J. Scott Sanders, M.D., Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Trereyonna Harris
May 27, 2025
MANKATO (May 27, 2025) — The Mankato Clinic Foundation awarded the $2,000 J. Scott Sanders, M.D., Memorial Scholarship to Trereyonna Harris, Mankato East High School graduate, to attend Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter.
The scholarship honors J. Scott Sanders, M.D., Mankato Clinic physician, pulmonologist and critical care specialist, who died of cancer in May 2006. Mankato Clinic Foundation developed the scholarship for high school seniors.
Dr. Sanders’ character was renowned in all aspects of his life which resulted in a lifelong impact on others. To apply for the scholarship, applicants write about a time when their character or someone else’s character made a difference in their life or the lives of others and what they learned from this experience.
“Every year when we read these thoughtful essays, our scholarship committee is inspired by the young people in our community. We are moved by their experiences and depth of character,” says Barb Sanders, widow of Dr. J. Scott Sanders.
“We chose Trereyonna for her determination to succeed in school, her passion for education, and her motivation to overcome difficult circumstances,” Barb Sanders adds.
In her essay, Harris shared that her mom’s struggles shaped her journey to succeed in school. She wrote: Every assignment, every test, was a chance to show that her mistakes didn’t have to define my future too. I kept pushing myself, drawing strength from her struggles rather than letting them drag me down too. Making even the smallest of achievements put the biggest smile on my mother’s face, and that ultimately propelled my urge for academic excellence.
Harris, of Mankato, will compete on the college track and field team and prepare for a career as a forensic scientist. “I want to make a big impact in criminal justice – to provide justice to people that have not gotten it in the past. I want to give people a voice who do not have one.”
To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must be a high school senior and reside within the Mankato Clinic service area of Mankato, North Mankato, St. Peter, Lake Crystal, Mapleton and nearby communities. For more information, visit www.mankatoclinic.com/foundation-pages/mankato-clinic-foundation.
About Mankato Clinic Foundation
A small, dedicated group of physicians started the Mankato Clinic Foundation in 1965, making it one of the oldest foundations in Minnesota. In the last 10 years, the foundation has given more than $2 million to fund local programs, scholarships and organizations that improve people’s health and wellness. The foundation receives the majority of its funding from Mankato Clinic physicians, along with giving by Mankato Clinic staff and the greater Mankato community.