Fall 2025 Student-Teacher Scholarship Winners!
My name is David Cushman, and I am a student-teacher at Iowa-Grant High School in Southwest Wisconsin. I will soon be graduating in December 2025 with my Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with an emphasis in Secondary Education. I am originally from Whitewater, WI, which isn’t a rural area of Wisconsin, but my experience of attending UW-Platteville for four years helped me realize how much I love being in a small setting where everybody knows everybody. Once I graduate, I plan to continue teaching at Iowa-Grant and grow into coaching high school wrestling!
Hi! My name is Emma Gilligan, and I am currently a student teacher at Coleman School District. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Education, this past Spring (2025). Once I complete my student teaching, I will be licensed to teach 4th-12th grades. I grew up near Coleman, WI, and graduated from Peshtigo High School. I plan to teach at a rural school in the future. I love the small, tight-knit community that comes with a rural school. The relationships built throughout the entire school community are like no other. In the Spring, I plan to either find a teaching position somewhere or substitute teach for the remainder of the school year.
I am Isabell Kruse, and I am currently a student teacher with the Darlington Community School District. I will be graduating with an Agriculture Education and Technical Education degree in December of 2025. I am originally from Dyersville, Iowa. Growing up in a rural area I have gained a deep passion for the simplicity of life that comes with a rural school, not in their curriculum but rather in the way of life and in the relationships that are formed that truly give the small rural schools their heartbeat. After graduation, I hope to continue educating in a rural school and hope to impact rural communities for years to come.
Fall 2025 Student-Teacher Scholarship Winners!
My name is Tiffany Skabroud, and I am an adult learner at UW-Stout, where I am finishing my degree in Early Childhood Education. I began my career as a paraprofessional in a 4K classroom, which inspired me to pursue my teaching license to work with students from early childhood through 3rd grade. My favorite part of teaching at the foundational level is helping students reach important milestones in their formative years. Currently, I am student teaching in the Gilman School District. I am enjoying my time in 2nd grade and will soon be transitioning to Kindergarten. Being part of Gilman and experiencing the supportive, close-knit atmosphere of a rural school has been such a rewarding experience. I am so excited to begin my teaching journey and look forward to applying to rural school districts this December.
Hi! My name is Katrina Weltzien, and I am currently a student teacher in the Eleva-Strum School District. I will graduate with a K-9 Elementary Education degree at UW-Eau Claire in December. I grew up in Blair, WI, and graduated from Blair-Taylor High School in 2021. Coming from a rural school, I loved the close-knit community and appreciated the unique learning opportunities that it had to make my learning and experiences better. I am passionate about creating an environment that embraces strengths and challenges, brings dedication, creativity, compassion, and strong relationships to small schools and communities. My student teaching placement in Kindergarten is flying by, and I am having so much fun, but I look forward to starting my teaching career in a rural school in December!
Spring 2025 Student-Teacher Scholarship Winners!
Hi! My name is Brianna Leibsle and I graduated from Tri-County High School in Plainfield, WI. I am a student at UW-Eau Claire, where I am finishing my Bachelor in Music Education. I will be certified to teach all things music K-12, but my primary focus is on band. One of my favorite elements of teaching band in a rural school is getting to teach everything from Hot Cross Buns to the more advanced standard repertoire. Now, I am student teaching in the Edgar School District and loving every minute of it! Everyone is so incredibly supportive and I am learning new things every day. I am so grateful to be here learning from the best, and I am excited to see where I will end up teaching in the fall!
My name is Hanna Brinker, and I am currently a student teacher in the Monticello School District. I will graduate with my education degree at UW Oshkosh in May. I grew up in Lena, IL, and graduated from Lena-Winslow High School in 2021. Coming from a rural school, I appreciate the close-knit community and unique learning opportunities that small schools offer. With experience in early childhood and elementary education, I am passionate about creating student-centered learning environments and building strong classroom communities. I look forward to starting my teaching career in a rural school district.
Hi! My name is McKylie Green, and I graduated from New Lisbon High School. This gave me my foundation for rural education, as the New Lisbon School District hosts a K-12 education within the same facility. I am currently studying at UW - La Crosse, where I am working towards my bachelor's degree in Secondary (4-12) Broad Field Social Studies Education. Along with a double minor in History and Psychology! Currently, I’m in the process of completing my student teaching placement at Viroqua Area School District. This placement truly has been such a privilege. I love the close-knit community of this district in particular. I was welcomed with open arms from both the staff and students. Rural education offers opportunities unlike any other, from small class sizes to flexibility in the curriculum. I am so excited to go into this field after college, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. While I do not have any concrete plans yet, I will definitely be looking to find a career in rural education.
