Thompson receives Gerald F. Brun Memorial Scholarship

By Michael Barrett

Freelance Writer

            At the Regular Red Lake Tribal Council Meeting of September 9, 2003, the first recipient of the newly established Gerald F. Brun Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Kimberly Thompson.

            “Whereas Gerald F. Brun served the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians with dignity and honor, first as the Red Lake District Representative and later as Tribal Chairman,” Chairman King read the Resolution in Memoriam. “Whereas, Chairman Brun displayed and lived the virtues of compassion, generosity, humility, respect for others and true public service; now therefore be it resolved that the Red Lake Tribal Council hereby extends the appreciation of a grateful Red Lake Nation to the family of Gerald F. ‘Butch’ Brun for the many years of faithful service he dedicated to his tribe...”

            The resolution, signed on May 13, 2003 by Tribal Council members, established a Gerald F. Brun Memorial Scholarship fund, an award of a $3,000 scholarship each year to a Red Lake member who is a college student in good standing in a human services field

            “...Be it finally resolved that the Gerald F. Brun Memorial Scholarship recipient shall be determined by a committee of the family’s choosing and shall be announced at the July Regular Meeting of the Red Lake Tribal Council each year,” King said. “On behalf of the Red Lake Tribal Council, the Brun Family has named the first recipient of the Gerald F. Brun Scholarship award to Kim Thompson...”

            Members of the Brun family who had made the determination were present at the award ceremony.

            In a very emotional speech, Thompson thanked the Brun family for the scholarship.

            “...This is the biggest honor I’ve ever had,” she said. “I was telling my daughter on the way up here, the last time I talked with Butch, he told me, Kim, you keep going to school–you get that degree. You keep going–you don’t quit. I’m very thankful...”

            Kim attends Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Fond du Lac, Minnesota, having graduated in May of this year with an A. A. degree in human resources. She will be continuing on for her four-year degree.