LBSA Awards Two More Education Scholarships

Juggling the demands of work and school can prove to be quite a challenge. Since 2020, Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA) has been helping ease the financial burden of school for its employees who are pursuing educational opportunities at the same time.

The Gary Martin Memorial scholarship is for LBSA staff members who are working on a degree, certificate or certification program while maintaining employment at LBSA. The scholarship honors Gary who was a longtime LBSA resident and is made possible through generous donations from Eugene and Mary Anne Dietz, and Dave and Amy Tonsager.

LBSA is pleased to announce that Teadora Kontos and Zach Petersen are the most recent recipients of this educational award.

Teadora works full time as a direct support professional on LBSA’s Oak Street Campus. She recently finished her first semester at Normandale Community College where she is studying law enforcement. After Normandale, Teadora hopes to continue her studies at a university to pursue a degree in psychology. She says the best part of working at LBSA is the clients she supports. “I just like being able to work with them day to day. They are kind of like family to me.”

Zach has worked as a direct support professional at LBSA for nearly three years. Last year Zach was promoted to Lead Residential Counselor. Throughout his time in school Zach has continued to work 20–25 hours a week at LBSA. He balances his class load to avoid student loans and is grateful for this scholarship award which will help him finish out his degree. Zach is pursuing his master’s degree in counseling and psychotherapy at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and hopes to graduate in 2022.

Congratulations Teadora and Zach, and thank you for continuing to be important contributors to the LBSA team!