On Sunday, April 21, Cook County Higher Education (CCHE) will hold its third annual cribbage tournament at the Birch Terrace Supper Club in Grand Marais to raise money and awareness for the Bob Pratt Scholarship Fund. Teams should check in at 12:30 pm, and the fun begins at 1:00 p.m.
The tournament is open to 32 teams, and the entry fee is $40 per team. It’s a double-elimination tournament, and cash prizes will go to the teams finishing in first to third place.
The Pratt family and Bob’s longtime friend on the Cook County Higher Education Board, Doug Bruce, created the Scholarship Fund. To date, the fund has raised over $90,000. It was established under the auspices of Cook County Higher Education (CCHE) to provide scholarships to help people start, develop, and gain new skills valuable to the applicant, local employers, and Cook County. In 2023, 15 scholarships worth $7,249 were awarded to Cook County residents seeking job skills training in welding, network security, bookkeeping, and septic design.
Karen Blackburn, Executive Director of CCHE, said the goal is to eventually raise enough funds to pay for scholarships from interest earned, making the fund perpetually self-funded. She added that over 100 individuals and businesses have contributed to the Bob Pratt Skills, Trades & Technology Scholarship Fund since it began almost three years ago.
The CCHE website provides, “This endowed scholarship is awarded to Cook County, MN residents interested in pursuing a training, course, or program that furthers skills and career opportunities. Funds cannot be used for renewal certifications, CE credits, or education equaling an AA degree or higher… This scholarship is for individuals living in Cook County, MN, but training can be completed outside of Cook County. Both high school students and adult learners may apply. Applications are accepted at any time.”
Bob grew up in Grand Marais and graduated from Cook County High School. According to his family, Bob was always looking out for the little guy and working to eliminate roadblocks to help people succeed.
After a career in education in various locations around the country, the Pratts returned to the North Shore to be home in their retirement. Bob and Bev met at the Colvill Townhall, still standing and in use along the Kadunce River, while still in high school. Both were active in the broader community.
After high school, Bob worked in construction, commercial fishing, and driving trucks. His love of trucking never left him. He went on to attend and graduate from UMD, becoming a teacher in Hermantown. He earned a graduate degree at Arizona State University and worked as a school counselor in Tacoma, WA. He received his PhD in Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut.
Bob died on January 24, 2020.
Scholarship application information can be found on the CCHE website, https://mycche.org/ or by phone at 218-387-3411. Donations to the Bob Pratt Skills, Trades, and Technology Scholarship Fund can be mailed to CCHE, PO Box 57, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
