You can now find the Foundation on Twitter!

https://twitter.com/bdlfoundation

 

Thank you to Board member, Jen Mulhall for being our Twitter master!

2016 Brian LaViolette Scholarship Recipient!

We had a 'Publishers Clearing House' moment last week. Let me fill you in...

We surprised the 2016 Brian LaViolette Scholarship recipient, Eric Hess of Bay Port High School.  This scholarship award is $10,000 and will go to towards Eric's education at the University of Minnesota where he will study biomedical research. 

In the Partners in Education school district there were 3600 Seniors in the class of 2016.  One was selected to receive Brian's Scholarship. 

Through the administrative help of Partners in Education, one student from the 17 schools in the Green Bay district is asked to apply.  The committee narrows it down to 5 and our family, along with Ashley of Partners in Education interview the finalists. 

 Our surprise happened to be during Eric's choir class.

 

 

They even sang us a song!

 

This was the crew that was a part of the surprise. Bay Port High School's counselors, superintendent, principal and our family. Fun!

 

We heard from Eric after the surprise...

"Although it is true that the scholarship is certainly rewarding financially, I have to say that I am much more honored by the fact that a family such as yours, which has seen so many possible candidates for scholarships, selected me out of the crowd of many. 

I am still in a little bit of shock over it, because yes, like anyone else, it is easy to doubt myself, but knowing that the foundation has faith in me gives me confidence that I can live out Brian's message in my own life, and no monetary value can be placed on that encouragement."

Congratulations Eric, we look forward to following your Journey!

Martin Baxa receives the Brian LaViolette Spirit Award

Martin Baxa epitomizes leadership, dedication and support to the citizens of Plzen, Czech Republic.  For those of you who had the opportunity to hear Plzen's Mayor, Martin Baxa address the audience at the Meyer Theatre in Green Bay Wisconsin on 11.12.13 you may have a better understanding of the man he is.

Deputy Mayor Baxa has passion, compassion and spirit for the American Veterans who liberated Pilsen on May 6, 1945 and the American people today.   As the Mayor of Plzen, he was instrumental in helping to establish the General George S. Patton Scholarship of Honor.  Martin is a history and geography teacher in the secondary schools in Plzen and believes strongly in education.

Martin was presented The Brian LaViolette Spirit award at the 5th annual Scholarship Of Honor reception on May 8, 2016 at the home of Barb and Partrick Foye by Brian's Dad, Doug LaViolette.  He is pictured here with his wife, Simona.

Medal of Honor recipient, Tom Hudner honored through the Scholarship of Honor.

Cadet Second Lieutenant (C/2d Lt) Michael Chanda received the Captain Thomas J. Hudner Scholarship of Honor, sponsored by the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation.

He has actively been a member of Fox Cities Composite Squadron for 4 1/2 years. In that time he has excelled, showing great leadership and dedication to the Civil Air Patrol mission.

                                              

C/2d Lt Chanda has served within various positions at our Squadron including; Cadre for Basic Cadet Training, Cadet First Sergeant, Cadet Deputy Commander, and he currently serves as the Cadet Commander. His commitment to Civil Air Patrol also extends outside of our Squadron level; he has attended 4 encampments at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, the Advanced Technology Academy at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; and Powered Flight Academy in Oshkosh where he earned his solo wings. Cadet Chanda also previously served as the Fox Cities Composite Squadron’s representative to the Wisconsin Wing Cadet Advisory Council. 

He was named the 2015 at FCCS C/Lt Col Christopher R. Koehler Leadership Award recipient. Michael has further served on staff at the Non-commissioned Officer School run by our squadron, sharing his knowledge with cadets across the Wing.

C/2d Lt Chanda enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and is scheduled to report to Basic Military Training in July. He will then attend AF Technical School at Keesler AFB, Mississippi for a 72 week Air Traffic Control course.

