The William Graham Post 173 of the American Legion provides four $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors planning to continue their education at an accredited institution of higher learning.  Students may apply by completing the WHS Common Application form.  Selection is made by an American Legion selection committee.  Recipients of this scholarship are required to participate in the Memorial Day Services held by the American Legion.

The Walter and Louise Buell Scholarships are available to graduates of Fort Atkinson and Whitewater High Schools.  The awards vary in number.  The amount of each award is $1,123 ($140.37/8 semesters) as long as the recipient maintains a 3.0 grade point average. 

1.     The candidate must have been enrolled in Fort Atkinson or Whitewater High School for at least four semesters before graduation.

2.     The candidate must rank in the upper 15% of his/her graduating class.

3.     The candidate must enroll as a full-time student (12 credits or more) each semester in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and pursue a major in any of the four colleges.

4.     The candidate must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 31 for the next school year.

5.     A high school transcript with courses taken in the final semester must be submitted with the application.

6. Provide a letter of recommendation and three teacher recommendation forms.

(Students can pick up copies of the teacher recommendations form in the Student Services Office)

7.     The scholarship committee shall consider the following factors in deciding the relative merit of applicants and final selection:

a.    Financial need

b.    School and community service

c.     Citizenship

d.    Personality and leadership

e.    Scholarship

The scholarship is renewable for eight semesters (excluding summer school) as long as the student maintains a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and continues as a full-time student.  Students will use the WHS Common Application. 

Mary Ellen Converse was a Forensic Advisor/Debate Coach for the Debate Team for 20 years while teaching office practice at Whitewater High School.  She highly valued the ability to speak articulately on current events of the period and to argue persuasively your position on subjects of the day.  Consequently, we will award a $1,000 scholarship to a student who has demonstrated these abilities in the fields of forensics, debate & business.  Emphasis for selection will be based on achievements in forensics and debate (awards won, debates won, speeches, etc.) and participation in drama (roles in plays, behind-the-scenes work, direction, etc.) at school or in the community of Whitewater and financial need.  Be sure to document years of participation and accomplishments in these areas on the WHS Common Application.  The recipient will receive the scholarship upon successful completion of the fall semester at an institution of higher learning 

The District Leadership Team, composed of administrators and coordinators of the Whitewater Unified School District, has donated money to provide a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior planning to attend a post-secondary school that has demonstrated the following:

— 3.5 GPA      — Leadership      — Growth      — Service

— Participation in at least two activities per year

To apply, complete the WHS Common Application and provide a one-page, typed narrative illustrating how you have exhibited qualities of leadership, demonstrated growth, and provided service to the school and/or community.  We also request that you provide two letters of recommendation demonstrating your leadership abilities.  Final candidates will be invited to meet with the District Leadership Team and articulate why they are worthy of this scholarship.

DLK Enterprises offers $750 scholarships for students attending UW-Whitewater.  The WHS Common Application form is used and DLK Enterprises will select the winners.  Payment will be made when the UW-Whitewater Foundation verifies proof of at least a 3.0 GPA for the fall semester and registration for full-time enrollment for the spring semester.  Payment will be credited to your 2025 Spring semester tuition after the 1st billing.  WHS students who choose to transfer to UW-Whitewater second semester are also eligible for this award.  Contact Joette Mather 262-472-1513.

There is a growing need in the trades to replace competent carpenters from the Baby Boomer generation who will now be needed to build homes.  This need is significant.  There are not enough quality builders to offset the demand for housing which has been increasing exponentially.  Many of the best carpenters are reaching retirement age with no plan for succession.  There is also a need for well-minded contractor salespeople in the lumber industry capable of serving the needs of those same builders.  For either of these careers, blueprint reading and material take-off are important and with the right attitude salary expectations can be significant, ranging above six-figure incomes.  In honor of Donald W. Hale, Founder of Home Lumber Company, who was always reaching out to the community, and assisting people in the building trades, Home Lumber promotes the Building Material Industry by granting this $1,000 Donald Hale Memorial Scholarship to a senior who chooses to further his/her career in either of these fields.  Selection of the award will be based on high school record, community involvement, character, and financial need.  The recipient of this scholarship must attain a minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a 4-point scale after their first post-high school semester and show proof of registration for their second semester on this two-year technical journey.  Selection will be made by Geoff Hale and the WHS Common Application will be used.

