Kohler Trust grant benefits Lakeland students
Lakeland University has received a $365,000 grant from the Kohler Trust for the Arts and Education to fund several student-centered programs and initiatives.
The grant will support Lakeland’s Kohler Teaching Scholars program, the Lakeland Promise Program and the Sheboygan County Scholars program.
“The Kohler Trust for the Arts and Education continues to be important partner for us, and we are grateful for their ongoing support of our mission and programs,” said Lakeland President Beth Borgen. “Their investment in our students is helping us create the next generation of leaders and contributing citizens in our region.”
Lakeland Promise Program: This program provides qualified Wisconsin students an opportunity to attend Lakeland’s residential program tuition/fees free through to graduation. The program was recently expanded to include any students and families in the state with an adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less.
Lakeland was the first private school to announce a promise program in the fall of 2019 and currently offers the most generous awarding strategy in the state. With this expansion, Lakeland anticipates serving double the number of students than in prior years, making philanthropic support essential.
Borgen said the Lakeland Promise, aligned with Lakeland’s Cooperative Education program, is designed to positively impact the nation’s college attainment achievement gap and break the social mobility cycle and higher education achievement cycle often experienced by first-generation college students.
Borgen noted that approximately 80% of Lakeland students choose to live and work within a 100-mile radius upon graduation, making the university a true talent importer for the region.
Kohler Teaching Scholars: Funds will be used to recruit the next cohort of Kohler Teaching Scholars. This program provides scholarship support that, coupled with Lakeland’s Co-Op program, creates a unique, competitive pathway to home-grow more Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) teachers for the Sheboygan Area School District.
The program’s first three students have all graduated and are making a difference at their respective schools. Three new Kohler Teaching Scholars enrolled at Lakeland this academic year.
Lakeland continues to grow awareness of the program and work directly with SASD to attract BIPOC students who are interested in following a passion in teaching.
Sheboygan County Scholars: This program was launched in 2014 as an effort to retain the area’s most promising young people and prepare them for leadership positions within the region. Since its inception, all 37 Scholars have graduated or have remained on track for graduation. Scholars receive a full tuition scholarship.
Key components of the program include campus community engagement, as well as Sheboygan County community service. Examples include peer tutoring, conversations with university administration, club organization and leadership, engagement in campus musicals, service on local boards, participation in Young Professional Network events, engagement with local executives and volunteer work with local nonprofits.
The Sheboygan County Scholars program is partially funded through philanthropy, with university grants covering the gap.
The Class of 2028 includes Ranaya Hayes-Jenkins, Sheboygan North High School; Savannah Present, Oostburg High School; and Brynn Wisse, Oostburg High School.
