Tyler Koll '22
Coming out of Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minnesota, Tyler Koll ’22 knew he would be self-financing his college education.
And while he very much wanted to attend Saint John’s University, he didn’t know if that would be possible because of the cost.
But the scholarships he was awarded helped alleviate some of those concerns. And the psychology major could not be more grateful.
“I was surprised and impressed,” said Koll, who this coming year will receive the Mahoney Roeder Scholarship, the President’s Scholarship and a Legacy Scholarship – all grants thanks, in part, to donors who are making it possible for students like Koll to attend SJU and the College of Saint Benedict.
“I didn’t think I’d get as much assistance as I did. That really helped make my decision a lot easier.
“Being here has given me the opportunity to get such a well-rounded education. The sense of community you find here is really the first thing I noticed. You have people that come from so many different backgrounds, and each of them has their own story to share.”
Koll is also member of the fire department at SJU. And that is the kind of public service he said he’d like to continue, no matter where his career takes him after graduation.
“As far as careers go, I am looking into working with renewable energy sources and conservation,” said Koll, who is looking into pursuing a career in the criminal justice system such as a police investigator or criminal psychologist.
“Ideally, I would like to have a job that will allow me to continue to be a firefighter. Service is a large part of who I am, and I feel that through firefighting, I can serve my community. Graduate school is also in the picture. Though I am not sure which graduate area of study I will pursue, I hope to attend graduate school so that I can continue to work towards my educational goals.”
But he said none of that would have been possible were it not for the generosity of donors to the SJU scholarship fund.
“I definitely want to say thank you,” he said. “People don’t always get the chance to see the impact they’re making. But students like myself and so many others notice. We wouldn’t be here without them.”