EEF Scholarship Winners -
Brookfield Central
The Jim Briscoe Honorary Scholarship
The Jim Briscoe Honorary Scholarship was established by a single donor who wanted to honor Jim for his many years of leadership at BCHS as principal from 1996-2002. This endowed fund provides a scholarship to a BCHS senior who has overcome challenges to achieve personal goals.

This year's recipient is Mollie Thomas , a high achieving student, athlete and leader at Brookfield Central, lettering in Varsity Track and Field. She is an executive board member of the National Honor Society and participates in Key Club and Spanish Honor Society. Her service extended to the community as a Girl Scout camp counselor and Vacation Bible School leader. She will be attending the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. 
The Fotsch Family Foundation


The Fotsch Family Foundation awards two scholarships annually to two graduating seniors pursuing their education at a Catholic University. This year, two recipients were selected from Brookfield Central.
 
Gabriella Brueggeman is planning to study Biology at Saint Louis University. She serves on the Executive Board for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a member of Key Club and National Honor Society. She has received letters in Swim & Dive, Cross Country and Track & Field. She served as a vacation bible school leader and Sunday school teacher.



Our second recipient is Kyle Lee , a very accomplished student planning to major in Chemistry at Boston College . Kyle is a drum major in the marching band, a member of the BC pit orchestra, varsity boys Swim/Dive team, and jazz band. He is a member of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and mentors band students at Swanson Elementary. He was selected as a finalist for the Honors Performance Series (HPS) programs and has played in Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. He will be playing in the Musikverein in Austria this summer.
 
T he Fotsch Family Foundation
The Fotsch Family Foundation awards two scholarships annually to two students who will further their education at a Technical School, one for both Brookfield Central and Brookfield East.
 
Brookfield Central's Julia Hickey is planning to pursue a nursing degree at Waukesha County Technical College. While attending Brookfield Central, she participated in cheerleading and served as the band majorette. She also participated in Girl Scouts and performed in multiple community parades. She has worked throughout high school and plans to become a Certified Nurse Practitioner.
 
The Charles Turner Honorary Scholarship
The Charles Turner Honorary Scholarship was established to honor Charles for the support and encouragement he provided Brookfield Central’s athletes as a physical education teacher and coach from 1965-2003 (he officially retired in 1989). This fund provides a scholarship to a BCHS student who has been active in track and cross country each year.
 
Caroline Durham is an outstanding scholar and athlete lettering in both Cross Country and Track and Field at Brookfield Central. She was nominated as the Journal Sentinel Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 2020.  In addition, she participated in the National Honors Society, Link Mentor program, Key Club and Ski Club throughout high school. Her community service has included teaching in Sunday school where she found her young students to be a great inspiration. She will be studying Biology to pursue a career in healthcare at St. Louis University.
 
The Jeff Borkowski Musical Theater Scholarship
The Jeff Borkowski Musical Theater Scholarship was established to honor Jeff Borkowski, who died of Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in September, 2017. Jeff attended Elmbrook schools for most of his education, and his children graduated from Brookfield Central: Meg in 2014, Josh in 2016, and Emma in 2017. Jeff, a self-employed builder and remodel-er, found it very rewarding to volunteer, helping with stage crew during the Brookfield Central musical. Jeff inspired students with his ability to design and build sets, and was inspired by musical students as he saw them grow over the course of their time in high school. Jeff marveled at the musical process and product that the students were able to be a part of. This impact and value of participating in musical theater is immeasurable. 
 
Congratulations to this year's recipient, Olivia Kroeplin , a talented student who maintained a high GPA while also focusing on numerous aspects of the theater department appearing in Fall productions and writing for the Spring plays. She was a participant in choir, Key Club and a member of the Alpine Ski Team. During her summer months she was inspired to teach children at numerous camps. She plans to attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison and major in Art Education.
 
The BCHS PTO Honorary Scholarship
The BCHS PTO Honorary Scholarship is for a graduating senior who has been active in their school community and has a recognized passion for school service.
 
