Teri and Chuck Schott: Gift to Future Students Allows Son's Memory to Live On at Augsburg

Donor Photo

Teri Schott, Alexandra Stoiaken '13 and Chuck Schott after the 2011 brunch for scholarship donors and recipients

"Nathan Schott's life is an inspiration to me and I'm humbled and honored to receive a scholarship in his name, a scholarship that is about future possibilities, not past liabilities. By receiving this scholarship I will always endeavor to make Nathan and his family proud." These are the words of Alexandra Stoiaken, Augsburg class of 2013 and recipient of the inaugural Nathan R. Schott Scholarship.

Nathan Schott came to Augsburg as a first-year student in September 2009. His time at Augsburg was short, but significant. He touched lives of faculty, staff, and students like Alexandra. He had a unique ability to make connections within the Augsburg community.

Nathan was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the age of 6. He passed away at the end of his first year of college. Yet, Nathan continues to make a difference in the lives of Auggies, present and future.

Teri and Chuck Schott, Nathan's parents, established the Nathan R. Schott Scholarship to honor his memory and to give other students, like their son Nathan, educational opportunity in a supportive community. Today, the scholarship provides support for students, like Nathan, who participate in the CLASS (Center for Learning and Adaptive Student Services) and Access Center programs. CLASS serves the needs of students with cognitive and attentional disabilities, and the Access Center provides services for students with physical disabilities.

"Augsburg was the right place for Nathan," Nathan's dad Chuck said. "He had a feeling of belonging, and this was a place where he could participate and contribute to the makeup of the community." Teri Schott, Nathan's mom adds, "The scholarship is a chance to see that the spirit of Nathan continues. It means he's still a part of this place."

Alexandra is a junior majoring in sociology. She and Nathan competed against each other in high school adaptive sports, including softball, floor hockey and soccer. Like Nathan, she is an avid Twins fan and was also at the first Twins game at Target Field. Like Nathan, Alex, who manages life with cerebral palsy, "will never allow my disease to define me. Nathan always had a ready smile for me when we passed in the halls and a pleasant hello. There was real joy in his life and he shared it easily. Like Nathan, I will live life to its fullest, finding inspiration wherever I can."

If you would like to know more about creative ways for you to make an Augsburg education accessible to other young people, contact Amy Alkire at 612-330-1188 or alkirea@augsburg.edu.

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