WAUWATOSA, WI — Three Wauwatosa School District students, one teacher and an administrator have received recognition through the prestigious 2023 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Student Excellence and Initiative, Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership Awards.
Wauwatosa East High School Seniors Vivienne Andersen, Audrey Catlin and Olivia Close were awarded the Student Excellence Scholarship, and Wauwatosa West senior Fabiana Chacon Morales was recognized with the Student Initiative Scholarship. Andersen, Catlin, Close and Chacon Morales will each receive a $10,000 scholarship that can be used for college tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, technology and required equipment, so long as these items can be purchased through their college. The students are among 190 high school seniors recognized for demonstrating excellence and motivation to achieve in an academic setting, a display of varied activity and demonstration of leadership outside of school and an indication of a likelihood to achieve success in college and beyond.
Ms. Rachel Kumferman, school social worker at McKinley Elementary School and District Homeless Liaison, was honored as a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellow and will be awarded $6,000. Because Ms. Kumferman primarily serves at McKinley Elementary School in her social worker role, McKinley will also receive a $6,000 grant. Kumferman is one of 100 teachers to receive the recognition this year for inspiring students and fostering a love of learning, motivating others in the school community and demonstrating leadership and service both inside and outside the classroom.
And Washington Elementary School Principal Mr. Joe Russell was selected to receive the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Principal Leadership Award. Mr. Russell was chosen for this $6,000 grant for setting high standards for instruction, achievement and character, and creating a climate to best serve students, families, staff, and community. As a result of this award, Washington Elementary School will also receive a $6,000 grant.
“We are incredibly proud of Vivienne, Audrey, Olivia and Fabiana, as well as Ms. Kumferman and Mr. Russell, for living out the core values of the Wauwatosa School District every day,” said Dr. Demond Means, superintendent. “This honor reflects not only their own hard work as individuals, but also the efforts of our district as a whole, which strives to create a nurturing educational environment for our staff members and students.”
The honorees were among 306 Wisconsin students, teachers and principals named by the Kohl Foundation, which has awarded more than $34 million to Wisconsin students, teachers, principals and schools since the program was established in 1990. Kohl, a philanthropist and businessman, represented Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate from 1989 to 2013.
Kohl Foundation award recipients are chosen by a statewide committee made up of civic leaders, representative of associations in the educational field and representatives of program co-sponsors, including the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation and regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies. To learn more, visit https://www.kohleducation.org.
About the Wauwatosa School District:
The Wauwatosa School District is a high achieving, forward-thinking, richly diverse public school district serving approximately 7,000 students and families. The District consists of 16 schools: 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools and the Wauwatosa Virtual Academy. Among these are two choice schools: Wauwatosa Montessori and Wauwatosa STEM. A full STEM program is offered at Underwood Elementary and at both middle schools. Additionally, the District provides education for several county programs including Children’s Hospital and Vel R. Phillips School. The educational community’s long history of excellence has been recognized both regionally and nationally.
For more information, visit the Wauwatosa School District website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram pages.
