Our founders, Winston and Maxine Wallin, have embodied the promise of education to transform lives and communities. Both were from families of modest means and both received scholarships.  Winston may not have been able to attend the University of Minnesota if not for the GI Bill – the largest scholarship program in the history of our country.  Maxine attended Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. 

In the years that followed, Winston worked his way up to the presidency of Pillsbury and later led Medtronic through a period of remarkable growth as its CEO.  Maxine became a librarian at the University o f Minnesota and a medical research librarian while the family lived in Utah.  Both also became engaged civic leaders.

In 1992, the Wallins started a scholarship program at South High School in Minneapolis, to provide “promising futures” for highly capable students from low and moderate income families.  Recognizing a broader need, the Wallins later extended their program to graduates of all Minneapolis, Anoka-Hennepin and Saint Paul public high schools.  Through a partnership with the Medtronic Foundation, scholarships are now also awarded to students from Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, Fridley, Irondale, Mounds View, Park Center and Spring Lake Park high schools.  

Referring to the program as his most important legacy, Mr. Wallin made generous provision prior to his death in 2010 to assure its further growth and success. The Wallin family has since strongly affirmed its intention to make the legacy a lasting one.  Wallin Education Partners is currently embarking on an ambitious plan envisioned by Mr. Wallin to expand the number of donor partners, scholarships and participating high schools.