Badger alumni offer $700,000 in scholarship support for UW students

As students returned to the University of Wisconsin–Madison this fall, more than 400 students entered classrooms knowing they had generous support from proud fellow Badgers.

This year, the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) and its chapters and affiliates awarded nearly $700,000 in scholarships to UW–Madison students to help lighten their financial load. Students had the chance to thank many WAA chapter leaders in person at a Homecoming week reception.

“The Matching Dollar Scholarship Program is one way that UW–Madison alumni continue the Badger tradition by helping a new generation attend our great university,” said Paula Bonner MS’78, WAA’s president and CEO. “The kindness and commitment of those who participate in alumni chapters and WAA programs helps so many students receive an outstanding UW education.”

This year, 61 WAA chapters and affiliates awarded $667,000 in scholarships to 401 students, with an average award of more than $1,600. WAA chapters have awarded more than $10 million since the Matching Dollar Scholarship Program began in 1967. Local alumni and university friends can donate through the program, through which WAA and the UW Foundation match gifts dollar for dollar.

Alison Scharman x’12, a second-year recipient of a scholarship from the WAA: Washington D.C. Chapter, said she believes the scholarship has allowed her to begin to support herself financially and give a helping hand to her parents.

“The help from the Washington, D.C. scholarship allows me to pay for all my books each semester, and really helps my family in paying for out-of-state tuition,” Scharman said. “It’s a privilege to be honored by alumni with this scholarship, and I’m grateful to be recognized for being involved on campus and working hard in school.”

As part of a five-year, $250,000 gift from the Wisconsin Alumni Association to the university’s Great People Scholarship Campaign, 12 students are receiving $24,000 in scholarship support for the 2010-11 academic year thanks to sales of The Red Shirt, a limited line of T-shirts developed by WAA to help fund scholarships and programming for alumni and students.

In addition, 14 students received $10,500 in WAA scholarships, including:

• Outstanding Senior Awards, funded by WAA, and Outstanding Junior Awards, funded by WAA and the Imogene Carpenter family, both to recognize academic excellence and campus involvement;
• The Arlie Mucks, Jr., Spirit Award, funded by the Arlie Mucks, Jr., family, to recognize students who promote the legacy of UW–Madison spirit; and
• The Robert and Carroll Heideman Award, which recognizes students for civic engagement and their commitment to UW–Madison.