Anja Logan is an excellent student, musician and leader at Brookfield Central. She served as a Section Leader and Drum Majorette of the band, Secretary of Key Club, led scouting for the BEAST FIRST Robotics Team at state and international competitions, has played French horn with MYSO since 6th grade, and played JV tennis throughout high school. In service to her community, she also mentored a middle school FIRST LEGO League team that went to Worlds, served at Girl Scout Camp for 4 summers, worked with a team of Code the Way interns to develop software for the Convergence Resource Center in Milwaukee anis also active in her church. She will be majoring in Computer Science at St. Olaf University in the fall.
 
The John Boie Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established to honor a man who gave his entire career to the education of high school students. John came to BCHS in 1957 as an English and History teacher as well as the tennis coach. He eventually became principal until his retirement in 1988. John believed that what an individual stood for revealed a lot about their character. He valued extracurricular sports, clubs, music and the arts. This recipient must exhibit excellence in the area of personal character and integrity, academic performance and extracurricular involvement.

Eli del Campo is serving as the Director of Human Resources for the Tyro Newspaper, nominated as MVP and co-captain of the tennis team, and participated in mock trial and alpine ski racing. She also organized and volunteered to teach refugee students English in Milwaukee. She will be majoring in Education Studies and Sociology at New York University .
The Hillside Student Honorary Scholarship

The Hillside Student Honorary Scholarship was established when Hillside Elementary closed in 2012 to provide a legacy for the Hillside alumni. This scholarship is fully funded thru the graduating class of Hillside kindergartners in 2025.
 
Nisha Desai is a well-rounded student and athlete at Brookfield Central and former Hillside Elementary student. She is a varsity tennis player serving as Team Captain her senior year. In addition, she served on the executive board of Key Club, Officer Board of DECA, National Honor Society, and a Lancer Link Mentor. Her passion for volunteering and service to her community includes helping with meal programs and working at local nursing homes. Nisha will continue her education at University of Wisconsin- Madison.
 
The Kevin Dunn Honorary Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior girl who participated in the Brookfield Central golf program for at least one year. Family and friends were the most important parts of Kevin’s life and he shared his passion for golf with them wholeheartedly. His daughter, Grace, played on the BC golf team from 2011-2015. He often said the most joy he ever experienced from golf was spectating at his daughter’s high school and college events. Kevin also loved the lessons golf teaches including integrity, perseverance, respect, and so much more.

Emily Otten, t he recipient of this year's scholarship exemplifies all of these qualities. Emily is a high achieving student that began playing golf her sophomore year and continued through her senior year. She played for both the JV and Varsity Reserve teams. She also participated in Color Guard, Tyro, Ski Club, and National Honor Society. She maintained part time jobs throughout high school and volunteered in her church. In the fall, she will attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison to study Communications.
 
The Robyn Martino Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established to honor Robyn Martino, beloved principal of Wisconsin Hills Middle School. The recipient of this scholarship is someone who has exceptionally exemplified the values in the quote that Robyn was most known for, “Make today the best day of your life, until tomorrow.” 

Maggie Conlon is an accomplished student who is leaving a legacy with the Elmbrook School District. She is the founder of Fun Friends at Wisconsin Hills Middle School, a club focused on inclusivity by pairing students with disabilities with typically developing peers. At Brookfield Central, she served on the executive committee and as the president of Best Buddies, a similar organization. Her leadership is evident through involvement with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, DECA, Key Club, Girls Scouts and National Honor Society. Maggie will continue her education at Butler University.
The Vickie Jakubowski Memorial Scholarship
Vickie cared deeply for her students during her 20 plus years in Elmbrook. She always tried to instill in them the qualities she valued, as she did with her own children. She believed in compassion, displayed leadership in the face of adversity, and never shied away from a challenge. Above all, Mrs. J always did everything with passion and joy, in her school work, the no cut plays she directed, interacting with co-workers and leadership endeavors. This recipient displays these qualities. The icing on the cake is that this award should go to a future educator who will take these values and continue to instill them in future generations.
 
