HONORING INSPIRATION:
The Sigmund and Lena
Slonim Scholarship

Edward Slonim’s sister Ruth established a UMD scholarship in honor of their parents, Sigmund and Lena. Year after year, Edward and his wife Dorothy have continued to make the scholarship fund grow. They do it to honor Edward’s parents, both dynamic individuals. Sigmund, a Lithuanian, fought against the czar as a young man before coming to the U.S. After learning English and working low-paid jobs, Sigmund attended the St. Paul College of Law. He met Lena, one of the first few women to graduate from the University of Chicago. They wed, and together made an impact on Duluth: Sigmund in the community, and Lena as a teacher. In a time when television was non-existent and radio was emerging, Sigmund started the Saturday Lunch Club in Duluth that promoted respectful “civic-mindedness.” The club met weekly, brought in speakers, and held discussions. Its format was ahead of its time; it was open to everyone, male and female. True to his progressive spirit, Sigmund was active in politics and later helped found the Minnesota Farmer Labor party. Edward and Dorothy inherited that strong belief in education. Their gifts continue to change Duluth and Minnesota for the better, just as Sigmund and Lena made positive changes for their generation.