Announcing the Brian K. Lindell Scholarship Fund
Minneapolis College, in partnership with the Minneapolis College Foundation, is honored to announce the creation of the Brian K. Lindell Scholarship Fund. This scholarship fund, created to recognize the legacy of former student leader Brian K. Lindell, will serve to provide scholarship and non-academic financial support to Minneapolis College students enrolled in the Addiction Counseling Program who are in good standing with the College and who maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. Award amounts will be determined on an annual basis.
“Brian contributed a staggering amount of time, talents and energy to our community, during his 2.5-year tenure at Minneapolis College,” said Tara Martinez, Director of Student Life. “The creation of this scholarship, in Brian’s honor, will enable many more students studying to become Addiction Counselors to experience all that our college offers.”
After a successful career in the technology field spanning nearly 20 years, Brian returned to school at Minneapolis College in 2018 to pursue an Associate’s Degree in Addiction Counseling. He graduated from Minneapolis College in the Spring 2020, leaving a strong mark before beginning his journey at Augsburg University last Fall, where he was working toward a bachelor’s degree in Biopsychology, with the goal of completing research in the field.
At the heart of everything Brian was involved in at Minneapolis College was a commitment to helping others succeed. This involvement on campus ran deep, extending far beyond the classroom. Brian played a key role in helping found the Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP), he served as a member of the Minneapolis College Student Senate executive board where he advocated for the needs of the student body and participated in LeadMN, and he tutored his fellow students in the Academic Success Center.
Brian’s impact was felt by everyone at the college including faculty, instructors, administration and his fellow students. “Brian had a way of making people feel comfortable, connected and ultimately empowered through his authentic, inquisitive and collaborative style,” said Addiction Counseling Program Faculty and CRP Coordinator, Jonathan Lofgren. “Brian made a legacy while he was here as a student, a tutor, a person in recovery, and as a servant leader; recovery, education, community and leadership success are possible,” he continued, “Brian's legacy will no doubt include his love of recovery and people in recovery, and his love for the community in which he lived and served.”
The Lindell family hopes that with the inception of this scholarship fund that others will continue to benefit from Brian’s example for generations to come. “As long you have a school there will be students who will be able to apply for this scholarship and go on to help others in Addiction Counseling,” said Carlonna Lindell, Brian’s mother. “It’s never too late to try something new or become something else,” she continued, “it’s never too late to learn to do something you have a passion for. Brian never settled. He always wanted to take things to another level.”
Brian’s legacy will serve as a testament to the transformative power of education, as it is individual students like him who make institutions like Minneapolis College a place for people to feel empowered to not only find themselves, but to find a greater sense of community. “While there is individuality [at Minneapolis College], there is also a sense of connectedness between everybody,” said Brian Lindell, when he was interviewed last September as part of Minneapolis College’s Student Spotlight series. “I hope Minneapolis College will continue to push itself to offer a platform for people to come together.”