Student Stories
Sarah Ruplinger- I am so Grateful
The Lucile Schreiber and Wendel A. Witkay Scholarship of $1,000 is greatly appreciated because it decreases my need for student loans. It has been an honor and a blessing to receive this scholarship award. This scholarship is helping to make my dream come true!
Ann Coplan- Inspired to Teach
Ann Coplan’s grandparents inspire her. “All four of them have shaped my life in various ways, and I would not be the person I am today without them,” she wrote. Coplan, who received the George Koeppel and Frances Z. Combee scholarships, follows two of her grandparents into teaching.
Katrina Van Dyke- Discovering Her True Calling
Academics and a family tradition of attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison drew Katrina Van Dyke to the state’s flagship university. And she arrived with a plan. Finish a genetics major in four years and continue in the graduate program in genetics counseling.
Robert Wiedenhoeft- A Badger for Life
Attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison was Robert Wiedenhoeft’s first choice since he watched Ron Dayne break the NCAA rushing record at Camp Randall Stadium.Wiedenhoeft, from Franklin, Wisconsin, also knew choosing the UW-Madison was the best way for me to hold onto his Wisconsin roots and be well prepared to become a teacher.
Melanie Zaferos- Pursuing a Dream to Teach
Melanie Zaferos from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, follows her mother, father and sister to the UW-Madison. She’s pursuing her lifelong dream to become an elementary school teacher and hopes to one day also teach abroad. The Ab and Nancy Nichols Great People Scholarship and Alta T. & Daniel B. Straley Scholarship allow her to continue her higher education.
Kayla Steinhorst- Living Up to Her Potential
Kayla Steinhorst from Baraboo, Wisconsin, believes the UW-Madison will allow her to reach her educational potential, and she wrote that she also appreciates Madison’s unique and exciting atmosphere. The Gwen P. Shapiro Rural Nursing Scholarship isn’t just a monetary award for Steinhorst; it’s a recognition of her hard work and her parents’ commitment to help her as much as they can, despite tough economic times.
Hyunah Cho- New Country, New Challenges
The Oscar Rennebohm Teaching Award gives graduate assistant Hyunah Cho confidence to teach American students, even though he’s from South Korea. The teaching assistant award also encourages her to stay in academia to perform research and teach students. “I truly appreciate your generosity and hope sometime in my life, I can help students as now you help us,” Cho wrote.
Ellen Conroy- Reaching for Excellence
Inspired by her mother, Ellen Conroy, who plans to become a pediatrician, doesn’t believe in stopping at “good enough.” The Wren Torgerson Scholarship allows her to worry less about how she pays for tuition, books and housing as she pursues her dream and may also allow her to volunteer abroad.
Emily Nelson- Greatest Gift of All
I love attending my classes, strolling around the city, and enjoying the atmosphere. It is the opportunity that a scholarship can give a young student that is the greatest gift of all.
Donald Radcliffe- Scholarships Lead to Growth, Service
A big reason I am able to pursue these incredible experiences is that I have had financial assistance in the form of scholarships.
