Little Brown Jug Scholarship
Believe it or not, the Little Brown Jug has significance in places other than the football field (although ultimately that is the most important place!). For over twenty years, our club has awarded the Little Brown Jug scholarship to a U-M student (from Minnesota) entering his/her sophomore year. Although the scholarship is not large (usually $1,000-$1,500), it is always appreciated and put to good use. This is a just a small part of the $40K+ it costs a Minnesota student to attend the university for one year.
Your help is appreciated, necessary and tax deductible! In some cases, your employer may even match it! To make a difference in to a fellow wolverine’s life, please use the University’s Online Giving System. It will guide you through the process of donating to our scholarship fund.
Jonathan Hobbs (B.A. ’93)
I was the inaugural recipient of the Little Brown Jug Scholarship Award in 1990. It was awarded to an incoming sophomore who demonstrated academic excellence and meaningful involvement in the University community. The award’s purpose was, and is, to assist with tuition and/or general costs of living. I used that fund for books and general living expenses, and it was very helpful!
I appreciated the award and the broader support of the alumni community during my years at Michigan so much that I became actively involved with the U-M Club of the Twin Cities after I graduated and returned to the Twin Cities. In fact, when the Michigan football team retains the Little Brown Jug (every year!) in its annual game against Minnesota, I think about the award and how nice it was to receive that kind of support from Michigan alumni in the Twin Cities.
As I reflect on the award, I also think of how important it is for alumni to continue to contribute to the fund, because out-of-state tuition for a year at Michigan in LS&A when I graduated in 1993 was $10,880. Today, according to U.S. News and World Report (America’s Best Colleges 2005), tuition is $26,854 (out-of-state). That is before estimated room and board fees of nearly $7,000. As a result, Twin Cities U-M alumni need to continue contributing to the scholarship fund to enable the award to grow at the same pace.
But I can tell everyone, from first-hand knowledge, that the scholarship is extremely helpful to, and appreciated by, its recipients. Go Blue!
Richie Jain ’04
I would really like to thank the University of Michigan Club of the Twin Cities for awarding me the Little Brown Jug scholarship after my freshman year at Michigan . I really appreciate all the work the members of the club put in, and it really makes you realize the power of the Michigan Alumni network. Before even leaving St. Paul for my first year at Michigan , it was amazing to be welcomed to a gathering to meet other students going from the Twin Cities, alumni and upper-level students.
Considering how high tuition is at the University of Michigan for an out-of-state student, and that it is still rising every semester, every little bit helps and my family really appreciated the contribution I received from the Little Brown Jug scholarship. When you are acknowledged for doing good work, it drives you to work even harder and to achieve higher standards. I am graduating at the end of this year in December as an electrical engineer, and would like to thank the University of Michigan Club of the Twin Cities for their contribution in helping me graduate.
Aaron Bindman – 2010 Scholarship Winner
Boy, where to start? Receiving a scholarship is the best thing to happen to a guy like me, or anybody else, I suppose. First, we have rapidly increasing out of state tuition and rapidly increasing book costs. There are scary living expenses and extra furniture/posters/lava lamps to make my room look cool. And then, the really awesome stuff I am doing this year. I play intramural football, I am biological research assistant, and sometimes I attend a class or two. This spring, I am going with the men’s glee club on a southwest tour traveling from Texas and ending in the country of Cuba. How lucky am I to be one of the first UM groups to spread our “Go Blue Cheer” to this not so distant but hardly traveled country? I am able to thank all of you for making all of this that much easier.
I want to thank all of you for showing me that even when you are many miles away from Michigan, you can still show your dedication both to your school and home state by simply helping out those who wish to have similar college experiences to your own and also who grew up close by.
Lindsey MacDonald – 2007 Scholarship Winner
I am currently working for the University at the Outdoor Adventures program, which facilitates outdoor excursions for University students and community members. In August I am going to Hawaii for four months to do a sea turtle project, where I will be backpacking to remote beaches to do monitoring, tagging, and research. At the end of last semester I finished a thesis on the potential for agriculture on extensive green roofs. What a great learning experience. I also just returned from Mexico, where I took a short spring course in which students compared the food system in Mexico and the United States. This was very eye opening, especially being able to work with experts in the field. I have had a plethora of wonderful experiences at the University of Michigan!!!
Anyway, I hope the picnic is a great success. Again, I wish I could be there! Thanks again for awarding me the Little Brown Jug Scholarship. I really appreciate it.
Ben Glaze – 2006 Scholarship Winner
Thanks to the Little Brown Jug Scholarship the rapidly increasing cost of books and tuition, especially for out of state students, was made more reasonable. I personally used the scholarship money to cover what turned out to be about 90% of the cost of books for two semesters. This cost savings allowed me to afford a three week study abroad program in Germany this summer that I have just returned from. I learned a great deal about international business, especially in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe. In fact, I believe a possible career goal for me is to work for a Private Equity firm that specializes in restructuring business by locating manufacturing plants in the quickly developing Eastern European countries! Thanks again and I look forward to seeing everyone at this years BarBQ!
Lindsey MacDonald – 2005 Scholarship Winner
I continue to love my experience at the University of Michigan. Both my classes and extra-curricular activities are contributing to my overall experience. I’m staying very busy and engaged in exciting coursework and extra-curricular opportunities.
I just recently declared a Program in the Environment (PitE) concentration. This major covers both environmental science and environmental studies. I am interested in biology too, so I am planning to minor in biology and get a Bachelor of Science degree. I am sure that I want to focus my future career on protecting the environment. I have a passion for the outdoors that I would like to instill in others. Getting a degree at the University of Michigan will start my journey in that direction.
I have just applied to the UM Biological Station, where I plan to take a course on Ecology, this spring. The Biological Station is in northern Michigan. It is in an undeveloped area, so the courses utilize the land for fieldwork. Students stay in little cabins that have a very rustic feel. I was up there this past weekend for their annual cross-country ski weekend, where I skied a lot, ate a ton of good food, and enjoyed socializing with alumni and professors. I can’t wait to study up there.
The University is currently supporting a theme semester on evolution. There have been some great speakers on the topic. I like to take advantage of the abundance of great speakers. I have started a notebook of “Ideas to Change the World” that I have picked up from speakers.
I was just last Thursday (2/2/06) elected to the PitE Student Government. I will be representing my peers in making decisions about the program. For example, student government has done things from changing pre-requisite courses to buying green plants for the commons area of the environmental building. I look forward to making a difference with that group.
I am an officer for Enact environmental group, where I have been working on campaigns to have the new Children’s Hospital built in a green way and to get double sided printing as the default setting on campus. First semester, we spent some time raising awareness on the toxins Dow Chemical is releasing into a Michigan river, raising awareness about recycling in Ann Arbor, and making and selling notebooks made of recycled material.
I am also an officer for U-M Nordic Ski Club. We have gone on a couple trips up to northern Michigan to find the snow. I’m training to ski the 50 kilometer Birkebeiner Ski Race in Hayward WI, which is in a few weeks. Part of my training comes from the fitness workouts I have been doing at seven in the morning with my soccer team.
My soccer team had ups and downs this fall. For the most part, we didn’t perform to our potential. However, we did beat the number one ranked team in the nation. I got my first career start in that game, which was an incredible experience. It was a close game that kept the fans on their feet. We ended up winning in a shootout. We got lights for the soccer field this year, so the attendance and atmosphere at games was excellent. We had over 2,000 fans for many of our games, which was the second highest attendance in Big Ten Women’s Soccer. I continue to step back and really appreciate this University and all that it has to offer.
I feel privileged to be attending the University of Michigan. I thank you for your generous scholarship.