Share Your Story
What would you like Minnesotans to know about how the University of Minnesota has made your life better or the lives of other Minnesotans?
Share your Dear Minnesota story by submitting the form below.
Stories will be displayed on this page.
Dear Minnesota Story Submission Form
By submitting your story and any related photos, you give the University of Minnesota permission to share them through the University's channels such as website(s), social media, print publications, etc.. Your last name will not be used as part of your letter. We will not use your email address for marketing purposes.
Dear MN Submissions
Dear Minnesota,
My twin sister, Heather, and I were born right in Crookston, MN, where I grew up and work to this day as a researcher at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC). As…
Dear Minnesota,
Growing up is one of the scariest yet most exciting moments of someone's life. Through the Minnesota 4-H Program, I have received some of the best friends, skills, and…
Dear Minnesota,
I have been involved in Minnesota 4-H through the University of Minnesota Extension for as long as I can remember. 4-H has taught me many things through out the years,…
Dear Minnesota,
Our great state is fortunate to be at the convergence of several ecological biomes which generate a great range of natural habitats. We are home to more than 1900 plant species…
Dear Minnesota,
I wanted picture rails to display photos in my home. I contacted my local extension educator and asked if they would be interested in earning money for their club by having 4-H…
Dear Minnesota,
People are super friendly. When I started my part time job as a greeter in one of the residential halls, students were very friendly and they would do my job by greeting me…
Dear Minnesota,
I did a program entitled O.W.L.S. that promoted the environment's well-being. To complete this program you had to help nature somewhere in your neighborhood. I was…
Dear Minnesota,
Dr. Laura Niedernhofer inspired my story directly, and her advertisement on KS95 brought this to my attention. My son was diagnosed with Cockayne Syndrome (CS) in 2015, shortly…
Dear Minnesota,
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Minnesota; its impact has no boundaries. From Native American communities, the Iron Range, Rochester, to the Twin Cities, almost all…
Dear Minnesota,
As someone who's always struggled with their mental health, the Mental Health Clinic at Boynton became such a massively positive resource for me. I am able to speak to a…
Dear Minnesota,
I recently moved to Washington state and they think they are the epicenter of apple culture in the world. Little did they know, the honeycrisp (the king of apples) was…
Dear Minnesota,
The University has facilitated most of my opportunities from the time of admission through my current role at my company. It started with Professors that take an interest in…
Dear Minnesota,
I grew up on a small farm in southern Minn. Was very interested in Natural Resources. I earned a Forestry degree from the U. In 1971 the job prospect were not very good. I had…
Dear Minnesota,
The University of Minnesota has impacted my life in so many wonderful ways. I started working at the university in 2018 and am still here after 5 years. I have found my dream…
Dear Minnesota,
I could spell Minnesota before I could spell Amanda, simply from singing The Minnesota Rouser since I was a toddler. I was originally drawn to the University of Minnesota for…
Dear Minnesota,
My husband and I got engaged our senior year on campus and we brought our three daughters into the world through great experiences at UMN Masonic Children's in the years…
Dear Minnesota,
I want you to know that one alumni is accredited with developing a semi-dwarf, disease resistant wheat varieties that earned a Nobel Peace Prize.
Norman Borlaug…
I appreciate the University of Minnesota's commitment to wellness. With the added benefit of working from home, I'm now able to take time to swim when the gym is not overcrowded or I'm…
Dear Minnesota,
I came to MN in 2000, after a couple of jobs, I was hired on at the U. Long story short, using the Regent's Scholarship and working full time, I was finally able to make a…
Dear Minnesota,
As a first-generation graduate from a rural farming community in central Minnesota, my time at the University of Minnesota has profoundly shaped both my life and my career path…
Dear Minnesota,
The University of Minnesota has played an instrumental role in shaping my life and, by extension, the lives of Minnesotans. Throughout my 15 year career in the College of…
Dear Minnesota,
I’d like you to know that the first open heart surgery took place at the University of Minnesota in 1952.
I’m grateful to Dr. C. Walter Lillehei and his Golden…
Dear Minnesota,
I received my B.A. from the University of Minnesota CLA in 1985 in Geography/Anthropology. Shortly after graduating, I was able to secure a job as a cartographer at an aerial…
The University of Minnesota is the window on the world. Through the experience of studying at the U of M with multi-national class mates, and learning from outstanding faculty, I had really grown,…
The first thing I think of when I think of the University is that I made lifelong friends. Even though I grew up ten miles from campus, I lived in Sanford Hall my freshman year. My parents were…
Dear Minnesota,
The relationships that you can build at the University of Minnesota are endless! I met my wife at the University and now we have a future Gopher in our family.
I decided to attend the University of Minnesota after I was discharged from the U.S. Air Force. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I was hesitant because I was a first-generation student and had…