Urban Scholarship

 


The Judy Voigt Service and Leadership Urban Scholarship

Scholarship Recipients:

The most recent award was given in April, 2012 to Kristin Plessinger.

Previous Award Recipients:

  • 2011 – Rebecca Jeppesen
  • 2010 – Lindsay Maas
  • 2009 – Ashley Campbell & Abby Hintz

Voigt Scholarship: What is it?

Voigt Scholars are Education Majors who have completed at least two years of college with a minimum 2.5 GPA and have made a commitment to urban teaching. A Voigt Scholar is selected by the Directors of the Center for Urban Teaching at Wisconsin Lutheran College based upon their demonstrated leadership, academic ability, and service orientation to the urban school community. A Voigt Scholar has demonstrated exemplary responsibility and consistently models the qualities of a Christian educator in relationships on and off campus. This service and leadership award carries with it a one-year scholarship.

Origin and Purpose of the Scholarship:

Norm Voigt established this endowed scholarship in 2008 as a remembrance of his departed wife’s love for children and her service to education. Judy Voigt, a licensed early childhood educator, during her married years chose to serve as the school secretary and administrative assistant to the principal at Atonement Lutheran School in Milwaukee for over fifteen years. Along with her husband Norm, Judy was an active partner supporting the start of a new school, Cross of Glory, in Peoria, Arizona.

While Judy’s love for children included children from every background and every community, this scholarship specifically acknowledges her love for the families of Atonement and the children that this parish school is privileged to reach with a Gospel message. This scholarship acknowledges both the challenge and the opportunity found in urban teaching. It exists as an encouragement to Christian educators who stand ready to serve in areas of great need.

The scholarship was established in the fall of 2008 through the combined efforts of Dr. Ray Dusseau and Mr. Norm Voigt. The initial scholarship award went to two students in May of 2009, each receiving a scholarship in the amount of $1,000. During the following year Norm Voigt endowed this scholarship which will make it possible for the annual awarding of at least one annual urban scholarship honoring Judy’s service to education and her commitment to children.

The Judy Voigt scholarship recognizes college students who have demonstrated exceptional ability, leadership, potential for urban teaching, and who wish to develop their skills more fully as part of the Center for Urban Teaching program. Voigt scholars will engage the urban community in a spirit of Christian service, accepting significant responsibility for themselves and others. They will model to their peers the importance of giving the gift of personal time and talent to serve the needs of urban children.