Back in May 2025, I had the privilege of meeting Ms. Shelly Weppler, INSPIRITUS Community Health Foundation President. She shared her past as a student who graduated from Minot High School and time spent serving our country as a military member. I could have listened to her stories for hours, but our time was short. Fortunately, the memory remains!
In honor of Halloween, I share how very impactful her experience has had on her current work with the hope that our youngest military-connected students and families may also find ways to improve our existing communities and give back.
The School Liaison motto is “Student Focused – Partnership Driven.” Ms. Weppler and her work with Operation Homefront is one of these partnerships that drive our students’ success. This past August, I hosted a Back-to-School Backpack Brigade at Minot Air Force Base and 35 organizations attended. Nine of the 35 were new organizations! Over 250 military families were assisted with back-to-school resources and an estimated 350 people attended. Additionally, 69 children were screened by Magic City Lions Club and 38 children were referred. None of this could have happened without the collaboration between Operation Homefront, Ms. Weppler’s foundation, and my office; as well as, Scheels, who donated 200 backpacks (a 25% increase from last year). In November, I will be hosting a healthy Harvest event and through our continued collaboration (Operation Homefront and Ms. Weppler’s foundation), we will be able to provide $100 gift cards to 75 military families.
Invited to commemorate the newly-added female veteran statue on Memorial Day, May 26th, 2025 at Kenmare Pioneer Village in Kenmare, North Dakota, Ms. Weppler stood up on behalf of all military veterans. Her speech encompassed the meaning of Memorial Day and her experiences as a female soldier serving as a Military Police Officer stationed in Germany during the Vietnam war. She included statistics and referenced the book “The Women” to coincide with the unveiling of the female soldier statue.
Ms. Shelly Weppler is one of the many who deserve to be recognized. May our military-connected families leave behind such a legacy and appreciate all that she has done—and continues to do—for our local military-connected student population.
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