Two Wauwatosa East students received scholarships from the Herb Kohl Education Foundation to help cover college-related expenses. Wauwatosa East seniors Ava Biesenstien and Arnold Ramos each won $10,000 as part of their respective Student Excellence and Student Initiative scholarships.

“I know grades don’t define you, but I worked hard in high school and put time into clubs that felt important to me. It feels nice to know that it paid off,” Biesenstein said. 

The Student Excellence Scholarship, awarded to Biesenstien, goes to students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, citizenship, and school and community involvement. As a leader in The Tosa Compass, the Cardinal Pennant, the Tosa East Forensics team, the Tri M Honor Society, girls’ dive, track, and NHS, Biesenstien has certainly demonstrated both leadership and a commitment to her community. 

After she graduates this spring, Biesenstien plans to attend college to study environmental science and journalism. The scholarship will help her start off her secondary education with more liberty. 

“I haven’t decided what school I’ll be going to, but it’ll help cover tuition and things like books and supplies,” she says. 

Senior Arnold Ramos received the Student Initiative Scholarship for his high level of motivation to achieve and strong promise for succeeding in higher education and beyond. The scholarship is awarded to students who put forward extraordinary effort in the classroom. 

The Herb Kohl Scholarship program has been running for 31 years, and has donated over $25 million dollars to Wisconsin students, teachers, and schools. Both the Student Excellence Scholarship and the Student Initiative Scholarship are awarded to 100 graduating Wisconsin high school students each year. Scholarships are sent directly to each student’s secondary schooling institution, and can be paid in full all at once or spread out over a number of years.

The application may be thorough, but the payoff can be tremendous.

“The application was a bit longer than most scholarships – it involved writing multiple essays and asking for specific letters of recommendation. If you feel like you have even a small shot at the scholarship, like I did, I’d definitely recommend putting in the time for this application,” Biesenstein said. 

Receiving an Herb Kohl Scholarship is an honor, and to have two individuals from Wauwatosa East receive one shows the standard of excellence and hard work that is upheld in the district. Applications for next year’s scholarships are open to students graduating with the class of 2022, and will be due in the fall.