The Waukesha Education Foundation, Inc. (WEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the annual Waukesha Education Foundation Awards for 2023. All three winners will be recognized at the 2024 Evening for Education event, being held on April 11 at the Milwaukee Marriott-West (Waukesha).
The recipient of the WEF Corporate Partner Award is Educators Credit Union (ECU). ECU has been a valued community partner to the School District of Waukesha (SDW) since 1992 when the first co-op student from North High School was hired at the Waukesha Branch. Many other interns and youth apprentices have explored the Finance Career Pathway and have benefited from the “learn and earn” experience. ECU has provided curriculum resources to teach financial literacy to thousands of students over the decades. Each year ECU supports Reality Day where approximately 400 students interact with community volunteers to learn about the real-world challenges of budgeting. Both Victor Frasher and Ann Goetsch have represented ECU while serving on the WEF Board of Directors, and ECU is a generous WEF annual sponsor.
The recipient of the WEF Community Partner Award is the Kai Lermer Memorial Fund and the Lermer Family. In 2019, Kai Lermer, a North HS student-athlete, collapsed in cardiac arrest playing basketball with friends and later died of an undiagnosed heart condition. His family and friends have worked tirelessly since then to ensure other families and communities do not suffer the same loss by creating a fund established through the Waukesha County Community Foundation. The Kai Lermer Memorial Fund has ensured that AEDs are accessible throughout the SDW and in public parks. They have assisted Waukesha North, West, and South to earn Project ADAM Heart Safe School designations. They successfully advocated for the Kai11 Bill in the Wisconsin legislature to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, worked with parents and coaches through the WIAA, and advocated for over $4.1 million in state funding for EKG screening for student-athletes before participating in any sport. The non-profit Kai11 Save-A-Heart Mission will provide continued funding for low-cost EKG screenings throughout Southeastern WI.
The recipient of the Sally Jo Michalko Lifetime Excellence in Education Award is Joseph (“Joe”) Como, Jr. Joe was elected to the Board of Education for the School District of Waukesha in 2002 and served for over 20 years as a member or chair of many Board committees. Joe was truly a collaborative, educational leader holding the positions of Board Vice President, Treasurer, and President during his tenure. Joe grew up in Waukesha, and he and his children attended Waukesha Public Schools, and he dedicated 1/3 of his life to service on the Board of Education for those public schools. Last January, Joe was honored at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards State Education Convention for 20 years of service as a board member. Joe also served as a member of the WEF Board of Directors for several years and was always a vocal supporter of the WEF grants and scholarships at School Board meetings.
All three award recognitions will occur at the Evening for Education which will be held at the Milwaukee Marriott-West (Waukesha) on April 11, 2024. The community is invited to this popular event which will celebrate these winners and education in Waukesha. Sponsorship opportunities and limited event tickets remain available. For more information, please visit http://sdwone.us/wefefe2024 or call 262 970-1143.
Please note: Tickets are extremely limited, with only 50 seats remaining. Don't delay if you would like to attend this popular event!
Since its inception, WEF has awarded over $775,000 to support projects and initiatives that directly benefit the students of the School District of Waukesha through their grant and scholarship programs. WEF relies on donations from the community to further the educational experiences of Waukesha students. More information can be found at their website: www.waukeshaeducationfoundation.org.