A graduate of Whitewater High School in 1987, Veronica Hookstead-West studied in London for two semesters as part of the study abroad program at UW-Whitewater and received her BA in Political Science and Criminology from UW-Whitewater in 1991.  She completed a University of Cambridge course in Teaching English as a Second Language in London in 1992 and received her MA in Linguistics from St. Mary’s University College in Twickenham, London in 1996.  Veronica was an average student and athlete with above-average passion and commitment to be the best she could be in everything she did.  This unrelenting determination led her to become a respected and admired teacher in South Korea, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates, and an accomplished athlete finishing the Iron Man in Lake Placid, New York in July 2000.  Veronica’s work ethic, her tenacious and indomitable spirit, and the way she embraced opportunities and accepted challenges were an inspiration to everyone who knew her.

The Veronica Hookstead-West Scholarship of $4,000 will go to a candidate who has achieved a 2.5 GPA and is seeking post-secondary education at a trade school or technical college. Programs of one (1) year or less will receive payment in full upon verification of a 2.5 GPA program completion. Programs of greater length will receive $2,000 upon verification of a 2.5 GPA for the fall semester and full-time enrollment in the second semester of years one and two.  The WHS Common Application will be used.  Veronica Hookstead-West’s family will select the recipient.

A $2,500 award for a Whitewater High School senior planning to attend UW-Whitewater and is enrolled as a Business Major.  FBLA membership is preferred but not required.   The WHS Common application is used and the Kachel Family will select the recipient.  Payment will be made when the UW-Whitewater Foundation verifies proof of at least a 3.0 GPA for the fall semester and registration for full-time enrollment for the spring semester.  Payment will be credited to your 2025 Spring semester tuition after the 1st billing.

A $2,500 award for a student who will attend UW-Whitewater and is enrolled as a Science Major.  The recipient must have three years of outstanding performance in science during high school.  The WHS Common application is used and the Kachel Family will select the recipient.  Payment will be made when the UW-Whitewater Foundation verifies proof of at least a 3.0 GPA for the fall semester and registration for full-time enrollment for the spring semester.  Payment will be credited to your Spring term 2022 tuition after the 1st billing.

The Ketterhagen family has been in the Ford Business in the Whitewater area since 1920.  Joe Ketterhagen owned and operated Ketterhagen Ford Mercury in Whitewater for many years and was known to be a very fair, honest, and hardworking businessman.  Two $500 scholarships were established in his name in 2011 to honor a Whitewater High School senior who plans to pursue a career in auto mechanics.  The WHS Auto Instructor will select the recipient after consulting with the Joe Ketterhagen family.  The WHS Common Application will be used.

Treyton Kilar was a 6-year-old boy who loved baseball.  More importantly, he loved playing the game with his team.  He was kind, trustworthy, hardworking, and dedicated to making himself and those around him better ball players.  Multiple $500 scholarships have been established in his name to honor Whitewater High School athletes as well as students displaying characteristics of hard work, dedication, trustworthiness, and leadership both on and off the field.  Strong academic effort within the classroom throughout their high school careers will also be considered for this scholarship. Selection will be made by the Kilar Family, the WHS Common Application will be used, and the check will be given on scholarship night.

Maya Angelou once said, "The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving with passion & compassion, humor & style, and generosity & kindness."  Pamela Sonmor-Wintz established the Kindness Matters Scholarship to recognize a senior who has demonstrated extraordinary acts of kindness to inspire & improve the quality of life for others.  $250 will be awarded to the recipient in May during the Scholarship Night Program.  The recipient will be chosen by Pamela Sonmor-Wintz.  The WHS Common Application will be used.

