Area Students Headed to College and Tech School Campuses

(WAUPACA, WI) May 30, 2017 — As part of Waupaca Foundry's strong legacy of creating opportunity for our employees and their families, we are pleased to announce that the company awarded $36,000 in scholarships across the United States. Most of the graduating seniors are children of current employees and scholarships have been awarded to those attending two-year and four-year colleges. 

Our scholarship programs are part of our corporate commitment to growing the communities in which we do business and are an investment into the company's future. "We are proud to support teens who are planning careers in STEM careers or related fields," said Joey Leonard, executive vice president of human resources. "There is a lot of opportunity for skilled workers to have rewarding careers in manufacturing and we hope one day these students come back and apply what they've learned with us when they graduate."

Gary Greubel, human resources manager at the Tell City gray iron and ductile iron foundry, says he's glad Waupaca Foundry can support the community through scholarships. "It's exciting to see the past recipients come to work with us during the summer months, some who get direct experience in their field of study."

Marinette Human Resources Manager Phil Eatherton agrees and says, "You can never go wrong investing in our youth and their educational goals. We're happy to support our Waupaca Foundry family with these scholarships."

Scholarship recipients are:

Waupaca, Wisconsin 

• Brooklyn Podgorny a graduate of Iola-Scandinavia High School. She was awarded a $2,000 scholarship and will attend the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point to study early childhood development. Podgorny is the daughter of Michael Podgorny, who is a project engineer at Waupaca Foundry.
• Jacob Wierzba, a graduate of Almond-Bancroft High School. He was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and will attend Fox Valley Technical College to study interior design. Wierzba is the son of Randy Wierzba who is a quality assurance auditor at Waupaca Foundry.
• Katie Tryba, a graduate of Wittenberg High School. She was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and will attend Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wis. to earn a Medical Assistant Technical Diploma. Tryba is the daughter of Waupaca Foundry Shipper, Dennis Tryba.
• Samantha Yenter, a graduate of Amherst High School. She was awarded a $2,000 scholarship and will attend St. Norbert College to study biology. Yenter is the daughter of Mill Room Inspector, Bruce Yenter.
• Brett Koski, a graduate of Waupaca High School. Brett was awarded a $2,000 scholarship and will attend University of Wisconsin–River Falls to study agricultural engineering technology. He is the son of corporate I.T. Operations Manager, Brian Koski.
• Ellie Miller a graduate of Waupaca High School. Ellie was awarded a $2,000 scholarship and will attend University of Wisconsin—Stout to study art education. She is the daughter of Waupaca Foundry Electrical Maintenance Technician, Jim Miller.
• McKena Schultz a graduate of Waupaca High School. She was named Outstanding Waupaca Senior and awarded a $2,000 scholarship and will attend the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point to study social work.

Marinette ductile iron foundry

• James Jagielski, a graduate of Marinette High School. He was awarded a $2,000 scholarship and will attend the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point to study civil engineering. James is the son of Mike Jagielski who is a furnace tender at Waupaca Foundry and has worked for the company for 25 years.
• Kalyee Hukarevic, a graduate of Stephenson High School. She was awarded a $2,000 scholarship and will attend Northern Michigan University majoring in nursing. Kaylee is the daughter of Meho Hukarevic who is a sample coordinator at Waupaca Foundry and has worked for the company for 24 years.
• Jacob Kamin, a graduate of Marinette High School. He was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and will attend Northeast Wisconsin Technical College to study automotive technology.
• Dylan Williquet, a graduate of Peshtigo High School. He was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and will attend Northeast Wisconsin Technical College to major in the Machine Tool - CNC Technician.

Etowah, Tennessee ductile iron foundry

• Cortney Cronin, a graduate of McMinn County High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend Cleveland State Community College to study occupational therapy. Cronin is the daughter of Jeff Cronin who is an industrial engineer at Waupaca Foundry. Cortney is working in the core room at Waupaca Foundry this summer and said, "I'm really glad I was chosen for the scholarship because they are hard to receive. It's comforting to know that I have it going into college."
• Ezekiel Stoika a graduate of McMinn County High School. He was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend the University of Tennessee—Knoxville to study engineering. Stoika is the son of Tim Stoika who is a layout technician at Waupaca Foundry.
• Allysyn Bates a graduate of McMinn County High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend the University of Tennessee—Chattanooga to study business.
• Elsie Crisp, a graduate of McMinn Central High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend University of Tennessee—Chattanooga to study social work.  "I hope Waupaca gives so many more the same opportunity to aid in their future aspirations," she said. She will also work in the core room at Waupaca Foundry this summer.
• Bailey Martin, a graduate of McMinn Central High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend University of Tennessee—Chattanooga to study nursing. 
• Nicole Harris, a graduate of McMinn Central High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend University of Tennessee—Knoxville to study veterinary science. "I am very thankful to have gotten a scholarship and a summer job through Waupaca," she said. "I think this job is going to teach me a great work ethic, and the scholarship is going to help me achieve my dreams."

Tell City, Indiana gray and ductile iron foundry

• Savannah Alvey, a graduate of Perry Central High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend the University of Southern Indiana to study business. Alvey is the daughter of assistant safety coordinator for Waupaca Foundry, Chris Alvey.
• Kadi Backer, a graduate of Tell City High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend the University of Southern Indiana to study marketing. Backer is the daughter of Jeremy Backer who is a production manager at Waupaca Foundry.
• Matthew Graham, a graduate of Heritage Hills High School. He was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend the University of Indianapolis to study actuarial science. Graham is the son of David Graham who is a lab technician at Waupaca Foundry. 
• Mikayla Smith, a graduate of Boonville High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend Indiana University to study Human Biology. Smith is the daughter of Mike Smith who is a team leader in the molding department at Waupaca Foundry.
• Madison Mathena, a graduate of Tell City High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend the Indiana University to study exercise science.
• Adam Dauby, a graduate of Perry Central High School. He was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend the University of Southern Indiana to study mechanical engineering.

The scholarship program is a long-standing benefit to Waupaca Foundry employees and several working at the foundry are past recipients. "I was so honored to receive this scholarship in 2004," said Adam Stephani, customer service manager. "The money really helped me at school but more importantly it showed me the trust Waupaca Foundry had in me personally."  Recently promoted from a scheduler, Adam has been working at Waupaca Foundry for ten years—four years as part-time summer help while attending college and the past six years full time. Adam is a graduate of Amherst High School and attended the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point.

Carey Vogt Mai is an application developer and analyst at Waupaca Foundry who started her career with a scholarship from Waupaca Foundry in 1989. After graduating from Mid-State Technical College with a data processing degree in 1991, she started work full-time at Waupaca Foundry.

"I love that Waupaca Foundry invests in the employees and their kids,” she said. “The scholarships not only help students and their parents with financing their education, but it also lets the employees know that they are important assets to our company."  Carey is continuing her family legacy of working at the foundry, her father John Vogt worked for the company for 35 years and retired in 2004. 

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