Where Are They Now? Katie (Bradt) Mueller – 2019 Dudek Scholarship Recipient

In 2019, Katie (Bradt) Mueller graduated from Pendleton High School as a leader, scholar, and student-athlete. She served as ASB President, competed in varsity basketball, cross country, and tennis, was a member of the National Honor Society, and earned the Citizenship Cup. Throughout high school, she challenged herself with honors and Advanced Placement coursework.

When Katie received the Pendleton Foundation Trust – Dudek Scholarship, she shared a clear vision for her future: to pursue advanced education in psychology and ultimately return to a rural community like Pendleton, where access to mental health resources can be limited.

That vision is becoming reality.

After graduating from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in neuroscience, Katie returned home to Pendleton. She now works as a counselor and case manager at a local residential facility serving adjudicated youth boys. At the same time, she is completing the final terms of her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and will soon pursue licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.

While balancing full-time work and graduate school, Katie has also built a life rooted in community. She and her husband purchased a home in Pendleton, she coaches basketball in Helix and softball in Pendleton, and she remains active outdoors, even participating in the Hood to Coast relay.

Katie’s journey reflects the purpose behind Pendleton Foundation Trust scholarships: investing in students who carry their education forward and use it to strengthen the communities that shaped them. We are proud to have supported Katie at the beginning of her academic journey and grateful to see her serving Pendleton today.