Press Releases

Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Announces 2024 Award Recipients

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

MILWAUKEE — The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation today announced 304 Wisconsin students, teachers, and administrators are the recipients of the organization’s 2024 Student Excellence and Initiative, Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership awards. Student Excellence and Initiative Scholarships of $10,000 will be awarded to 187 graduating high school students who have demonstrated academic excellence and initiative and have displayed a broad range of activity and leadership in their community. Teacher Fellowship awards of $6,000 will be presented to 100 teachers who were nominated for their leadership and service in and outside the classroom, their ability to inspire a love of learning and to motivate their students. Principal Leadership awards of $6,000 will be given to 17 principals for setting high standards for instruction, achievement and character, and creating a climate to best serve students, families, staff and community. “Herb Kohl believed that education is the key to the future of Wisconsin and our nation,” JoAnne Anton, President & CEO of Herb Kohl Philanthropies said. “That’s why he invested in and prioritized awards that recognize students, teachers, and principals who demonstrate incredible hard work, achievements, and service. We hope this year’s awards help this impressive group of recipients in their individual pursuits today so that they pay it forward in the future. We call that the Herb Kohl Way.” Award recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program’s co-sponsors: The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, and the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association. The Kohl Foundation award program was established by Herb Kohl, former U.S. senator, philanthropist, and businessman who died December 27, 2023. Since 1990, the foundation has awarded nearly $38 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students, and schools.

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Herb Kohl Foundation Press Release Announcing 2023 Award Recipients

Friday, March 31, 2023

MILWAUKEE — The Herb Kohl Education Foundation today announced 306 Wisconsin students, teachers, and administrators are the recipients of the organization’s 2023 Student Excellence and Initiative, Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership awards. Student Excellence and Initiative Scholarships of $10,000 will be awarded to 190 graduating high school students who have demonstrated academic excellence and have displayed a broad range of activity and leadership in their community. Teacher Fellowship awards of $6,000 will be presented to 100 teachers who were nominated for their leadership and service in and outside the classroom, their ability to inspire a love of learning and to motivate their students. Principal Leadership awards of $6,000 will be given to 16 principals for setting high standards for instruction, achievement and character, and creating a climate to best serve students, families, staff and community. “Education is the key to the future of Wisconsin and our nation,” former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl said. “These student, teacher, and principal award recipients have demonstrated incredible hard work, achievements, and service. I congratulate them all and hope this award not only helps them in their individual pursuits but also reminds them to pay it forward in the future.” Award recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program’s co-sponsors: The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, and the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association. The Kohl Foundation award program was established by Herb Kohl, former U.S. Senator, philanthropist, and businessman. Since 1990, the foundation has awarded nearly $34 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students, and schools. Click on Download File to see complete list of recipients

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Benjamin Grignon named a 2019 High School Teacher of the Year

Monday, May 14, 2018

In a surprise ceremony at his school, Benjamin Grignon, teacher of traditional Menominee crafts at Menominee High School in Keshena, was named a Wisconsin 2019 High School Teacher of the Year. Download the file for details.

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Five Educators Named Named Public School Teachers of the Year

Monday, May 14, 2018

This year, five educators have been chosen to represent Wisconsin's public school teaching corps as Teachers of the Year. Each will receive $3,000 from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation. State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Evers, notified each of the teachers of the honor during surprise announcements in their school districts.

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Liz Gulden named 2019 Elementary Teacher of the Year

Friday, May 11, 2018

In a surprise ceremony at her school, Elizabeth (Liz) Gulden, a kindergarten teacher at Willson Elementary School in Baraboo, was named Wisconsin's 2019 Elementary School Teacher of the Year. As part of the Teacher of the Year honor, Gulden will receive a $3,000 award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation.

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Maggie McHugh named 2019 Middle School Teacher of the Year

Friday, May 11, 2018

In a surprise ceremony at her school, Maggie McHugh of Sparta, a sixth-grade teacher and adviser at the La Crosse Design Institute, was named Wisconsin's 2019 Middle School Teacher of the Year. As part of the Teacher of the Year honor, McHugh has received a $3,000 award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation. Download the file for details.

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Sarahi Monterrey named a 2019 High School Teacher of the Year

Thursday, May 10, 2018

In a surprise ceremony at her school, Sarahi Monterrey, an English Learner teacher at Waukesha North High School, was named a Wisconsin 2019 High School Teacher of the Year. State Superintendent Tony Evers made the announcement during an all-school assembly. As part of the Teacher of the Year honor, Monterrey will receive a $3,000 award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation. Download the file for details.

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Michael Wilson named 2019 Special Services Teacher of the Year

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

In a surprise ceremony at his school today, Michael Wilson, a school counselor at St. Croix Falls High School, was named Wisconsin's 2019 Special Services Teacher of the Year. As part of the Teacher of the Year honor, Wilson has received a $3,000 award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation. Download the file for details.

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Erika Galewski Named Wisconsin Private School Teacher of the Year

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Third Grade teacher Erika Galewski was named Wisconsin Private School Teacher of the Year during an all-school assembly at St. Mary's Elementary School in Altoona. At the event she received a $3,000 award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation in recognition of her teaching excellence on behalf of the students at St. Mary's. More information is available at www.wcris.org

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Herb Kohl Provides Support for Wisconsin Classrooms and Students

Monday, May 7, 2018

In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week and to celebrate the hard work and important contributions of Wisconsin teachers this school year, Herb Kohl Philanthropies funded all Wisconsin project requests (one per teacher) on the education crowdfunding site DonorsChoose.org. Download the file for details.

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Herb Kohl 2018 Award Recipients Announced

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Students, teachers and principals who have been selected to receive 2018 awards from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation have been announced and will be recognized at regional award luncheons in April. The attached press release contains the list of winners and award luncheons.

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Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Increases Value of Student, Teacher, and Principal Awards

Thursday, April 13, 2017

A surprise announcement that all Herb Kohl awards will double greeted Wisconsin students, teachers, and principals invited to the April 8 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation luncheon in Greendale to honor their selection as 2017 Herb Kohl award recipients. Herb Kohl announced that student scholarships, formerly $5,000, are now $10,000, teacher fellowships, formerly $3,000 are now $6,000 and principal leadership awards, formerly $3,000, are now also $6,000. The schools of teacher and principal award recipients will also receive $^,000.

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