Abigail Pasternak is an accomplished leader at BC. She played tennis throughout high school, serving as the team captain her senior year. She also served on the class council, participated in National Honor Society, girl’s soccer, and was the manager of the boy’s baseball team. She has volunteered as a group leader in Vacation Bible School and Confirmation class. She is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education this fall at Marquette University .
  
The First Weber Foundation Honorary Scholarship
  The First Weber Foundation is dedicated to having a positive impact in the communities our Agents and Employees serve throughout the State of Wisconsin, and we’re especially proud to be able to support the educational goals of this scholarship recipient. There’s nothing more inspiring than watching potential of youth mature into adult leadership, and we’re confident that this student will continue to make their community proud in the years to come. Thank you for the opportunity, and we can’t wait to see what's next for our recipient.”
 
Nabil Hussaini is an exemplary student at Brookfield Central High School achieving a high GPA while participating in a wide variety of school activities. He completed many advanced placement and honors classes. He is team captain of the Mock Trial Team and participated in Beast Robotics. He is a board member of the Spanish Honors Society as well as a member of the Brookfield Central Tennis team. In his spare time, he enjoys writing and recording songs and has released multiple albums. In the fall, he plans to attend Northwestern University .
 
WaterStone Bank Honorary Scholarship
The EEF is very grateful for the generosity of our business partners who understand the value a successful public school system brings to the community. WaterStone Bank has been a tremendous supporter of the Elmbrook school district and sponsors The WaterStone Bank Honorary Scholarships .
 
Chandra  Chouhan is an outstanding student at Brookfield Central and is a student leader in numerous organizations: Team Captain of FIRST Robotics, Executive Board of Student Council, School Board Representative, Hope Squad member, Team Captain of Varsity Tennis, and Drum Line Captain, to name a few. Passionate about serving in our community, Chandra volunteered for two summers at Aurora Psychiatric Hospital and started two FIRST robotics teams in our nation's poorest zip code on Milwaukee's south side. In late 2019, Chandra traveled to Capitol Hill to be a voice for change and met with lawmakers to advocate for passing legislation that increases the funding for STEM education throughout the nation. As a FIRST robotics mentor, Chandra was recognized as Wisconsin's FIRST Lego League Mentor of the Year two years ago. Chandra will be majoring in neuroscience in the fall at University of Wisconsin- Madison .
 

Holly Christina Stahl “Love Life”
Memorial Scholarships

This scholarship is in memory of Holly Christina Stahl, a BCHS 2009 graduate. She passed away in December, 2010 as a result of a car accident on her way home from college.  She had a sincere zest for life and an incredible spirit. She is remembered as the student who always sat up front, greeting you with a huge smile and was always the first to raise her hand in an effort to help whenever needed.  She worked hard to overcome a reading disability to make the most of her education and achieve her goals.  The Holly Christina Stahl “Love Life” Scholarship is being rewarded to two recipients who also overcame challenges in order to achieve the goals they set for themselves. 


Mia Liacopoulos is an accomplished student and inspiring young lady at Brookfield Central. Despite many personal challenges, she has excelled in advanced classes, served on the Executive Board of NHS, ran track, was a member of Key Club, Environmental Club and DECA, worked part-time jobs throughout high school, and was generous of her time. Mia volunteered at a Bible Camp for several weeks for two summers. She has been very involved in the local Greek community, teaching younger children traditional dances and helping at the annual festival for many years. Mia plans to study Biology at University of Alabama .
 


Carli Ramon is a well-rounded student and accomplished violinist at Brookfield Central. Although she has experienced challenges, she has risen to the occasion for her family, showing maturity and grace. Carli is a varsity lacrosse player, on yearbook for 2 years, worked part-time, and was a violinist in the Chamber Orchestra that played at Carnegie Hall in 2019, helping to fulfill a lifelong dream. Her community service includes feeding the homeless, helping with meal programs and taking mission trips through her church. Carli will be studying Film Production, Digital Media, or Computer science at DePaul University.
 
