Lakeland University Receives $450,000 Kohler Trust Grant to Expand Access and Opportunity for Local Students
Lakeland University has received a $450,000 grant from the Kohler Trust for the Arts and Education to fund several student-centered programs and initiatives.
The grant will support continuation of a college coursework partnership between Lakeland and the Sheboygan Area School District, Lakeland’s Kohler Teaching Scholars program, the Lakeland Promise Program and the Sheboygan County Scholars program.
“The Kohler Trust for the Arts and Education is such a strong supporter of our efforts to remove barriers for local students to earn a college degree,” said Lakeland President Beth Borgen. “Their investment in our students is creating the next generation of leaders and contributing citizens in our region.”
Lakeland/SASD Partnership: The partnership, now in year three, allows SASD students free access to Lakeland Concurrent Academic Progress Program (CAPP) courses, which provide high school and college credits simultaneously.
In the first two years, an average of nearly 900 SASD students annually took courses, earning more than a total of 11,000 college credits with a value of more than $5 million. In the partnership's second year, nearly 200 students completed a full college semester or more with 19 of those completing a full year.
In this, the program’s third year, the partnership again has nearly 900 students earning college credit.
“The program’s extraordinary success has led to additional needs and is paving the way for more local students to earn a college education and the many benefits that come with it,” Borgen said.
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 teachers for the Sheboygan Area School District.
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 38 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 2030 includes: Bryn Adams, Sheboygan North High School; Aaron Cortez, Sheboygan North High School; and Tessa Schmidt, Howards Grove High School.