Two $500 scholarships will be awarded to former Lincoln Elementary School students who have demonstrated initiative, leadership, and curiosity in their educational pursuits and daily life. A dedication to service in both the local and global community is also desired.   The WHS Common Application will be used and the students will receive the scholarships upon providing proof of full-time registration for the fall semester. Children of Lincoln School employees are not eligible.

The Whitewater Lions Club offers scholarships to outstanding graduates of Whitewater High School based on academic achievement, community service, and financial need.  A $500 scholarship is awarded to four recipients enrolled in a 4-year program at an accredited college or university and one recipient enrolled in a technical or vocational school.  The award money will be payable from the Whitewater Lions Club to the student and the chosen school as co-payees upon receipt of proof of admission.  Selection is solely determined by the Whitewater Lions Club and the WHS Common Application is used.  

The family of Randy Lyon funded this $500 scholarship for a senior male or female track athlete planning on pursuing a post-secondary education.  Randy was a member of the Whitewater High School class of 1976.  He ran on the Whippet varsity track team, taking 1st place in the mile relay team at state, earning 2nd place in the long jump at state, and winning four gold medals at the conference track meet.  Below are the criteria for selection:

a)    The student must be a senior varsity track member.

b)    The student must have been enrolled in WHS for at least four semesters before graduation and have a cumulative GPA of not less than 2.5.

c)    The candidate must demonstrate good sportsmanship, a strong work ethic, and a positive team attitude, celebrating the team’s success even more than his/her own.

The athletic director, head boy’s track coach, and head girl’s track coach will determine which applicant is most deserving of the scholarship award.  While performance is an important part of athletics, it is not the primary focus of this award.  More important is the athlete’s personal characteristics.

In addition to recognition at the WHS annual Scholarship Night, the award recipient will also be announced and recognized at the annual Randy Lyon Memorial Track meet held each spring.

Students will use the WHS Common Application.  Payments will be made upon proof of successful completion (2.0 GPA) of fall semester and full-time enrollment for the spring semester.  If the scholarship is not claimed during the academic year it is to be awarded, except for unforeseen circumstances, the recipient will forfeit the award.

A scholarship of $1,600 ($400/4 years) has been established in memory of Mrs. Jean Olson to be awarded to a student who will be seeking a career in Art.  The student must be registered in the School of Art in the College of the Arts.

If the recipient does not continue to pursue a degree in a college or university in Art, then the scholarship shall terminate at the commencement of any academic school term in which the recipient is not pursuing a degree as stated above.  Students will be expected to participate in an interview and display a variety of their art projects.  The recipient of the award shall be determined by Mr. Karl Olson.  The WHS Common Application will be used.

This scholarship has been established in memory of Elizabeth A Parenteau to reward volunteerism and public service beyond academic program requirements and/or school-sponsored activities. The recipient of this $1,000 award will be a graduating senior who is academically responsible, aware of the needs of others, and someone who has made a conscientious effort to improve the world around them. Examples of service projects may include but are not restricted to, involvement in Habitat for Humanity, Whitewater Food Pantry, The Community Space, community ESL programs, reading enhancement programs, church-sponsored work mission weekends/trips, etc. Family obligations do not fall into this category. The recipient must be a full-time student attending a public, four-year Wisconsin college or university and have a grade point average of 2.5 or more for the first semester of college. ​The scholarship will be awarded in the second semester.  Please include with the WHS Common Application the necessary service project information in the "Additional Information" or on an attached page.

Melissa (Heaton) Patrick lived almost her entire life in Whitewater.  She attended Washington School, Franklin Junior High, and finally Whitewater High School until her graduation in June 1992.  She then pursued an education at UW-Whitewater but took a leave after a few semesters to get a full-time job.  She met and later married Ralph Patrick and became a mom to two wonderful children.  Her kids were the center of her world.  Missy loved to be around people and make them laugh.  One of her passions was singing and she wouldn't hesitate to get up in front of a crowd to belt out her signature song "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw.  And she lived her life that way.  She was taken from us way too soon at only 40 years old.  Her memory will live on in her children and the rest of her family.  This scholarship is being given in her memory in the hopes of helping a young adult to realize their dreams. 

