The MPS Foundation is proud to offer a number of scholarships to assist students as they pursue their post-high school goals. Brief descriptions of our scholarships may be found below.
For more information or to apply, please visit our scholarship application portal by clicking the button below (or cut and paste https://mpsfdn.awardspring.com/ into your browser's address bar). Once there, you can view the available scholarships and information about them on the left-hand side of the page or create an account to apply for scholarships through a personalized dashboard.
For detailed instructions on using the application portal, please click here: Scholarship Applicant Guide
Our 2023 Scholarship Cycle is now open! We anticipate more scholarships will become available throughout the month of January. Please continue to check this page or the AwardSpring portal for new information and updates.
For questions, please contact Kelly Rickman Bosh.
Anderson Family Scholarship
The Anderson Family Scholarship is a $5,000 non-renewable award to an MPS graduate with financial need to pursue higher education.
April Swick Family Memorial Scholarship
April is a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and proud MPS educator for 28 years who passed away too soon. April’s commitment to education and service provide the guiding vision of this scholarship, which will recognize a special student who possesses the character to keep learning while serving his or her community. The Swick family also wishes to recognize the critical role a teacher can play in the life of a student. To that end, an additional gift may be awarded to an eligible MPS teacher who helped inspire learning in the applicant. Two $3,000 scholarships are available.
To make a gift to this fund in April's memory, please click below, and use the drop-down menu to select 'April Swick Family Memorial Scholarship'.
Donna Jenni Memorial Scholarship
The Donna Jenni Memorial Scholarship, made available by Karl Bethke, honors Donna Jenni, a beloved classmate at Bay View High School who was taken too soon by leukemia during her senior year in 1964. Donna's goal was to obtain a nursing degree and continue to serve those in need of medical care. One $1,000 renewable scholarship is available to a graduating MPS student who plans to pursue a career in nursing or a comparable field.
P&H Legacy Scholarship
In 1884, Alonzo Pawling & Henry Harnischfeger started a company and brand which has employed Milwaukeeans for over 135 years. P&H products are known for quality, ingenuity, and innovation throughout the world. This is largely due to the work of talented machinists, welders, and engineers.
Today, the P&H brand falls under the Komatsu umbrella. Historically, both P&H and Komatsu have demonstrated a strong belief in developing the skills and workforce of the communities in which they operate. With respect for the past and a look to the future, the Komatsu Mining Corp. Foundation (which originated with Harnischfeger) is proud to offer renewable scholarships to graduating who will pursue data science, industrial, electrical, mechanical and advanced automation engineering, machining, welding, or other mechanical trades.
Patricia Cadorin Women in Leadership Honorary Scholarship
This scholarship honors Patricia Cadorin, Vice President, Director of the Office of the CEO at BMO Harris Bank and seeks to empower female graduates of Milwaukee Public Schools.
Petrovic Nature and Art Trust Scholarship
This scholarship was made available by Gayle Grubisic Riordan, a Milwaukee artist and nature lover. The trust is named for Ms. Riordan’s grandmother, Matilda Petrovic. Both Gayle and Matilda had an abiding interest in environmental education and wanted to do all they could to encourage people to learn about the environment and to preserve natural habitats. Gayle’s particular interest was helping students from the city of Milwaukee have access to educational programs involving the environment, ecology, native plant habitats, and nature.
Shirley Kersey Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers
The Shirley Kersey Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers has been established by her family to honor Shirley, who was a Speech Pathologist at Milwaukee Public Schools. Shirley was a dedicated teacher for over 30 years, helping countless children.
To make a gift to this fund in Shirley's memory, please click below, and use the drop-down menu to select 'Shirley Kersey Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers'.
Tabak Family Scholarship
Tad Dugan Memorial Scholarship
Alan “Tad” Dugan was a beloved father, husband, son, brother, friend and teacher who was taken too early from those who knew and loved him. Tad’s commitment to education and to helping kids overcome tough circumstances is the guiding vision of this scholarship. The Dugan Family wishes to recognize a special student who possesses the character to keep trying and the will to always be improving.
The Dugan Family also wishes to recognize the critical role a teacher can play in the life of a student. An additional gift may be awarded to an MPS teacher who and/or school that helped inspire learning in the scholarship applicant.
To make a gift to this fund in honor of the Dugan family, please click below and use the drop-down menu to select 'Tad Dugan Memorial Scholarship'.
Cargile Family Scholarship Fund
The Cargile Institute was a two-story wooden building built shortly after 1889 by black carpenters and artisans. It was one of the first schools for blacks in Monticello (Jasper County), Georgia. In the early 1940s, James and Louella Cargile migrated from Athens, Georgia to Milwaukee. Neither had completed high school, but they worked extremely hard to ensure that their six children would. All six children are proud graduates of Milwaukee Public Schools--four from North Division. The Cargile Family Scholarship honors both the legacy of the Institute and the high value its descendants – past and present – place on education as the most important counterweight to systemic racism.
A $5,000 scholarship is available to North Division High School graduating seniors of color. The scholarship must be applied to tuition and is non-renewable. To make a gift to support this scholarship, please click below and use the drop-down menu to select 'Cargile Family Scholarship Fund'.
Simpson Family Scholars Award
The Simpson Family Scholars Award honors Mary C. Simpson and her son, Dr. Ronald P. Simpson.
Mary C. Simpson, a North Division graduate, loved to read, and understood the power books held and the benefits of reading. Dr. Ronald P. Simpson, Mary’s son, was a proud member of the Milwaukee Public Schools family, serving as principal at five different MPS Schools. His first job, teaching English, was at James Madison High School in 1968. In 1972, Dr. Simpson became the youngest secondary school principal in the history of Milwaukee. In 1982, Dr. Simpson became the principal at North Division High School.
Because of their shared commitment to education, a $500 scholarship is available to two North Division graduates.
To make a gift to support this scholarship, please click below and use the drop-down menu to select 'Simpson Family Scholars'.