

"When I observed the positive improvement engineers made in our environment through extensive research into the needs of society, it encouraged me in my quest for a higher education," he said. His dream became a reality when Voehl received the news of his acceptance into the UAA School of Engineering.

Voehl applied for the SOS scholarship to help alleviate the need to have a full-time job while going to school. He applied for every scholarship he qualified for. Receiving financial help would give him more time to focus on his studies. Voehl is dedicated to putting himself through school without the use of student loans or asking for help from "mom and dad." "College is a necessary investment for your future, especially in the engineering field," he said.

To Voehl, the scholarship shows that people really do care about the betterment of others' futures. "To know that someone else wants to help someone like me out and that they care about my education really means a lot; I'm very grateful," he said.

Constantly thinking about his future as well as the future of those around him, Voehl has "...observed there is a significant driving force-a force powered by engineers. As a mechanical engineer I know that my contributions to society will further world development."

Voehl has done everything possible to make sure he is on the path to success, but his path also includes helping youth improve their future. In his free time he has volunteered as a "Reading Buddy" at Viroqua Elementary School and also with the youth group at his church. "These volunteer opportunities have opened my eyes to how the youth of great societies mature through the help of encouraging mentors," he said. Voehl is now a junior majoring in mechanical engineering.

The Seawolf Opportunity Scholarship is the result of the generous anonymous $7M gift that UAA received in the spring of 2009. Conditions of the gift stated that the majority of the money was to be used for student scholarships, particularly benefiting women and minorities. The $6M designated for scholarships enabled UAA to establish an endowment to provide needs-based scholarships to students.

This new needs-based scholarship will be awarded incrementally, up to four years, for students working toward an associate's or baccalaureate degree from UAA. This special feature is designed to provide an incentive and reward to students who persist in their studies toward a degree. Recipients of the Seawolf Opportunity Scholarship will receive money for tuition and housing or childcare each year - all very important for student success.

This donation has already had a significant impact on the lives of UAA's students; 50 students have been awarded this special scholarship for the 2009-10 academic year. This is the story of one of our outstanding scholarship recipients.