by Dennis Dalman
When the late Michael Hazen founded St. Joseph Dollars for Scholars back in 1996, little did he know then just how downright generational the organization would become.
In the early years, Hazen’s wife Stephanie and sons, Jon and Brad, served as volunteers, often participating in phone-a-thons to raise money for Dollars for Scholars.
Sadly, Michael Hazen died in 2014 at age 67, but the organization he founded continued under the helm of Doug Danielson and his wife, Carol. Danielson was vice president of Sentry Bank until his retirement.
In 2020, Jon Hazen was happy to become president of DFS to help continue its legacy of support for local students’ education. Jon’s mother, Stephanie, is also still involved with the organization, as she always has been. She is a DFS board member and its secretary. She is also a St. Joseph Lions Club member, one of the many Lions who has supported the organization since its beginning – members like Fran Court and Joe Bechtold, to name just two.
Currently, four of the five DFS board members are Lions members. Besides Stephanie Hazen, the board is comprised of Margie Evans, Rena Miller, Roxanne Urbashich and Tina Hazen, Jon’s wife. Jon, incidentally, just recently joined the Lions Club.
Other St. Joseph service organizations and groups, such as the Jaycees, the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph Firefighters (to name just some) have contributed to DFS throughout the years.
In the past 29 years since its founding, 760 students have been awarded Dollars for Scholars scholarships – a staggering total of $231,000. None of it would have been possible without the passionate support of local individuals, businesses and organizations. They are committed to lend a financial boost to students pursuing careers at two- and four-year colleges and universities, trade schools and community colleges.
In an interview with the Newsleaders, Jon Hazen explained how Dollars for Scholars works and how proud he is of his family’s long-time commitment to it. Jon is operations/project supervisor for a third-party logistics company, Granterian 3PL Solutions. He is also a long-time high-school diving coach and serves on the St. Joseph Planning Commission. Father Michael was and remains a lifelong inspiration.
“He and my mother taught us boys that hard work pays off,” Jon said. “Our work for Dollars for Scholars is a passion, and I can’t say enough about that passion that comes from my father who started it. Each year, one of the scholarships we give is in honor of Michael Hazen.”
Michael and Stephanie moved to St. Joseph from Racine, Wis. more than 50 years ago. He worked in pharmaceutical sales, then later became a part-time school teacher working in many area schools. Stephanie was a computer-science teacher at Rasmussen College and did a lot of computer-training sessions on and off campus.
In 2001, Jon graduated with a degree in community psychology from St. Cloud State University. About 10 years ago, after his father’s death, he returned to St. Joseph to help his mother downsize her home and then decided to move back to the city with his wife and first son. They now have four children: Niko, 10; Wes, 8; Cal, 5; Helena, 3.
Brother Brad Hazen graduated from St. John’s University with a nursing degree in 1990.
How DFS works
The St. Joseph Dollars for Scholars is a chapter of the nationwide DFS program, which has many organizations in so many cities.
Hazen explained how the organization works.
Dollars for Scholars is a scholarship program for students from St. Joseph who are about to enter post-secondary studies or who are already studying in colleges, universities, community college or trade schools.
Every year DFS sends donation-request letters to many organizations, businesses, agencies and others. Those who donate can, if they wish, have their names or business/organization names connected to the scholarship(s) for which they donate. In addition, donors can specify what type of student they would like the scholarship to be given. For example, this year the “Sisters of St. Benedict” organization donated, earmarking their gift to go to a “first-generation college student.”
Every year, schools far and wide are also notified by DFS about its scholarship program and how students can apply. Applicants must be living in or have a strong connection to St. Joseph. This year the application deadline is April 11.
Those students can apply for a scholarship at https://stjosepharea.dollarsforscholars.org/ Donations can also be made on that website.
To donate funds to DFS, call Jon Hazen at 320-761-1705 or email him at hajo33@msn.com.
Scholarship amounts
When DFS first began, each scholarship amount was $250. Since then, that amount has increased to $500, then to $1,000 and more recently to its current $1,500 per scholarship.
This year for the 2025-26 school year, 15 scholarships will be given, each $1,500. There were also 15 given last year from among 41 applicants.
A panel of anonymous judges reviews the submitted applications and decides which students will receive scholarships.
The scholarship grantees are then notified by the end of April, and DFS members, including Jon Hazen, present scholarship certificates to the honorees in their schools during scholarship presentation ceremonies.
The scholarship checks are sent to each student’s school.
Stephanie Hazen said the DFS program helps traditional and non-traditional students.
“We have provided numerous scholarships to high school seniors and continuing college students, reinforcing our commitment to lifelong learning and educational opportunity,” Hazen said. “Our goal is to empower students with the financial support they need to achieve their academic and professional aspirations while strengthening the future of our community.”
Stephanie Hazen with her two sons – Jon (left) and Brad.
The late Michael Hazen, founder of the St. Joseph Dollars for Scholars, with his wife, Stephanie, who is still very active with the scholarship program.
