A new $10,000 endowed scholarship has been established at the Ridgewater College Foundation to support students pursuing careers in law enforcement. The award was created by the Legion of St. Michael Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Lakes Area Chapter in memory of the late Atwater Police Chief Trevor Berger, who passed away in 2022.
The scholarship is funded through proceeds from the annual Schmidt-Berger Memorial Ride, an event organised by the motorcycle club. The ride also commemorates the late Atwater Police Chief Reed Schmidt, ensuring both officers’ legacies continue to benefit future generations of law enforcement students.
Members of Berger’s family formally presented the donation cheque during a ceremony held at the Willmar Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Those in attendance included Berger’s wife, Kate; his sons, Micah and Ryan; and his parents, Marvin and Nancy Berger. They handed the funds over to Ridgewater College President Cheryl Norman and Stephenie Jimenez, interim foundation operations specialist.
Matt Ledeboer, president of the Legion of St. Michael Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Lakes Area Chapter, shared a personal connection to the initiative. He recalled that Berger had given him his first opportunity to serve as a police officer. Ledeboer, who returned to college later in life while balancing family and financial responsibilities, said scholarships played an important role in helping him complete his education and launch his career.
“As a non-traditional student going back to college in my 30s, I had kids, a mortgage and all of the normal responsibilities that don’t stop just because you decide to go back to school,” Ledeboer said. “Scholarships helped me pay for the classes and other things I needed to get through school and start my career.”
The Legion of St. Michael is made up of current and former first responders, military members, and community supporters. The group focuses on charitable fundraising and service projects, with the new scholarship representing one of its efforts to give back to the law enforcement community.
The endowed scholarship will provide ongoing financial support to Ridgewater College students enrolled in law enforcement-related programmes. By creating a permanent fund, the motorcycle club and Berger’s family aim to ease the financial burden for future students while honouring the service and memory of Chief Trevor Berger.
No specific application deadline for the scholarship was announced in the initial release. Interested students are encouraged to contact the Ridgewater College Foundation for details on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and future award cycles.
Announcement Date and When the Scholarship Will Begin
Announcement Date
The scholarship was officially announced and the $10,000 check was presented on Monday, August 10, 2026.
News coverage of the announcement appeared around August 15, 2026.
When the Scholarship Will Begin
This is an endowed scholarship. The $10,000 has been placed into a permanent fund at the Ridgewater College Foundation. The money is invested, and only the earnings (interest/investment returns) will be used to make awards to students.
Because it is newly established:
- It will take some time for the fund to generate enough earnings.
- No exact date for the first student awards has been publicly announced.
- In practice, new endowed scholarships at Ridgewater typically become available for applications in a future award cycle (either the next Fall or Spring scholarship period) once the Foundation adds it to their system.
Students should watch the official Ridgewater College Foundation scholarships page and contact the Foundation office for confirmation on when the Trevor Berger Scholarship will first appear in the application system and when the first awards will be made.
How the Trevor Berger Scholarship at Ridgewater College Works
The Trevor Berger Scholarship (also linked to the Schmidt-Berger Memorial Ride) is a newly established $10,000 endowed scholarship at the Ridgewater College Foundation. Because it is an endowed fund, the money is invested, and the interest or earnings will be used to award scholarships to students in future years. This means the scholarship is designed to provide ongoing support rather than a one-time gift.
Purpose
The scholarship supports future law enforcement students at Ridgewater College. It was created in memory of the late Atwater Police Chief Trevor Berger (who died in 2022) and also honors the late Chief Reed Schmidt.
Who Can Apply
Based on available information:
- Students enrolled (or planning to enroll) at Ridgewater College
- Students pursuing law enforcement-related programs (such as law enforcement, criminal justice, or public safety pathways offered at the college)
- Applicants who meet the college’s general scholarship eligibility requirements
General Eligibility Requirements (Ridgewater College Foundation)
To be considered for most Ridgewater scholarships, including this one once fully set up in the system, students typically need to:
- Be accepted to Ridgewater College
- Have an active StarID
- Plan to enroll in at least 6 credits for the upcoming semester
- Be in good academic standing (usually a minimum 2.0 GPA)
- Not be a PSEO (Post-Secondary Enrollment Option) student for that semester
Specific criteria for the Berger scholarship (such as exact GPA, preference for certain students, or essay requirements) have not yet been publicly detailed beyond the focus on law enforcement students.
How to Apply
Ridgewater College uses a single online scholarship application through the Foundation. One application automatically matches students to all scholarships they qualify for, including newly established ones like this.
- Fall awards: Application usually opens in early spring and closes around June 1
- Spring awards: Application usually opens in September and closes around November 1
Students should watch the official Ridgewater College Foundation scholarships page for the application portal to open and for any specific details added for the Trevor Berger Scholarship.
Award Details
- The $10,000 gift creates a permanent endowment.
- Individual award amounts will depend on the investment earnings each year.
- Awards are intended to help with tuition and educational expenses for law enforcement students.
Recommendation: Interested students should contact the Ridgewater College Foundation directly for the most current information on eligibility, application deadlines, and when the Berger scholarship will first be available for applications. Details may be updated as the fund becomes fully active in the college’s scholarship system.
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