Central Wisconsin educators, students honored through Herb Kohl Educational Foundation
By City Times staff
MADISON – The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation announced its list of this year’s scholarship and award recipients, for excellence and leadership in the classroom.
Awards totaling $6,000 are being given to 100 teachers, along with 16 principals and their schools, while $10,000 dollars in scholarships is going to 193 graduating high school students.
Those recipients include Tyler Katzenberger of Marshfield, Promise Ngirwe of Spencer, Caden Higgins of Edgar, Olivia Heese of Plover, Lauren Ontl of Wisconsin Rapids, Samuel Russ of Kronenwetter, Julie Seidel of Wausau, Caleb Vandenberg of Wausau, and Jayden Falteisek of Abbotsford.
Several area students are receiving Initiative Scholarships for demonstrating exceptional initiative in the classroom, and showing strong promise for succeeding in college and beyond. Those students are Rebecca Walter of Loyal, Rachel Bouwer of Stevens Point, Calli Statz of Wisconsin Rapids, Lucas Feck of Wausau, Alexia Thao of Wausau, and Dylan Baird of Auburndale.
Meanwhile, area teachers and their schools are receiving Fellowship awards for demonstrating their ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, their ability to motivate others, and their leadership and service in and outside the classroom.
Those educators include Leslie Niedfeldt of Pittsville Elementary, Shelley Bruley of Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, Jeffrey Gress of Newman Catholic, Susan Nelson of Owen-Withee Elementary, and Nicole Gripentrog of Medford High School.
The Kohl Foundation Scholarship and Fellowship program was established by businessman, former Milwaukee Bucks’ owner and former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl in 1990. Now in its 30th year, the foundation has awarded nearly 20.9 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students and their schools.