Tiny Minnesota town gives $108,000 to its graduating seniors
23 Jun 2025
Community, News, Education, Awards and Recognition
Swanville, Minnesota, spends the entire year raising money to reward its high school graduates with scholarships.
Every year on the evening of commencement, the Swanville school board hosts a picnic for its high school graduates and their families.
"This is our gift to them,” Chris Kircher said as he flips burgers on a gas grill.
A bigger gift awaits.
By the end of the evening, 21 of the school’s 24 graduates will be taking home scholarships given to them by their community.
Watch or read the full feature from Boyd Huppert's Land of 10,000 Lakes at KARE 11 here.
More Topics
In Swanville, it's all about the sauce
Jun 21 2025📆 The 62nd annual #MidsummerCarnival in #SwanvilleMN takes place June 27-29! 🎡Barbecue sauce.In Swanville, some might say it’s the Eighth Wonder of the World.For three days in June, about 4,000 people stand in line during the three days of Swanville’s Mid-Summer Carnival for the Lions Club’s world-famous chicken dinner.But it’s...
Conservation Officer Andrew Struffert embodies a unique profession that sits at the intersection of law enforcement, environmental stewardship and public education. His journey from a sheriff's deputy with 16 years of criminal investigation experience to a dedicated Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officer tells a story of passion, commitment and...
Looking for creative opportunities for youth this summer? Join us this summer at Great River Arts for a variety of youth programs! Programs include Youth Art Camp, Youth Theater Camp, and Art Exploration. To learn more about these programs or to register stop by GRA at 122 1st St. SE,...