A Heartwarming Story from Rapid City, SD

Dayna Dyce

Dayna Dyce graduated from Rapid City Stevens High School in May 2014. She worked hard at her full-time job this summer, preparing for college at DSU in the fall. After all of her hard work, she wanted to donate part of her summer earnings to charity. 

Her proud father proposed a challenge.  He matched her contribution of $100 and asked a handful of others in the Rapid City Community to do the same.  This is how $1,175.00 was raised recently for the Joe Welke Scholarship of Honor.

Joe Welke

Joe was a 2003 graduate from Stevens High.  While in high school, Joe played football and earned the Greater Dakota Conference All Conference and Honorable Mention All State honors as a senior.  He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, hunting, fishing, weight training and cars.  Joe was proud to be a United States Marine.   His coach, Joel Hybertson stated, “If we need someone for our Country, I want someone like Joe Welke.  Sadly, Joe was killed in Iraq on November 20, 2004. 

The Joe Welke Scholarship of Honor has been awarded at Stevens High School since 2007 to a graduating senior who makes a true difference in this world. For more details, please visit:  Joe Welke Scholarship of Honor website

Connections Across the Globe

The Weyers Family Foundation has sponsored the Poland Scholarship since 2005. Renata Bruzdziak received our scholarship twice through the Weyers family.

Renata was accepted for the Polish-American Internship at Citigroup in New York City for the summer. She enjoyed the experience very much and a few weeks ago had the opportunity to meet some of the Weyers Family during their visit to NYC!

They had brunch at Tavern on the Green and then took a walk through Central Park. We love when worlds connect, like they often do, through Brian's Foundation!

Brian's Foundation has awarded over 65 scholarships to the students in Poland since we collaborated with the Nidzica Foundation more than a decade ago. It has been a joy!

This past Saturday, was their special presentation ceremony in Nidzica. The generous annual sponsors of the Poland Scholarship sponsor 2 students each year, with a $1000 each...truly life changing for their education. The recipients also received a special engraved Scholarship of Honor medal that hangs from a white ribbon to symbolize international peace.

Dr. Michael and Susan Smullen Family Sponsored: 

Krzysztof Szczephkowski- You will see an update from him below! Applied Linguistics, University in Gdansk, 4th year (they sponsored him last year, as well)

Aleksandra Magdalena Bojanowska, The Medical University in Bialystok Medical Analitics, 1st year.

The Weyers Family Foundation Sponsored:

Małgorzata Młyńska--Environmental Protection, University of Warsaw, 5th year. (they sponsored him last year, as well)

Tomasz Pisarski, The Warmia and Mazury University in Olsztyn, Economics, 3rd year

The Robert and Darlene Nueske Family Sponsored:

Daniel Traczewski: Economics/Finance and Accounting/Computer Science and Econometrics, University in Warsaw4th year (you sponsored him last year, as well)

Natalia Dawidczyk, The Warmia and Mazury University in Olsztyn, Economics, 1st year