Our donors

The Sigma Tau Gamma Scholarship was established to recognize and support the academic excellence and leadership of members of the Gamma Xi Chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Founded in 1965 as the local fraternity Phi Alpha Psi and nationally chartered in 1969, the chapter as a longstanding tradition of fostering brotherhood, service, and academic achievement. For over six decades, the Sigma Tau Gamma brothers have demonstrated commitment to leadership, campus involvement, and philanthropy. From excelling in intermural athletics to actively

Steve Becker taught accounting at UW-Platteville from 1973 to 2006. He taught and advised thousands of students, many of whom went on to very successful careers in the accounting industry and have received university awards. Steve established the New Freshmen Business and Accounting Scholarship while he was a faculty member by contacting his former students and their employers and asking for their support to continue recruiting talented students to the department. Deb Becker worked at UW-Platteville from 1980-2010 and spent a large part of her career at the university as a director in the

Jill graduated from Platteville Platteville High School and continued her education by graduating from UW-Platteville with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health and obtaining her Master’s degree from UW-Whitewater. On April 7, 1984, she was united in marriage to Steven Schielke at Zion Lutheran Church in Platteville. Jill was the first Platteville High School student to participate at the state gymnastics competition. She was a cheerleader in both high school and at UW-Platteville. She enjoyed swimming and became a lifeguard at the Platteville community pool. After graduating

Terry and Susan Strittmater, both proud University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumni, are committed to ensuring future students have access to the transformative experiences that shaped their own lives. Terry graduated in 1982 with degrees in Accounting and Criminal Justice, while Susan earned her Business Administration degree in 1981. Through their generous support, the Strittmaters are investing in the next generation of UW-Platteville students, helping to create opportunities and experiences that will guide these students toward their own successful futures.

The Howard Family created this scholarship to honor their father, Cliff Howard, who passed away in 2014. Clifford Howard was born in Darlington, Wisconsin and graduated from Darlington High School. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, reporting to Fort Sheridan in Glenview, Illinois. He served with the 8th Air Force in WWII flying as a waist gunner on a B24 Liberator bomber based at Wendling, England with the 392nd bomb group. During World War II, he completed 12 successful bombing missions over Germany. After being discharged in 1946 he signed up for three

Arthur “Art” Masbruch grew up in Platteville, Wis, attended the Platteville Mining School and received his three-year Mining Certificate in 1949. His sister Esther McReynolds received her Elementary Education Certificate from Platteville State Teachers College in 1951. Prior to attending college, Masbruch was a tail gunner in the U.S. Air Force, earning the rank of sergeant. Upon graduating, he began working in various construction companies and also kept up with one of his passions, downhill skiing. Art was married to Evelyn Masbruch; she passed away on October 27, 2006. She received the

Karen M. (Johnson) Schilling was born on January 4,1942, in Negaunee, Michigan. She married William F. Schilling on June 16,1962, in Peoria Illinois. She graduated from Richwood High School, where she was valedictorian. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Bradley University, where she was valedictorian; her Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois in curriculum development; her Master of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in industrial education; and her doctoral degree from Loyola University Chicago, in education

James R. and Mary L. Cooley each graduated from Bloomington (WI) High School, which is now part of the consolidated River Ridge School District. They were ardent supporters of education. A testament to this is the fact that all five boys raised on the couples’ rural Bloomington home attended varying forms of secondary education upon graduation from Bloomington High School. Jim and Mary’s was a true agricultural partnership. While Jim worked at John Deere Works in Dubuque, Mary tended to the boys and household and farm chores. Jim realized that he needed to supplement the family’s income from

Tori Erickson, and her husband Jon, established the Sheila A. Nelson Scholarship for Returning Adult Students in honor of Tori’s mother. Sheila A. Nelson graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1968 with a degree in Elementary Education. Sheila was a hardworking and dedicated student. While attending school, she was married with children, and certainly represented a minority student cohort at that time. Sheila taught for over 25 years and thoroughly enjoyed her teaching career. This scholarship was created to help other non-traditional students obtain their degree and share