Established on 02.26.2026 by Mary and William Niehaus
Mary Niehaus was born and raised in International Falls, Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Physical Science Education with a minor in Chemistry from Concordia College in 1988. After graduating, Mary made her home in the Fargo-Moorhead area, where she built a career in food science and technology.
Mary began her professional journey at American Crystal Sugar Company, where she spent 12 years as a Food Technology Assistant. In this role, she contributed to product development and quality control projects that optimized customer satisfaction and processing efficiencies. She then served as a Food Scientist at North Dakota State University for 20 years, applying her expertise to research and education. Most recently, Mary worked as a Food Technologist at the Northern Crops Institute for four years, advancing food innovation and supporting regional agriculture.
It was during her time at American Crystal Sugar Company that Mary met William Niehaus, who was employed there as the agricultural Official Trial Manager. The two married and have since raised two children together.
Mary and William are deeply engaged in the Fargo-Moorhead community. They actively volunteer at their church and local food pantries, and they are passionate about deepening their understanding of serving people on the margins of society.
Grateful for the scholarship support they each received during their own academic journeys, Mary and William are committed to giving back. Through scholarships at their alma maters, they hope to support future generations of students in pursuing their goals. They aspire for scholarship recipients to thrive, follow their passions, and make meaningful contributions to their own communities wherever life takes them.