Mike & Mary Kilar will be awarding a $500 scholarship to a student who will be furthering their education at any post-secondary school.  The WHS Common Application will be used.  Selection will be made by members of Melissa Patrick’s family.  The award will be distributed during the WHS Scholarship Night Program.  

The Tim Ryan Memorial Scholarship is a $500 award in loving memory of Tim Ryan, a former Whitewater Lion and Waikiki, Hawaii Motorcycle Patrol Officer.  The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is entering a career in law enforcement or related field.  The award will be based on the student's academic achievement, community service, and financial need.  The award is funded by the Whitewater Lions Club and payable to the student and the school as co-payees upon receipt of proof of admission.  Selection is solely determined by the Whitewater Lions Club and the WHS Common Application is used. 

The Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department promotes its interest in fire science and emergency medical services by presenting one $750 scholarship to a senior who chooses to further his/her education in either of these fields.  Students pursuing the field of nursing may also be considered.  Selection for the award will be based on the student’s overall high school record, community involvement, character, and financial need.  The student will receive the scholarship upon satisfactory completion of his/her first post-high school semester with a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4-point scale (or equivalent) and proof of registration for the second semester.  The WHS Common Application will be used.  

The Seniors Supporting Seniors Education Scholarship is a $500 award presented to a Whitewater High School senior who has an interest in a career focused on providing senior citizens (age 55 and older) a better quality of life in and around their community at a recognized senior citizens center, community park or recreation program that provides quality and efficient programming services and also follows current senior trends and practices.  The recipient must demonstrate academic excellence, achievement, creativity & leadership at school, in the community, and other areas of their life.  The applicant must maintain full-time enrollment in an accredited institution pursuing higher education in one of the following areas:

Associate or Bachelor's Degree of Science in Human Services

Bachelor's Degree of Science in Education

Bachelor's Degree in Parks & Recreation or Recreation Management

The Seniors in the Park Scholarship Committee will select the winner.  Seniors should complete the WHS Common Application and submit it with a resume, transcript, two letters of recommendation (one from a WHS Faculty member & one from a person not related), and a special essay added to the Additional Section of the WHS Common Application.  The essay should be a statement that ties together background, skills, education & interests, including how they fit with your choice of college and areas to study.  The statement should also answer the following questions:

Describe the school/campus you have chosen.  Why did you pick the school and program you want to attend?

How will you use your education?  

What are your short and long-term goals for your education?

What do you like best about your area of study?

What do you think will be the challenges of this program?

Payment will be made directly to the college or university after proof of enrollment has been received during the fall semester.

A scholarship of $500.00 will be offered each year to a senior student at each of the three high schools (Fort Atkinson, Whitewater, and Jefferson).  The student must have fulfilled the selection requirements as determined by Terra Staffing Services.

ELIGIBILITY:

1. The student must have maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (C+) on a 4-point system while in high school.

2. The award shall be used for educational purposes at the school of the student's choice.

3. Applicants must be in any business or engineering or skilled trades-related field.

APPLICATION:  Applicants must complete the WHS Common Application.

 PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP:  Recipients will receive a check directly from Terra Staffing on Scholarship Night.

The David F. Veith Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of David, who was a Whitewater resident for 50 years.  David's lifelong career was in education and he loved being a teacher at Fort Atkinson High School.  He was a kind & caring man devoted to seeking equality for all people.  He had a big heart for kids that got left behind.  As an educator, David witnessed the bullying that went on in schools, especially those in rural Wisconsin.  Anyone who didn't quite fit the mold, or who was a little different, was subject to harassment.  In his later years, he devoted much of his time and energy to the prevention of bullying & teen suicide.

