Scholarships now available to FAHS graduating seniors

The Fort Atkinson Community Foundation is now accepting online applications for 43 different scholarships available to Fort Atkinson students.  Fourteen of the scholarships that are available to high school graduating seniors, without regard to field of study, are briefly described below.  

Each scholarship has additional requirements so students are encouraged to visit the Community Foundation’s website, www.fortfoundation.org for more information.  Here students can learn about all the scholarships being offered by the Community Foundation and carefully select those for which they would be eligible. 

Some of the scholarships, with no field-of-study restrictions, for which graduating high school seniors may apply include:

• Walter & Louise Buell Merit Scholarship: The Buell Merit scholarship is available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who are residents of the Fort Atkinson area, have an outstanding academic record, and who are planning to enroll in a program leading to a bachelor’s degree. This is a merit scholarship so financial need is not considered. For 2025, two scholarships of $21,000 each, paid out over four years, will be available.

• Theodore W. Batterman Family Foundation Scholarship: The Batterman scholarships are available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who are  among the top students in their class,  have engaged in community or school service of a significant nature, and are pursuing an undergraduate degree at a recognized college or university. For 2025, five scholarships of $12,000 each, paid out over four years, will be available.

• Richard Noel Bingham Memorial Scholarship:  The Bingham Scholarships are available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School  who intend to continue their education at a four-year college or university.   In 2025 there will be $54,000 available for multiple awards payable over four years.

• Make A Difference Scholarship:  The Make A Difference Scholarship is available to  graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who have made a difference in the lives of others.  A supplemental essay and additional letter of reference are required.  For 2025, $10,000 is available for a two-year award. 

• Dr. Sydney H. Weidemann Scholarship:  Dr. Weidemann, a prominent dentist and buisness leader in Fort Atkinson for many years, created this scholarship for graduating seniors of Fort Atkinson High School who plan to attend an accredited public or private college or university. For 2025, $6,000 will be available for two awards.

• Dr. James Russell Athletic Scholarship: The Russell Athletic scholarshp is available to  graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who have earned a minimum of two varsity letters while participating in two or more sports and who are pursuing either a two-year associate degree or four-year bachelor’s degree. For 2025, $4,600 will be available for two or more awards.

• James & Francis Luther Memorial Scholarship:  The Luther Memorial scholarship is available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who plan to attend a four-year college in the University of Wisconsin system. For 2025, $4,500 will be available for one or more awards.

• Kathleen Grabil Thorndike Scholarship:  The Thorndike Scholarship is available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who plan to enroll in a four-year college, or pursue a liberal arts transfer program at a vocational/technical college with the intention of transferring to a four-year college, to earn a bachelor’s degree. Financial need is a serious consideration.  The 2025 award will be $2,600 and will be paid over two years.

• Fort Atkinson Thrift Shop & Jean Reich Memorial Scholarship: The Thrift Shop/Reich Memorial scholarship is available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who plan to attend a college or vocational/technical  school in Wisconsin.   Financial need is a serious consideration for this scholarship.  For 2025, $2,000 will be available for this award.

• Gary and Bonnie Hamm Scholarship:  The Hamm Scholarship is available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who are planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a 4-year public college or university.  In 2025, $1,000 will be available for this award.

• Don Gruber Memorial Athletic Scholarship:  The Gruber Athletic Scholarship is avaiable to graduating seniors at Fort Atksinon High School who have participated in the school’s basketball program and intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a 4-year college or university, or enroll in a program at a technical college for an associate’s degree or the two-year transfer program.  For 2025, $1,000 is available for this award.

• James Rossing Adversity Scholarship:  The Rossing Adversity Scholarship is available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who plan to attend a vocational/technical school or a 4-year college or university and have experienced a significant health challenge - or some other substantial adverse circumstance - during their high school career.  For 2025, $1,000 is available for this award.

• Hannah Church Memorial Scholarship:  The Church Memorial Scholarship is available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who have participated in one of the school’s show choir programs or with show choir related activities such as stage crew or band.  For 2025, $850 will be available for an award.

• Victor and Ruth Johnson Scholarship:  The Johnson Scholarship is available to graduating seniors at Fort Atkinson High School who plan to continue their education at a four-year college or university.   In 2025, a scholarship of $750 will be available.

For more information about these and other scholarships offered by the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, visit www.fortfoundation.org and follow the links to the scholarship pages. Here applicants will be guided to ‘Fort Scholarships’ — an online application website that will walk them through the application process.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications for most of the scholarships listed above is February 8, 2025; the Rossing Scholarship has a later April 1, 2025 deadline.  Complete information can be found on the www.fortfoundation.org website.

For more information, contact Megan Hartwick, the Community Foundation’s executive director, at (920) 563-3210 (office), or via email at facf@fortfoundation.org.