The Tecla R. Karpen Scholarship

A lifelong resident of Hastings, Minnesota, Tecla was well educated. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from St. Cloud State University and went on to teach speech and theater at Minnesota State University at Mankato.

Nature was Tecla’s muse. A skilled artist, she painted scenes of local lakes and rivers, often writing poetry that derived from nature to correlate with her paintings. 

Tecla had dreams for the local land: She envisioned the entire length of the Mississippi River restored and protected as a natural preserve, tirelessly promoting an understanding and appreciation of the environment.

In 2003, Tecla organized a local conservation group called Hastings Environmental Protectors. After her passing in 2017 at the age of 90, funds from Hastings Environmental Protectors were used to establish an annual scholarship in her name. The scholarship is awarded to one Hastings High School student each year. We’re honored to be keeping Tecla’s memory alive with this program.

An elderly woman with gray hair and glasses standing outdoors in a wooded area, holding a sign that reads 'Dakota Preserved Natural Area' with a map outline of North Dakota.

Candidate qualifications

Scholarship recipients demonstrate an interest in the environment and intentions to enter an environmental field. Here’s what we’re looking for:

  • A candidate that would like to learn about the environment in higher education, with degree options including majors such as environmental biology, environmental studies, environmental policy.

  • A candidate that is interested in long-term sustainability for the Earth. Areas of interest might include regenerative agriculture, ecosystem restoration, or renewable energy.

  • A candidate who has intentions to enter an environmental field. This broad field spans a range of occupations. Some possibilities include hydrology, climatology, wildlife biology, environmental engineering, GIS, natural resources management, or environmental law.

  • We are looking for a candidate with proven soft skills key to addressing complex, large-scale environmental problems. These skills include teamwork, problem-solving, creativity, adaptability, dependability, and positivity.

Interested in the Tecla R. Karpen scholarship?

The application process opens in November each year. Ask about the Local Scholarship Program at the Hastings High School Career Center!

Past recipients

  • A young man stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking a cityscape with mountains in the distance, wearing outdoor gear and a backpack.

    Sawyer Tjomsland

    Now a sophomore at Arizona State University, Sawyer is earning a BS in Sustainability. In the summer of 2026, he will be taking a class in the Okavango Delta in Botswana as a part of the Sustainability, Wildlife and Conservation project, where he will conduct field research, learn about how social, economic and environmental issues are intertwined, and study how government, nonprofits, universities and local people are collaborating in support of sustainable development.