Stout University Foundation has awarded a record amount in scholarships, including 16 new awards, to students at University of Wisconsin-Stout.
More than $850,000 was given to 420 students at a recent program and reception at the Memorial Student Center. Many donors attended, including representatives of named scholarships who met the recipients of their awards.
The 16 new scholarships were established by individuals, corporations and organizations.
One of them was the Minnesota Prestress Association Construction Management Scholarship, an endowed fund. Receiving the $1,000 award was Ryan Moeller, of Richfield, Wis., a sophomore majoring in computer science.
The organization created the scholarship because of the many majors at the university that provide valuable talent for the industry, according to Jeff Prewitt, Minnesota Prestress vice president and chief operating officer of Fabcon Precast of Savage, Minn.
“We saw that Stout would be a good partner with MNPA,” Prewitt said. “We want to promote the precast industry, to educate students on the capabilities and uses of precast concrete in construction and to introduce them to precast concrete, including the size and volume of the companies involved in it.”
Precast concrete panels are widely used in the building construction industry. “People often think about general contractors and don’t necessarily think about specialty contractors and the scope of work they can engage in. Construction is a big industry and a lot more advanced than what people think sometimes,” Prewitt said.
Fabcon Precast, for example, manufactures and erects concrete wall panels. It has about 1,000 employees, including manufacturing facilities in Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Last year its field erection crews constructed more than 350 buildings in 30 states and Canada, including for Menards and Amazon.
Fabcon has hired UW-Stout graduates and interns, many in project management from the undergraduate construction program but also other majors. Alumnus Cody Lang is a materials engineer for Fabcon. He returned to campus Oct. 4 to give an Applied Science Seminar presentation on the science behind concrete. He graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in applied science.
The 15 other new scholarships offered this year are:
- Applied math and computer science 50th Anniversary
- Barbara L. (Williams) and Robert P. Sorensen Endowed
- Bemis Company Packaging
- Carol Smith Barwa Memorial
- Dale and Erica Gustafson Granchalek Endowed
- Daniel L. and Sally J. Larson Endowed
- Dr. Carol T. Mooney Onward! Doctoral
- Gloria Sutton Noone Annual
- Ideal Builders/Jennifer Schneider-Crubaugh
- John and Louise Gomulak Endowed
- Kim Raenae Falk Endowed
- Olive’s Branch
- WestAIR Annual
- William and Diane McKinnon Family Endowed
- William Fink and Maija-Liisa Fink Education Endowed
Established in 1962, the Stout University Foundation Scholarship Program has helped more than 9,000 students receive a college education. Through the financial support of alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the university, the program has given students more than $13 million over the years.
Mark Parsons, vice chancellor for University Advancement and Marketing and the Foundation executive director, said the Foundation is committed to helping students succeed.
“These awards provide valuable financial support for students as they achieve their educational goals and dreams. UW-Stout and Stout University Foundation appreciate the generous support of benefactors who make these awards possible while demonstrating a timeless commitment to UW-Stout and our students,” said Parsons, who spoke at the event.
In addition to the scholarships awarded annually by Stout University Foundation, the university recently announced the Blue Devil Guarantee, which will provide most new first-year students with awards of $1,000 to $3,000, renewable for up to two years, based on college entrance exam scores and grade-point average.
The Foundation recently announced the public phase of a $35 million comprehensive campaign, Pathways Forward, to provide additional support for the university and major initiatives.
Chancellor, Foundation president on hand
Chancellor Bob Meyer, a scholarship recipient when he was an undergraduate student at UW-Stout in the late 1970s, was one of the speakers at the scholarship reception. He thanked benefactors and with Tom Kornegor, Foundation Board president, congratulated students on stage.
Also speaking was Megan Olson, a 2017 graduate and former Stout Scholars scholarship recipient. The awards were presented by Foundation Scholarship Committee members and alumnae Lauren Martey and Janet Yardley. The emcee was alumna Kelly Matter, Scholarship Committee chair. The UW-Stout Chamber Choir, directed by Jerry Hui, provided music.
Contact the Foundation for information about how to donate or how to establish a scholarship fund. The Foundation is in the Louis Smith Tainter House, 320 S. Broadway St.
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Photos
Top: Student Ryan Moeller, third from left, received the first Minnesota Prestress Association Construction Management Scholarship recently. Association representatives are, from left, are Andrew Stumne, of County Materials; John Saccomon, of Molin Concrete Products; Susan Renee, of Molin; Michelle Peterson, of Fabcon Precast; Sam Gray, of Fabcon; and Jake Mygatt, of County Materials.
Middle: Attendees applaud at the scholarship program in the Great Hall of the Memorial Student Center.
Bottom: Two attendees talk at the program.
