A new scholarship has become available to Fort Atkinson High School students who plan to enrolling at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, according to information recently released by the Fort Atkinson High School Alumni Foundation.
According to the release, the alumni foundation received a donation “in excess of $300,000″ from the estate of a former Fort Atkinson resident, Richard Gray, to endow a scholarship honoring his late mother, Laura Gallitz-Gray.
The new scholarship will be awarded annually to “deserving graduates of Fort Atkinson High School who will be attending the University of Wisconsin- Madison,” the release noted.
As stated in the release, Richard Gray was born in Fort Atkinson in 1922 as the only child of Harold and Laura Gray. He graduated from UW-Madison in 1947 and, after earning a master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, returned to UW to complete his Ph.D. in political science in 1957. He was a faculty member at Florida State University in the Political Science department from 1958 until his retirement in 1989.
“Richard prided himself on being both a caring and compassionate person as was demonstrated by his vocal opposition to segregation in the 1960s, full support of affirmative action in the 1970’s, and his promotion of many other humanitarian causes throughout his life. His generous gift, will allow this legacy to continue for years to come,” the release stated.
The foundation will award the first recipient of the scholarship to a member of the Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024.
About the Fort Atkinson High School Alumni Foundation
According to the release, in addition to this newest scholarship, the Fort Atkinson High School Alumni Foundation distributes over $40,000 per year in scholarships to Fort Atkinson High School graduates. Donations to the foundation’s scholarship programs can be sent to: Fort Atkinson High School Alumni Foundation c/o PremierBank Trust Dept., 70 N. Main St., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538.
Diplomas and honor cords await distribution to students during a previously held graduation ceremony at Fort Atkinson High School. File photo/Kim McDarison.
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