First recipients of new scholarships named
PLATTEVILLE - Two new scholarships have been established to assist the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's distance learning students. The first beneficiaries of these scholarships were announced at the Distance Learning Center's annual graduation dinner on May 6.
Mary Lovas, Waukesha, was chosen as the first recipient of the Walter Longacre Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was established by UWP distance alumnus Alan Langeteig in appreciation of his father-in-law's support of his own education. Recipients must be enrolled in a UWP distance education degree program, must be Wisconsin residents, must demonstrate financial need and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Lovas attended the spring 2005 graduate recognition dinner and found new inspiration to pursue her own degree, remarking: "Seeing the other students reach their goal has further fueled that fire in me to complete my goal and return one day soon to attend the dinner as a graduate." Lovas plans to complete her business administration degree in 2008.
Madelyn Kennedy, Green Bay, was honored as the first beneficiary of the Dawn Drake Excellence in Distance Education Scholarship, established by UWP's executive director of Alternative Delivery Systems to encourage adults earning their degree at a distance. "Distance education has been a very important part of my life, both personally and professionally, " Drake explains. "It has allowed me to pursue my educational pursuits, while continuing to work and raise a family. I know that money is only one factor in gaining access to distance education, but hopefully this scholarship will allow students to be able to successfully continue their education and know that they are being recognized for all the sacrifices they are making."
The scholarship will help Kennedy complete her lifelong dream of earning her undergraduate degree. "Learning has always been a special privilege, " Kennedy wrote in her application essay. "The smell of a new textbook, challenging new ideas or problems to solve, these things are precious. Through the years I continue to attend, chipping away at my degree, often having to stop because I could not afford any more tuition." Kennedy looks forward to earning her business administration degree in 2007.
UWP offers four degrees at a distance: a bachelor of science in business administration, a master of science in criminal justice, a master of engineering, and a master of science in project management. For more information, visit online at www.uwplatt.edu/disted, call 800-362-5460 or e-mail disted@uwplatt.edu.
Contact: Darla Banfi, marketing coordinator, 608-342-1390,banfi@uwplatt.edu Prepared by: Ellen McFall, mcfalle@uwplatt.edu
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