UWP alumnus endows scholarship in memory of child
UW-Platteville alumnus Scott Fromader (right), Madison, has established a scholarship for education students at the university. The scholarship is in honor of the late Nia Lauryn Nicole Proctor (left), who died from sickle cell anemia. Also pictured is Nia’s mother Michelle Procter.
PLATTEVILLE - University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumnus Scott Fromader wants to assist college students who have enthusiasm for education. He is establishing a scholarship in honor of a young girl whose own journey in learning was tragically cut short.
Nia Lauryn Nicole Proctor had just begun preschool when she died at the tender age of three due to complications from sickle cell anemia. A planned gift from Fromader will establish the Nia Lauryn Nicole Procter Early Childhood Scholarship at UW-Platteville.
The scholarship will be offered to students studying early childhood education, with preference given to minority students.
Fromader dates Nia's mother Michelle, and developed a father-like relationship with Nia during her lifetime.
"She and I had a great time getting to know each other, doing the things any normal dad would do," Fromader said. "She was learning to ride her bike. She loved to go down slides. She loved to play catch with the ball, loved to sing. She was just full of life."
It was the girl's passion for learning that inspired the scholarship. "Nia just loved school, she just couldn't wait to get to school," Fromader said. "She loved to read. She was at the age when all of that just started to come, and she was just so eager to learn."
Nia died on father's day, June 15, 2003. She was survived by her mother and two older sisters: Ashley, 17, and Stephanie, 14. Stephanie herself had a battle with a rare bone cancer disease, which is now in remission. The Proctor family lives in Milwaukee.
Fromader, a Darlington native, studied elementary education and vocal music as a student at UWP in the 1970s. He graduated in 1977, and after nine years of teaching, began work as director of operations for the state governor's office in 1987. He worked under Governor Tommy Thompson until 1998. Fromader still lives in Madison, where he is now employed as an educational consultant for the state Division of Workforce Solutions.
Contact: Alma Valencia, University Relations, 608-342-1031, valencia@uwplatt.edu
Prepared by: Dan Lehnherr, UWP Public Relations, 608-342-1194, lehnherd@uwplatt.edu
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