Rose Stoller Legacy Scholarship

Amount Awarded Annually: $1000

Scholarship Information:

The Rose Stoller Legacy Scholarship was established in 2020 as a tribute to a Bismarck Public School alumna. The scholarship fund was established by family, friends, and co-workers to honor and remember Rose and her lifelong commitment to bettering the lives of others.

Rose Stoller was born in Bismarck and lived there until her death in 2019. She completed all her schooling in Bismarck, attending Richholt Elementary, Simle Junior High and Bismarck High School, graduating in 1976. She went on to attend what was then Mary College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work.

Throughout her life Rose worked at professions meant to serve the needs and improve the lives of others. She was employed as a claims analyst for Social Security Disability, as a counselor/advocate for the developmentally disabled at West Central Human Service Center, as the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in North Dakota and as the Executive Director of the Consensus Council.

Rose received the Mental Health Services Award from the North Dakota Psychiatric Society and the Welcome Back Award from the Eli Lily Company. She was a graduate of the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber Leadership program, was a past Chair of the Bismarck Human Relations Committee, served on the Northern Plains Initiative (NPI) and Marketplace for Kids Boards of Directors along with serving on many governing and policy boards statewide and regionally. Rose was a founding member of the North Dakota Womens Network and served in the Bismarck-Mandan League of Women Voters. In 2020 Rose was posthumously awarded the Walt Odegaard Leadership Award by the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations. This award is given to an individual who has made a difference by strengthening North Dakota and its nonprofit sector through his or her long-term commitment to leadership, volunteerism and philanthropy.

Rose loved life and was devoted to making the world a better place, especially for those who were disadvantaged in any way. At the time of Rose’s death in November 2019, these are some of the memories that best expressed who she was. “Rose was so compassionate and caring.  If she knew someone was stressed or needed help with problem-solving, she would ask how she could help… and meant it.  She had a keen eye for the big picture but never lost perspective of each individual.”  Rose was described as: “A woman who cared deeply for others, worked passionately for the causes she believed in, strived every day to make life better for those around her.”

Throughout her life, Rose was generous with her time, mentoring many individuals, teaching and freely sharing her skills and knowledge. She believed strongly in the benefits of education and would be so pleased that this scholarship will assist others in the pursuit of goals similar to hers, one of the greatest being….

PEACE