The Shot They Hoped For: A Legacy of Opportunity

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Three scholarship recipients reflect on lives shaped by generosity.

*John, Frankie, and Vince Tarlizzo at their UW-Madison Graduation in May 2025*

If Sterbenz and Ryan could see the Tarlizzo triplets now, what would they see? A future lawyer committed to public service. A young professional building a career close to home. A future physician beginning medical school.

Five years ago, Frankie, John, and Vince graduated together from Forest Lake Area High School and were preparing to begin college at the same time, a milestone that could have placed a significant financial burden on their family.

That's where the Sterbenz-Ryan Scholarship at the St. Croix Valley Foundation made a difference. The triplets had big hopes for their futures and the determination to pursue them. The scholarship gave them the opportunity to take that next step. Five years later, their paths show what that generosity made possible.

A Shot at Opportunity

Legacy donors Richard Sterbenz and Martin Ryan understood that opportunity can change the direction of a life. When they established the scholarship in 2016, their vision was simple and deeply personal: “Give kids like them a shot at a life they never had.”

That vision became one of the St. Croix Valley Foundation’s most significant scholarship programs, designed for students facing challenging life circumstances and financial need who might otherwise struggle to pursue a college education. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 2017, the Sterbenz-Ryan Scholarship has awarded 700 scholarships to 413 students, totaling more than $1.2 million in support. Students may receive the scholarship for multiple years, providing ongoing support as they continue toward their degree.

"Richard and Marty talked about this scholarship for years before it went into effect," said Karen Hansen, who worked with Sterbenz and Ryan to establish the fund as part of their estate plan. "They wanted to know that some kid, somewhere, was getting a chance they never had. Seeing what Frankie, John, and Vince have done with that chance, I think it's exactly what they hoped would happen. They would be so proud to know that they contributed to these students' success."

For the Tarlizzo triplets, the impact went beyond tuition. "It wasn't even necessarily about the money," Frankie said. "It was that someone believed in me. It was the first time I had been selected for something." John felt it too: "It was relief. They chose me. I'm not doing this alone." For Vince, it meant practical support and a chance to pursue an ambitious path toward medicine. "It meant a lot for the family," he said.

The scholarship supported all three over multiple years, providing continued financial support as they pursued their degrees.

Where Are They Now?

Frankie is beginning her second year of law school at the University of Minnesota while working with the Hennepin County Public Defender's Office, a far cry from the path she imagined as a senior heading to UW–Madison for journalism, unsure of her direction. The scholarship, she said, gave her permission to change her mind along the way: "There was grace in being able to change your mind. These people believed in me for four years." That belief followed her into a career rooted in public service, where "sometimes I'm the only person on their team. You're bringing the humanity to them."

John's future felt just as uncertain back then. He describes his younger self as an anxious kid who worried about whether he was prepared for what came next. After UW–Madison, an internship with Target Corporation led to a full-time position as an inventory analyst in 2025. He's since built a career and a life in the Minneapolis area, close to family. What surprises him most isn't the job title, though; it's who he's become: "I'm proud of myself for not letting anything dictate who I am."

For Vince, the next chapter is just getting started. He graduated from UW–Madison in 2025 with a biology degree, then spent the summer working as an ER technician while applying to medical schools, navigating interviews and waitlists, and enduring months of uncertainty before his acceptance into the University of Minnesota Medical School. His time in the ER only reinforced why he wants to become a physician: "The patient is always having their worst day. Going the extra mile is what makes me passionate about medicine."

The Legacy Continues

Frankie, John and Vince have taken different paths, yet each traces part of their journey back to a moment when someone they never met decided they were worth supporting. "I'm in a position now to help others who may never have had a shot," Frankie said. John agrees: "I was given that through a lot of luck and support, and I want to give that to others."

Richard Sterbenz and Martin Ryan hoped to give young people a shot at opportunities they themselves never had. They never met Frankie, John, or Vince, but five years later, the answer is taking shape: in a law school classroom, in a career built close to home, and in the first days of medical school.

Their legacy isn't found only in the scholarships awarded. It lives in what happens next.

Sterbenz- Ryan Scholarship - Established in 2016