New Funds

The UW Oshkosh Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the following new funds and awards, which provide scholarship support, recognition of student achievements and enhanced departmental resources. Our appreciation is extended to the many donors who enrich students' educational experiences and advance the University's standing.

Contributions may be sent to the UW Oshkosh Foundation, 842 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh WI 54901 or click here to donate online. Please enter appropriate fund in the gift allocation notes box.

John and Hilma Boos Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Assistant Vice Chancellor of Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement Dr. Karen L. Heikel, in honor of her parents. Although they lacked formal higher education, they were great proponents of its value, encouraging their children to better themselves by seeking out opportunities to learn and engage with the world. The scholarship will be awarded to a part- or full-time undergraduate or graduate student in any major. Applicants must have a documented disability and a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0.

Diane R. Cholewinski Memorial Nursing Scholarship was created in memory of Diane Cholewinksi, who was widowed at a young age and was unable to pursue a nursing career. She later remarried, raised her children and entered the foster parent program, caring for more than two dozen infants and adopting one special needs child as her son before her death from cancer in 2006. Recipients of this scholarship must be nursing students with an interest in pediatrics/special needs or life experiences with that population. Preference will be given to single parents with financial need.

College of Business Student Professional Development Center Fund will support a high-impact learning initiative that integrates experiential learning into business students' academic journey.

College of Nursing International Clinical Scholarship Fund will provide funding for nursing students participating in the College of Nursing's international clinical programs in India and Uganda.

COLS Diversity and Global Learning Initiatives Fund will help the College of Letters and Science increase the number of courses and learning opportunities that address issues of diversity, social justice and global culture. Examples include the European Odyssey study-abroad program, the black howler monkey research trip to Belize and student/faculty exchange programs.

Colleen Gibbons Daugherty Nursing Scholarship was established by Greg '74 and Mary '72 Gibbons in memory of their daughter who earned a nursing degree at UW Oshkosh in 2006, despite struggling with multiple health problems. The scholarship was created to assist nursing students, particularly those with chronic health issues, to achieve their dreams.

Leona and Jerry Dempsey Nursing Scholarship was created upon Dr. Leona Dempsey’s retirement from UW Oshkosh after 15 years as an associate professor, primarily teaching mental health nursing. The scholarship will be awarded to female, non-traditional nursing students who do not qualify for other forms of financial aid.

Dave Engels Journalism Reporting Scholarship was established in memory of a 1979 alumnus who passed away in 2003. The scholarship will be awarded to journalism majors with a news-editorial emphasis. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate leadership through involvement in the Advance-Titan or related experience.

English Travel Scholarship will support students participating in the English department’s literary study tour or trips led by English instructors or faculty offered through other departments.

Guyette Family Scholarship was established by Thomas and Carole Guyette for business students majoring in finance with an emphasis in investments. Thomas graduated from the College of Business in 1968 and was honored as an outstanding alumnus by the college in 2008; Carole graduated in 1968 with a degree in elementary education.

Nevin James Debate Fund was established by Annette Blanchette ’60 to keep the spirit of debate alive in our classrooms and communities. Though he spent most of his 44 years at UW Oshkosh teaching English, Annette fondly remembers that James most loved debate and argumentation. The fund will “promote and assist argumentation and debate as an art and craft” to help debate students achieve their personal and professional goals. Support may be provided for travel and meal expenses, entry and judging fees and computer software and hardware.

Ed Karrels Continuing Music Performance Scholarship was created by a 1997 alumnus who majored in computer science but continued his trombone studies and performances throughout college and his post-graduation career. The scholarship will be awarded to undergraduate students majoring in a discipline other than music. Applicants must be instrumental musicians who take lessons each semester and are accepted into a department of music ensemble group. First preference will be given to brass performers.

LGBTQ Scholarship will be awarded to undergraduate LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) students. The scholarship is administered by the UW Oshkosh LGBTQ Resource Center, which was founded in fall 2008 and is housed in the Campus Center for Equity and Diversity.

Gregory Lynch and Laura (Lynch) Hinze Memorial Scholarship was established by retired College of Education and Human Services professor Dr. Daniel Lynch and his wife, Dolores, in memory of the son and daughter they lost to cancer in 2009. The scholarship will be awarded to future educators, counselors and human services students.

Kenneth Allen Mandel Scholarship will be awarded to full-time elementary education students in good academic standing. Applicants must be residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota or Wisconsin.

NBC Memories Fund will support scholarships for students living in the new suite-style residence hall and will support an effort to memorialize the old NBC (Nelson, Breese and Clemans) halls with a special permanent display in the new building.

Nightingale Nursing Scholarship will annually recognize the nursing student who best embodies the principles of Florence Nightingale, a pioneer in the field of nursing.

Radio-TV-Film Excellence Fund will be used to acquire new hardware and software technology to ensure that radio-TV-film students will have access to resources that will help them remain at the forefront of their fields.

Merlin E. Silverthorn Endowed Scholarship was established through a bequest from a 1958 alumnus who passed away in January 2010. Following graduation, he was a teaching assistant in the UW-Madison chemistry department and later an associate scientist in the missiles and space division of Lockheed Corp. The scholarship will provide assistance to needy students in the physical and biological sciences, computer science and mathematics.

Wisconsin Youth Leadership Academy Fund will help make affordable a one-year leadership program for high school students, regardless of socio-economic status.

Fredric & Janice Youra Piano Performance Scholarship was created by Janice Youra ’70, a musician, accompanist and former piano teacher and her husband, Fredric (Fritz), a Lutheran minister. The scholarship will be awarded to full-time undergraduate students of at least sophomore status. Applicants must be students within the College of Letters and Science with a declared bachelor of music in performance major, with primary applied instrument as piano.