Bush Foundation names 16 Minnesota leaders to its prestigious fellowship program

The winners of the annual Bush fellowship receive up to $100,000 to fund leadership opportunities.

June 13, 2023 at 5:00AM
Bush Foundation 2023 fellows, top to bottom and left to right: Farhia Budul, Willette Anita Capers, Katherine (Katie) Dachtler, Abdirizak Diis, Owen Duckworth, Nadine Tebeh Graves, Omar Guevara Soto, Janssen Hang, Leslie Harper, Henry Jiménez, Hillary Kempenich, Alexander Leonard, Blanca Martinez Gaviña, ​​Julio Murphy Zelaya, Mikisha Nation, Noel Nix, Kim Park Nelson, Tasha Peltier, Shanda Poitra, Rebecca Polston, Neerja Singh, Joseph Williams, Agnes Yellow Bear and Marie Zephier. (Bush Foundation/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Sixteen Minnesotans were awarded prestigious Bush Foundation fellowships on Tuesday, each of whom will receive up to $100,000 to fund leadership opportunities.

The St. Paul-based foundation announced the local winners among 24 Upper Midwest community leaders in its competitive fellowship program. Nearly 600 people applied this year for the fellowship, which helps community leaders further their education and training.

Residents 24 years or older in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations in the three states were eligible to apply.

The Minnesota winners are: Farhia Budul, Abdirizak Diis, Owen Duckworth, Omar Guevara Soto, Alexander Leonard, Blanca Martinez Gaviña, Mikisha Nation and Kim Park Nelson, all of Minneapolis; Nadine Tebeh Graves, New Hope; Janssen Hang, Newport; Leslie Harper, Cass Lake; Henry Jiménez, Richfield; ​​Julio Murphy Zelaya, St. James; Noel Nix, St. Paul; Rebecca Polston, Hopkins; and Neerja Singh, Apple Valley.

The Bush fellows from North Dakota are: Katherine (Katie) Dachtler and Hillary Kempenich, both of Grand Forks; Shanda Poitra, Belcourt; Joseph Williams, Fargo; and Agnes Yellow Bear, New Town.

South Dakota winners include Willette Anita Capers, Sioux Falls; Tasha Peltier, Mobridge; and Marie Zephier, Rapid City.

about the writer

about the writer

Kelly Smith

Reporter

Kelly Smith covers nonprofits/philanthropy for the Minnesota Star Tribune and is based in Minneapolis. Since 2010, she's covered Greater Minnesota on the state/region team, Hennepin County government, west metro suburban government and west metro K-12 education.

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