EEF Scholarship Winners - Brookfield East
The Nick LeClaire Scholarship
The Nick LeClaire scholarship award is an annual $5000 scholarship given to a deserving BEHS student athlete planning to attend the University of Wisconsin’s School of Business in memory of Nick. Nick passed away after a routine surgery from sepsis when he was a last semester senior in high school in Colorado. His father attended both high school at BEHS and college at Madison and appreciates the education he received at both institutions. A similar award is given at Nick’s high school by his parents to a deserving student athlete to attend college in Colorado.
 
This year’s recipient, Bridget Berens , is a high achieving student at Brookfield East with a wide range of co-curricular experiences. She is Captain of the Swim team and a member of the track and field team. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Latin Club and is Captain of the HOPE Squad. Passionate about helping her fellow students and those in the community, she raised over $10,000 for REDgen, an organization that helps raise awareness for suicide prevention. Bridget plans to pursue a business degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Fotsch Family Foundation


The Fotsch Family Foundation awards a scholarship annually to a student who will further their education at a Technical School. One scholarship is awarded to a student from each high school.

Nou Xiong is passionate about family and religion. She will graduate from Brookfield East with a strong GPA having focused on school clubs such as DECA and Build Crew. She helped organize community activities and will be attending MATC in the fall, majoring in Nursing.
 
The McKinley Masonic Lodge
Honorary Scholarship
The EEF appreciates the many civic groups who have entrusted the EEF to administer their scholarship programs on their behalf. The McKinley Masonic Lodge Honorary Scholarship supports continual growth and education within the organization and the community around it. 
 
Our recipient, Arnav Tripathi, i s a high achieving student that participated in advanced coursework throughout high school. He participated in a wide range of co-curricular activities including basketball, tennis, and chess. He was the co-founder and president of the high school's sports broadcasting club and the marketing lead for FBLA. In the community, he has been active in Radha Madhav Society, serving as a Yugal Kunj Youth Leadership Group board member and Boy Scouts of America, where he served multiple terms as Librarian, Treasurer, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and Senior Patrol Leader. He also participated in LAUNCH, a mentorship program where high school students collaborate with companies on real-world projects in a professional setting. Through this experience, he held internships with three companies: Surfacide, Milwaukee Tool, and Johnson Controls International (JCI).  He will be studying business this fall at the University of Michigan
The BEHS PTO Honorary Scholarship
The BEHS PTO Honorary Scholarship is for a graduating senior who has been active in their school community and has a recognized passion for school service.
 
Alexander Ge is an outstanding scholar and National Merit Scholar Finalist from Brookfield East. He has excelled at FIRST Robotics Competitions as a Software Lead and Driver at the state and international levels, served as Captain of the Debate Team, was NHS Service Chair, and led the Science Olympiad team. He shared his passion and skill for robotics and coding by also mentoring 3 FIRST Tech Challenge teams and starting a free Java coding camp for 25 kids across 5 school districts. Last summer, he was a Data Science Intern at UW-Milwaukee Data Science and AI Lab. In his cultural pursuits, he is an accomplished pianist and an active volunteer at the Milwaukee Chinese Community Center. He will be majoring in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Columbia University .
 
Pilgrim Park Middle School Student Senate Honorary Scholarship
The EEF is grateful to student groups who choose to direct a portion of the money they raise each year to support fellow students in the area of continuing education which makes the Pilgrim Park Middle School Student Senate Honorary Scholarship possible.

