Established on 12.23.2020 by Debra C. Ruehlman '76
When I entered Concordia in 1972, I was able to attend because of scholarships, grants and loans. And work. I had quite a few jobs to help support my college education. But it was tough. As a theatre major, I had to schedule around productions, and that was hard… juggling late night rehearsals and work…oh, and academics too!
I sewed dresses for choir and orchestra students (cutting out fabric in the dorm hallway!) …
I worked in the French Department (my other major) …
I did some TV, radio and modeling work when I could…
I babysat for professors…
I was a cocktail waitress…
And what else? I don’t even remember.
But I did it and graduated magna cum laude in four years with two majors and two minors. It can be done! After the loans were paid off, I started “refilling” that scholarship, by making small financial gifts as I could, to Concordia.
My Concordia foundation served me well, as I took my theatre major into the world of television, working at stations in Fargo, ND, and Sacramento, CA, an advertising agency, and finally retiring from Procter & Gamble, where I produced TV commercials and other videos all around the world.
Now, it’s time to share my success with someone else, by establishing a permanent endowed scholarship fund. I would like this scholarship to be used to make life easier for another theatre student, who like me, may be juggling work, academics, and those late-night rehearsal and crew sessions.
I believe in theatre and how it can enrich the lives of all of us, and I am committed to making this possible, one student at a time.
The Debra Chisolm Ruehlman ’76 Family Endowed Theatre Scholarship is awarded by the Office of Financial Aid to one or more students of any class majoring or minoring in theatre arts.