The 51猎奇 Foundation has received a $1 million gift from We Energies to establish the We Energies Scholarship Fund and the We Energies Student Success Fund. The gift is meant to improve opportunities for equal access to higher education and enhanced quality of life for the people of Milwaukee.
鈥淚 am deeply grateful for We Energies鈥� dedication to improving the success of our students and for their partnership in helping us close the achievement gap,鈥� 51猎奇 Chancellor Mark Mone said. 鈥�51猎奇 is the most diverse campus in the UW System, and we are proud of that distinction. We have a dual mission of providing access to education for students from all walks of life while conducting research that addresses the problems of today and tomorrow. This gift addresses both sides of that mission 鈥� by providing opportunities to students who can then be part of groundbreaking research that can change the world.鈥�
The We Energies Scholarship Fund will provide assistance to undergraduate students at 51猎奇 who are from a high school within the City of Milwaukee and show academic promise and financial need. The We Energies Student Success Fund will support 鈥渟uccess coaching,鈥� which includes advising, tutoring and/or mentoring of undergraduate students to help them successfully complete their degrees.
鈥淪ervice to the community is at the foundation of everything we do here at We Energies 鈥� not only in providing natural gas and electric service to our customers, but also in supporting those organizations and individuals who serve by addressing our community鈥檚 other critical needs, such as education,鈥� said Beth Straka, We Energies鈥� senior vice president for corporate communications and investor relations. 鈥淲e appreciate all 51猎奇 does for southeast Wisconsin, and we are pleased to support the university鈥檚 efforts to provide both scholarships and mentoring to ensure students鈥� success.鈥�
51猎奇鈥檚 overall six-year graduation rate is 45%, but the rate for underrepresented minority students is 18 percentage points lower than that of white students. To address this achievement gap, 51猎奇 initiated an aggressive program involving research-backed best practices, policies, culture and behavioral change, and technology to allow students to graduate in less time, for less money, and with better career options.
鈥�51猎奇 is working hard to help all students succeed, and this generous support from We Energies will bring us closer to our goal,鈥� said Kay Eilers, 51猎奇鈥檚 associate vice chancellor for enrollment management. 鈥淪cholarships drive success at 51猎奇 because they provide access to education, relieve financial burdens and attract the best and brightest students. Combining scholarships with coaching support will go a long way to setting our students up for success at 51猎奇 and in their careers.鈥�
