Lakeland students will benefit from Kohler Trust for the Arts and Education grant
Lakeland University has received a $540,000 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, the Sheboygan County Scholars program and a new lighting system in LU’s Bradley Theatre.
“The Kohler Trust for the Arts and Education has been an important partner for us, and we are grateful for their ongoing support,” 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.”
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 Cooperative Education program, creates a unique, competitive pathway to home-grow more Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) teachers for the Sheboygan Area School District.
Funds will be used to award $5,000 annual scholarships to three incoming first-year students. This scholarship award is in addition to any other institutional scholarships and grants available to the students.
Remaining funds from the inaugural cohort will continue to be used to provide scholarships for students interested in dual-credit education courses in high school, as well as continued discussion with SASD to consider four-year education degrees for their BIPOC paraprofessionals through LU’s Kellett School.
Sheboygan County Scholars: Funds will be used to support this program, which is designed to retain the area's most promising young people and prepare them to assume future leadership positions within the region.
Each year, up to four students are selected as Sheboygan County Scholars. All scholars will have met rigorous academic standards and be required to complete a competitive application process to be accepted into the program.
Lakeland Promise Program: This program provides qualified Wisconsin students an opportunity to attend Lakeland tuition/fees free for four years (up to three years for transfer students). The program currently supports more than 70 Wisconsin students with high financial need.
Borgen said the Lakeland Promise, aligned with the Co-Op program, are 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.
Bradley lighting: Completed in 1987, the Bradley Theatre has hosted numerous performances for nearly 40 years. The new lighting system will improve the experience for Lakeland’s various music ensembles and theatre productions, as well as visiting artists and speakers.
