Scholars — Ciresi Walburn Foundation

Ciresi Walburn Scholars

Our college scholarship program supports black men with financial aid, mentoring, and career experiences.

Scholars are selected annually from two Twin Cities schools, the University of St. Thomas and Augsburg University. Over the course of the two year program—which is administered by The Minnesota Private College Fund—scholars participate in a 12-week leadership class, a trip to a national leadership conference, paid summer internships, a writing course, and networking sessions with African American business leaders.

Cohort 4 CW Scholars (2021-2023)

Abdirisaq Abdi

Business Management,
Augsburg University

Abdulahi Ahmed

Management Information Systems, Augsburg Univ.

Edric Waindim

Armani Coleman

Computer Science, University of St. Thomas

Mathematics, University of St. Thomas

Isaiah Allen

Leadership/Management,
University of St. Thomas

Shaquille Young

Social Work
Augsburg University

James Woods

Business Administration,
Augsburg University

Sharmarke Omar

Finance & Management,
Augsburg University

Kaiyre Lewis

Elementary Education, Augsburg University

Sam Adewoye

Biology,
University of St. Thomas

Siyad Hussein

Business Operations,
University of St. Thomas

Suleyman Jafer

Mechanical Engineering,
University of St. Thomas

Trenton Washington

Communications,
Augsburg University

Varney Conneh II

Environmental Studies/Exercise Science,
Augsburg University

Ciresi Walburn Scholars Cohort 4 (above);
Scholars on a cohort-building trip to Washington DC, February 2022 (below)

Cohort 3 CW Scholars (2020-2022)

Cohort 2 CW Scholars (2019-2021)

Cohort 1 CW Scholars (2018-2020)

Program Manager & Facilitators

Abdul Omari

AMO Enterprise

“Young college students are faced with numerous barriers on a given day. Success requires a level of personal commitment and hard work coupled with external support. This program requires the first from scholars and assists with the second.”

Carolyn Jones

Minnesota Private College Fund

““Talking to the Ciresi Walburn Scholars, they all attest to the incredible impact of this support. Along with critical scholarship dollars, they’re gaining so much from the chance to build their leadership skills and plan for their futures. I can’t wait to see what they do next.”

Jamil Lott

Creative Kuponya

“The incredible team combined with the phenomenal talent and brilliance of the Ciresi Walburn College Scholars has allowed us to cultivate a communal culture of healthy wholesome success.”