A $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to a senior at WHS who has been involved in the performing arts in high school and will be attending a 2 or 4-year college to major in music, theater, or related fields.  Students will complete a WHS Common Application.  The scholarship will be made payable to the recipient when proof of successful completion of the first semester in college is sent to the scholarship contact person. 

Established by the local V.F.W. Post 5470.  To qualify for this scholarship applicants must:

1.  Be siblings, sons, daughters, grandsons, and granddaughters of veterans who have served beyond the boundaries of the territorial United States.

2.  Demonstrate strong academic and extracurricular performance as well as good character.

3.  Evidence of financial need will be a consideration.

4.  The recipient must attend the same college or university for an entire year.

5.  This scholarship will be awarded for semester two of advanced studies.

One $750 scholarship will be awarded.  Selection will be made by the V.F.W. and the WHS Common Application is used.  The recipient must participate in the Memorial Day Parade and services.

Two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to seniors who plan to attend a technical or vocational school.

Mr. Weiler was the founder of Weiler and Company, Inc., (now Provisur Technologies, Inc.) a local manufacturer of heavy-duty food processing equipment that is sold throughout the world.  He received the majority of his education from technical schools and was well known for his exceptional mechanical aptitude.  Mr. Weiler believed that technical schools provide excellent opportunities for students to direct their careers in a specific field.

The WHS Common Application will be used and selection will be made by the Weiler Family in conjunction with the Faculty Scholarship Committee.  Preference may be given to students who has the greatest need.  The award money will be payable from the Whitewater Community Foundation to the student and the chosen school as co-payees upon receipt of certification of successful completion of the first semester.

The Whitewater High School Alumni Association's $500 scholarships are donated by businesses, citizens, and alumni of Whitewater to graduating seniors who wish to continue their education within the boundaries of the United States. The WHS Alumni Association's mission is to promote continuing education for as many graduating seniors as possible by raising funds within the community. Every graduate of WHS is an automatic member of the WHS Alumni Association – no dues required.  The WHS Common Application will be used.

The National Honor Society at Whitewater High School will award scholarships for outstanding senior members who plan to attend any 2- or 4-year college or university.  The following criteria will be used when naming recipients:

1.    Recipients must demonstrate the characteristics promoted by the National Honor Society:  outstanding leadership, character, scholarship, and service.

2.  Recipients must have demonstrated outstanding attendance at NHS meetings and participation in numerous service projects during their membership in the organization.

3.    Recipients must be members in good standing of the Whitewater High School National Honor Society.

In the “Additional Information” section at the end of the WHS Common Application, please describe your feelings about the importance of demonstrating outstanding leadership, character, scholarship, and service.  Also, include reflections about some of the most meaningful service projects you participated in with the Whitewater High School National Society.

Selection of scholarship recipients will be made by the National Honor Society advisor.  The WHS Common Application will be used.  Payment will be made after successful completion of the first semester of college coursework.

The Kiwanis Breakfast Club of Whitewater will award four $1,200 scholarships each year to graduates of Whitewater High School.  The basic requirements for the scholarships are:

1.  The candidate must graduate with a 3.0 GPA or better.

2.  The candidate must enroll as a full-time student in any two-year or four-year school, college, or university within the United States.  If applicants are tied in the committee’s rating, preference will be given to a student planning to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

3.  Financial Need is considered in awarding this scholarship.

4.  Disbursement of the scholarship will be made after receipt of satisfactory evidence of continuing enrollment in the second semester or quarter of the educational institution involved.  The second semester or quarter must be commenced no later than one (1) year after the date of graduation.

The Kiwanis Breakfast Club Scholarship Committee will use the WHS Common Application to select recipients based on the following criteria:

Goals  ★  Involvement in School Activities  ★  Awards/Leadership

Community Service  ★  Financial Need  ★  Resume  ★  Kiwanis Key Club Membership

The Whitewater Professional Police Association provides one $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior planning to enroll in a college or university program emphasizing in a criminal justice-related field.  The Whitewater Professional Police Association Scholarship Committee will select the recipient and the WHS Common Application is used.