2016 Scholarship presentation dates!

We started the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation with one scholarship in Brian's name almost 25 years ago.  Today, nearly 70% of our scholarships are honor of others. We are proud to announce our 2016 scholarship presentation dates... Don Falk with Ron Sager Scholarship of Honor recipient, Hannah Linebaugh  Thomas Hudner: Fox Valley Civil War Patrol- April 16th Sal Giunta: JFK High School, Cedar Rapid, IA- April 25, 6:30 pm Joel Gentz: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN- April 30, 6:00 pm     General George S. Patton: Pilsen, Czech Republic,- May 7th Victoria Parmentier Scholarship: Ashwaubenon High School, WI-May 11, 6:30 Danny Dietz: Heritage High School, Littleton, CO- May 16, 6:30 pm Matt Atkinson: Green Bay East High School, WI- May 16, 7:00 pm   Samantha Rose Cuene: DePere High School, WI- May 17, 6:30 pm David Parmentier:  DePere High School, WI- May 17, 6:30 pm Rachel Bosveld: Waupun High School, WI- May 18, 6:00 pm  Ben Edinger: Green Bay West High School, WI- May 18, 6:30pm  Ray Zimmerman: Green Bay West High School, WI- May 18, 6:30 pm John Bradley: Appleton West High School, WI- May 18, 6:30pm James Cathey: Reno High School, NV- May 18, 6:30 pm Kyle Hemauer: Chilton High School, WI-May 18 7:00 pm Ken Kubsch: Manitowoc High School, WI- May 18, 7:00pm Brent Vroman: Omro High School, WI-May 18, 6:30 pm Ron Sager: Fox Valley Lutheran High School, WI- May 18, 6:00 pm  Joe Welke: Rapid City Stevens High School, SD- To be announced Andrew Brownfield: North High School, Akron OH- May 20, 8:30 am Robert Foley: United States Military Academy, West Point NY- May 20, 2:00 Isaiah Hunt: Bayport High School, WI- May 20, 9:00 am Ken Hess: AC Reynolds High School, Asheville, NC- May 23, 6:00 pm Wendell and Shanna Ellsworth (2 scholarships): Belding High School, MI-     May 25, 7:00 pm  Ryan Jerabek: Pulaski High School, WI- May 25, 6:00 pm Nueske Family (2 scholarships): Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School, WI-   May 25, 7:00 pm   Eric McColley: Gettysburg High School, PA-May 25, 7:00 pm  Nichole Frye: Lena High School, WI-May 25, 7:30 pm  Above and Beyond Scholarship: Oconto High School, WI-May 25, 6:30 pm  Esther Cleveland Safford: Oconto High School, WI- May 25 6:30 pm  Robert Safford: Oconto High School, WI- May 25, 6:30 pm "The Journey is the Reward": Oconto High School, WI-May 25, 6:30 pm  NWTC Scholarship: Oconto High School, WI- May 25, 6:30 pm   Jerome Hatfield: Tunstall High School, Dry Fork VA- To be announced Len Keller: Auburn High School, Rockford, IL-To be announced Brian LaViolette: Partners in Education- To be announced  Mike Colalillo: Denfeld High School, MN-To be announced  Ollie and Helen Bogsted: Suring High School, WI- May 28th "The Journey is the Reward": Suring High School, WI- May 28th NWTC Scholarship: Suring High School, WI- May 28th Ken Stumpf, Elmer Burr: Menasha High School, WI-May 31, 9:00 am  Jesse Thiry: Luxemburg Casco High School, WI, June 1, 9:00 am  Nainoa Hoe: 1Lt Nainoa K. Hoe Battle Command Training Center, Schofield Barracks, HI- August 28th LEAP School Science and Math, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa-Summer of 2016 Poland Scholarships (2 Scholarships): Nidzica Foundation Award Ceremony, Nidzica Poland- September 2016 St. Norbert Scholarships (2 Scholarships): DePere, WI --October 2016

Marti Kuimjian, Bellin College recipient with Renee and Doug LaViolette