Fall 2024 Student-Teacher Scholarship Winners!
Hello, my name is Luke Bousley. I am from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and graduated from Southern Door High School. Growing up, I learned the value of being educated in a rural school. The opportunities Southern Door helped me guide me to becoming a Tech Ed teacher. After high school, I continued my education at UW Stout pursuing a B.S. in Technology Education. I am currently student teaching at Eleva Strum School District and appreciate the opportunity to teach students in a Rural School. I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to teaching many students Technology Education in the months and years ahead.
Hi there! My name is Evan Larson and I grew up in the Village of Ashwaubenon just outside of Green Bay. I was a student in the Ashwaubenon School District all throughout my K-12 journey. After graduation, I was accepted into and am currently studying at St. Norbert College in De Pere where I am working towards my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary (4-12) Education! I love all things music, having performed in various musicals throughout high school, singing with my church since I was very young, and am now part of the St. Norbert College “Knights on Broadway” performing group. As of late, I’m in the process of completing my student teaching placement at Kewaunee High School, while learning a ton about this amazing profession along the way! Teaching in a rural school has such a cozy and welcoming vibe to it. I love the close knit and simply comfortable environment of this district in particular, and I appreciate the student-focused nature of it as well. I’m so excited to get out into the field after college, and I can’t wait to see what the future in this profession holds for me!
Hello everyone! My name is Chloe Moore. I grew up in the mid-sized town of Stevens Point. In 2021, I graduated from SPASH or Stevens Point Area Senior High. Following high school, I decided to pursue my dream of teaching at UW-Eau Claire. At UW-Eau Claire, I am currently working towards my bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Middle School Education. I am now privileged to be student teaching in the Edgar School District! I absolutely love it here, and I never knew how quickly I would fall in love with a rural school district. I have a large class, but I enjoy the atmosphere that they all provide and the co-teaching style in Edgar. This rural school has given me a home-away-from-home, where everyone here is welcome and connected to one another. Post graduation, I will be staying in the Central Wisconsin area, and I cannot wait to see where that takes me!
Fall 2024 Student-Teacher Scholarship Winners!
Hello, my name is Hannah Pitzen. I grew up on my family’s dairy farm in Cuba City. I graduated from Cuba City High School in 2021. I am a student at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where I am pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education. I am currently student teaching at Potosi High School. After growing up in a rural area, student teaching in a rural school is bringing me so much joy! The environment is unlike any other, and I feel so much support from staff members, students, and the entire community. I am so moved by the pride that the community has in its school. Upon graduation, I will be pursuing a job in a rural school to continue to give back to communities like the ones that have supported me for my entire life!
Spring 2024 Student-Teacher Scholarship Winners!
Hi there! My name is Monique Westaby and I graduated in 2006 from Lake Holcombe Public School. I have an amazing 8-year-old boy, love taking pictures, and have too many pets and chickens to count. After graduation, I went on to UW-Eau Claire to earn a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature. I was then hired at a local newspaper where I spent many nights at school board meetings followed by many days in our local schools taking photos and writing articles advocating for the amazing opportunities rural schools offer our youth. After resigning from the newspaper, I chose to pursue my Masters in Elementary Education, and am now completing my student teaching at my alma mater - Lake Holcombe. I cannot advocate enough for the positive impact a rural school has on its community and the future of their students. I am so proud and honored to help instill the same values I learned at this school nearly two decades ago, into future generations coming through these doors. It doesn't matter where you come from, you are capable of anything, and rural schools prepare you for just that. Our school motto says it all: "We are a small school that makes a big difference."
Hello, my name is Katelyn Schmitz. I grew up on a family dairy farm outside of Cashton. I was a student at the Cashton School District until I graduated in 2020. After graduating High School, I attended Western Technical College to get my associate's degree in Early Childhood Education. Then, I transferred to Viterbo University to complete my Elementary Education degree with an Early Childhood Education minor. I find that a rural school setting offers a more relaxed and comfortable feeling. I admire how closely knit the people in the community are with one another, and I want the opportunity to have close interactions with each student I teach and their families. My student teaching semester is flying by because I am having fun and learning a lot at Bangor Elementary! I will be looking forward to finding a job in a rural school in the upcoming months.