CST Legacy Fund Letter
Honoring Our Past. Strengthening The Future.
After spending this fall at Cotter Schools, I have witnessed firsthand how deeply our students and administration remain connected to their founders—including the Sisters of Saint Francis and the College of Saint Teresa alumnae whose spirit is still woven into the life of this campus. Your legacy is alive here.
For this reason, I am thrilled to announce the creation of the CST Legacy Fund, a new opportunity for CST alumnae to ensure that our presence, our values, and our mission continue to flourish at Cotter Schools for generations to come.
What is the CST Legacy Fund?
The CST Legacy Fund will provide long-term support for Cotter students and for the care and enhancement of this beautiful 45-acre campus—our campus—that continues to serve as a place of learning, faith, and service.
More than 100 years ago, two Sisters set out from Rochester with $4.28, a buggy, and a dependable horse named Jim to plant the seeds of Catholic education for young women in Winona. From that humble beginning grew a bold, transformative mission.
Today, that same campus is home to over 1,100 students, from infant through 12th grade, carrying the Rochester Franciscan spirit into the 21st century with strong leadership, vibrant community, and a commitment to excellence.
None of this growth would be possible without the dedication of our faculty, staff, families, and the many supporters who believe in this sacred work. Together, we are shaping young lives to lead with wisdom, compassion, and conviction.
Looking Ahead
As we look to the future, Cotter Schools remains firmly committed to the values that guided CST: faith, community, service, respect, and a deep concern for the dignity of each person.
We continue to challenge students to reach their full potential and to use their lives in service of others. In every way, we are cultivating minds and hearts for Christ.
How CST Alumnae Can Continue the Legacy
The CST Legacy Fund invites all CST alumnae to stay connected, to continue shaping this campus you helped build, and to invest in the next generation of students who walk the same grounds you once did.
Your support—through prayer, encouragement, or philanthropy—ensures that the CST story continues to blossom through the mission of Cotter Schools.
Will you help carry this legacy forward? I am making my gift today!
Thank you for your generosity and your enduring partnership in keeping the CST spirit alive for today’s students and those yet to come.
Peace and all good,
Colleen Kocer Peplinski CST ‘87
Cotter Advancement | Alumni Relations
O: 507-453-5054 | C: 507-429-6784
1115 W Broadway St, Winona, MN 55987
Email | Website