This year’s recipient, Madhavi Mani, is an outstanding student at Brookfield East and was an active participant in Pilgrim Park Middle School Student Senate. She was a student leader in numerous organizations throughout high school: Team Captain of the Forensics team, Education Chair on the She's the First Executive Board, Student Council member and Treasurer of the UNICEF Club to name a few. She has served her community as an Instructor of Indian Classical Dance and managed a dance program that includes over 400 students. After her sophomore year, she traveled to Chennai, India, where she volunteered at a school for special needs students. In addition, she co-founded a startup business, Scholarly, to help tutoring centers provide services to high school students. She was awarded a National Merit Foundation Scholarship and will be majoring in Computer Science at Vanderbilt University in the fall.
The Brookfield Woman’s Club Honorary Scholarship
The Brookfield Woman’s Club Honorary Scholarship was created in 2006 when the club disbanded after 62 years of service to our community. The club wanted to benefit the community for years to come and donated their reserves to the EEF to support continuing education for students who have shown a passion for community service.

Katrina Li is an exemplary student at Brookfield East, excelling as a top scholar and National Merit semifinalist who obtained a varsity letter in tennis in addition to speech and debate. She served as team captain of Forensics and SMART (Students Modeling A Research Protein) Team, Co-president of Future Healthcare Professionals Club, head lighting director for Drama crew and Executive Board Member of the Science Olympiad. She is the 2018 Recipient of the Brookfield East Impact Award, awarded for outstanding leadership. Dedicated to community service, she volunteered as Co-Founder and Science Instructor leading a STEM enrichment program for disadvantaged inner-city Milwaukee students and is also an Aurora Healthcare volunteer. 
The Bil Zahn Honorary Scholarship
The Bil Zahn Honorary Scholarship honors Bil Zahn and his 27 years of service including principal of Burleigh Elementary. He started the scholarship in recognition of the excellent education his three children received in Elmbrook. This scholarship is made possible through the Burleigh PTO's annual contribution in recognition and appreciation of Mr. Zahn's excellence in education and leadership. 
The recipient must have a passion for working with children and/or helping their peers overcome obstacles. This scholarship will continue until Bil’s last kindergarten class graduates in 2024. 
 
This year’s recipient is Savannah Kohler . Savannah is an excellent student at Brookfield East and graduate of Burleigh Elementary School. She has participated in a wide range of activities including: National Honors Society, Girl's Varsity Tennis, Spanish Honors Society, Link Crew and DECA. She serves her church community as a bible school counselor and volunteered at Hope House of Milwaukee. She will be majoring in Biology at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
 
The Tonawanda PTO Honorary Scholarship
The Tonawanda PTO Honorary Scholarship is for a graduating senior who attended Tonawanda Elementary School and has made a difference through their community and school activities. 
 
Madison Hayden made her mark at Brookfield East with strong academics, athletics and broad range of extracurricular activities. She received varsity letters in girl's basketball and track and field. She partnered with students with disabilities in both the Best Buddies and Peer Collaborations programs. Participation in the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society rounded out her busy schedule. She worked and volunteered in her community, giving her time to Hope House and the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. Academically, she maintained a rigorous AP course schedule and earned an outstanding grade point average. Madison will attend Carroll University.
The BEHS Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship
The BEHS Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship is awarded to a student who has not only shown academic achievement and plans to attend a four year university, but also a person who is actively involved at Brookfield East and in the broader Milwaukee community. Through the leadership roles here, at church, and beyond, this recipient has served as a positive role model for peers and younger students in the black and multiracial community. The donor providing this scholarship strongly aligns his views on providing opportunities for education with this famous Malcolm X’s quote: “Education is an important element in the struggle for human rights. It is the means to help our children and our people rediscover their identity and thereby increase their self-respect. Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs only to the people who prepare for it today.”
 
Our recipient, Gabrielle Hauser , is attending UW-Milwaukee this fall with plans to major in Music Education. She is actively involved in the Chamber Choir, Wind Ensemble, Vocal Collective (an auditioned chorale group), Jazz Band, school musicals and has also participated in Color Guard throughout high school (serving as the captain of the team her senior year). Gabrielle is a volunteer musician at her church, performs at various nursing homes in the area, and serves as a music mentor for students at Burleigh Elementary. She has maintained a part time job (9 - 15 hours a week) throughout high school.  She shared in her application that she desires someday to come back to Elmbrook School District as a teacher. She is grateful for the opportunities that Elmbrook has provided her throughout her educational career.
   
The Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Brookfield Leadership Scholarship
The Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Brookfield Leadership Scholarship recognizes a student leader who is involved in interfaith work or programs and is actively involved in a social justice cause.
 
This year's recipient is Bera Demirbilek. Bera earned an impressive grade point average and led a rigorous academic schedule at Brookfield East. He is an advocate and caregiver for his twin brother who has non-verbal autism. His passion in this area has led to internships with Medical College of Wisconsin Neuropsychology Clinic and the Northwestern University Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Lab. He founded an online publication called Learning Autism, with the purpose of bridging the communication gap between scientists and lay people. Through his faith community, he serves on the executive committee of a mosque disabilities advocacy group. He also plans activities and tutoring through his Muslim youth group. At East, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Spartan Banner and participated in debate and forensics his entire high school career. Bera plans to study neuroscience at Stanford University .
 
WaterStone Bank Honorary Scholarship
The EEF is very grateful for the generosity of our business partners who understand the value a successful public school system brings to the community. WaterStone Bank has been a tremendous supporter of the Elmbrook school district and sponsors The WaterStone Bank Honorary Scholarship . This year, there are two recipients at Brookfield East.
 
Ido Korabelnikov  is a high achieving student, athlete and leader at Brookfield East, lettering in Varsity Swim for 4 years and Varsity Dive for 1 year. He was Senior Captain of his Elmbrook Swim Club team, VP of the Broadcasting Club and served on the Principal’s Cabinet for 3 years, including leading the Executive Board his senior year. His service extended to the community: he volunteered at the UWM Mobility Lab and the Chabad of Waukesha and worked as an Elmbrook Little League Umpire throughout high school. Ido will major in Data Science and Actuarial Science at University of Wisconsin- Madison .

J ennifer Austin is an exemplary student at Brookfield East, excelling as a top scholar, student leader and a varsity athlete in both Track and Basketball. She served on the Executive Boards of Student Council and Principal’s Cabinet, and participated in NHS, She’s the First, and Interact Club. Dedicated to community service, Jennifer also volunteered as an Assistant Coach for Middle School Track and at the St. John Vianney Church Festival for years. To save for college, Jennifer has held 3 part time jobs throughout high school. She will attend Notre Dame University in the fall.
The Helen Andrews Memorial Scholarship
The Helen Andrews Memorial Scholarship was made possible through generous donations from our Elmbrook community.  Helen Andrews served Elmbrook Schools for over 40 years, most notably as the head forensics coach at Pilgrim Park Middle School. She passed away in February, 2019, and her family, along with the Elmbrook Education Foundation, created the  Helen Andrews Memorial Scholarship in her honor. This award is granted to a BEHS graduating senior who participated in PPMS Forensics. 
 
Simrah Ahmed has participated in a wide range of advanced classes while being involved in her community and school. She was a member of the girls swim team, the Spanish Honor Society, and participated in drama. Simrah also participated in Forensics, serving as the Team Captain during her junior and senior year. In her essay, Simrah shared her passion for Forensics which stems from Mrs. Andrew's encouragement. Simrah plans to major in molecular biology at the University of California - Los Angeles.
The First Weber Foundation Honorary Scholarship
The First Weber Foundation is dedicated to having a positive impact in the communities our Agents and Employees serve throughout the State of Wisconsin, and they are especially proud to be able to support the educational goals of this scholarship recipient. They feel there's nothing more inspiring than watching potential of youth mature into adult leadership, and are confident that this year’s recipient, Vincent Dominski ,will continue to make his community proud in the years to come.

Vincent was a member of the Brookfield East Football and Track Team. He will graduate with a high GPA and is a leader in his school. He was Vice-President of the National Honors Society and a Link-Crew Leader. He spent time in the community helping others including the Hope House and tutoring students. He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin- Madison and pursue a degree in business.