Scholarship Winner

The College of Letters and Science is pleased to announce the recipients of the annual Liberal Arts Scholarship offered by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Katie Diederichs, an elementary and special education major in  the College of Education and Human Services, has won the $1,000 award for a student from the professional colleges or Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement.  Tanner Gussert, a kinesiology major  in the College of Letters and Science has won the $1,000 award for a student in Letters and Science.  Both essay were characterized by the judges as clearly demonstrating an understanding of the significance of a liberal arts education.

This year's essay prompt, in conjunction with the UW System Liberal Arts Scholarship competition, asked applicants to respond to the following:

Over the past two years, we have seen a Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election and a presidential race that both generated a great deal of civic discourse. How has your liberal education helped you process, develop informed opinions, and make decisions about what you see and hear, and guided your participation as a citizen? How has your liberal education helped you interact with people with whom you disagree on the events that have taken place?

Described by one of her professors as exercising "unusual care and respect" when engaging the ideas of others, Ms. Diederichs provides a perceptive discussion of the prompt in her essay entitled "Recalling a Placement: Finding Citizenship through Liberal Education." She discusses how her liberal education "has empowered [her] to use [her] skills and knowledge" to problem-solve and to navigate difficult situations.

Mr. Gussert's professor cites his superb curiosity and creativity in problem-solving, and his high level of maturity when working to comprehend and communicate difficult concepts.  His essay, "Liberal Arts Education: Providing a Cultural Lens," discusses his individual growth and his broadened perspective, resulting from his studies in the liberal arts. 

We extend our sincerest congratulations to Ms. Diederichs and Mr. Gussert, and we offer our warmest wishes as they continue their studies at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Click on the links above to read their winning essays in their entirety.