Janet and Jim Boettcher Memorial Scholarship

Funded by
user profile avatar
Zachary Boettcher
$6,000
2 winners, $3,000 each
Awarded
Application Deadline
Apr 1, 2025
Winners Announced
May 22, 2025
Education Level
High School
1
Contribution
Eligibility Requirements
Field of Study:
Civil service
Education Level:
High school senior

Civil service careers offer individuals the unique opportunity to contribute to their communities and make a lasting impact on society. These careers span a wide range of fields, from government roles that shape policies and provide essential public services to emergency responders who save lives and protect communities. Whether serving as firefighters, EMTs, police officers, Coast Guard members, or working in public administration, civil service professionals play a vital role in the well-being and safety of others.

This scholarship seeks to honor the lives of Janet and Jim Boettcher by supporting students nationwide who are passionate about pursuing careers in civil service. Janet and Jim dedicated their lives to public service. Janet served as City Clerk and managed the Becker Food Shelf for over 30 years, while Jim worked in City Water and Maintenance and served over 30 years as a volunteer firefighter and Becker Fire Department Chief. Together they leave a legacy of dedication and care.

Any high school student in the U.S. who is interested in a civil service career such as but not limited to local government, firefighting, emergency medical services (EMT/EMS), first response, law enforcement, the Coast Guard, and other public service roles is eligible to apply. Special consideration will be given to those applicants from Becker High School in Minnesota.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published November 10, 2024
Essay Topic

How do you hope to make a meaningful impact on others through your future career in civil service? Describe the specific role you aspire to pursue—whether in government, emergency response, public safety, or another civil service field—and explain how your work will contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities. What inspired you to choose this path, and what difference do you hope to make?

400–600 words

Winning Applications

Maria Moore
Becker Senior HighBecker, MN
LANDON Gales
Becker Senior HighBecker, MN
My name is Landon Gales, I hope I can make an impact on my community by being a sheriff's deputy at my local sheriff’s office. I want to do this to help others when they need it most. I am hoping to become a drone operator as part of the swat team. I also hope I can help as much as I can to show the public that law enforcement is not all about arresting people but helping people educate themselves about laws and keeping people safe. I chose this career path because I have an uncle who’s in law enforcement and I have always looked up to him, I also used to pretend I was a police officer when I was a little kid, I used to have a cozy cope police car that’s I used to pretend to patrol the sidewalks with, I have always gone out of my way to help people my entire life. I also have always enjoyed helping others even when there is no benefit for me. When I was younger I also used to think I saw a superhero every time I saw a person in uniform. I have worked at the Shepherd of Grace assisted living in Becker MN and I have loved every second of it. Another reason I chose this career path is because one thing you get to do is help veterans that are struggling and I want to help them as much as I can because they have put more on the line than I could as well as a lot of others. Another thing is I am excited to be able to help people who are unable to help themselves as well as keep people safe. I hope to also help other people understand that they do not need to be scared of law enforcement and that we are here for them for anything. I am hoping to continue the generations of my family in law enforcement my great-grandfather and uncle have both been in law enforcement. I am looking forward to becoming close to the other officers that I work with as well as the community. And becoming one of the officers that I used to see as a kid and helping them want to also become a police officer. I am very motivated to become a police officer for a lot of reasons and there is just a few

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Apr 1, 2025. Winners will be announced on May 22, 2025.