Service learning in the classroom and community

Now in its second decade, the Caroline Scholars Program provides six students annually with fully funded tuition and housing for all four years of their undergraduate education. In exchange, students volunteer 300 hours each year (around 10 hours per week) for a local nonprofit. The scholarship is highly competitive, attracting applicants with an interest in — and commitment to — service. According to program director Vanessa Vasquez, many of these young women have already been active volunteers since high school, and frequently become leaders on campus.

“This program is unlike anything found at most academic institutions,” she shared. “Most colleges only offer one single, fully funded scholarship each year. We offer six.”

The Caroline Scholars program was named in honor of university founder Mother Caroline Friess, SSND, whose legacy of service continues today.

Participants select the site where they will serve in the Milwaukee community. The students are encouraged to pick a cause close to their heart, and to stay with their chosen organization throughout all four years. Vasquez believes this helps them become an integral part of the non-profits they serve. She has seen strong bonds arise from these networks over the years, with some students even continuing long-term employment after graduation.

“Community service is so important, especially after the pandemic when so many places have seen a drop off in volunteering,” said Vasquez. “This program keeps the spirit of her [Friess’] legacy alive.”

Students have served in diverse roles throughout the years, ranging from food banks and thrift stores to classrooms and health care settings. The group has worked with student parents and the School Sisters of Notre Dame living at Trinity Woods to develop programming and foster intergenerational communication. Scholars have volunteered for meal preparation and delivery for food insecure individuals, created art programs for underfunded schools and offered respite services to families of children recovering from illness in the hospital.

Vasquez emphasized the importance of connection to real world issues and causes among her students.

“We welcome any creative ideas that are focused on social justice,” she shared.

“We have seen some truly creative and impactful opportunities that students have developed. And they get to see the very real difference they are making.”

Celebrating 20 years of making college possible

Launched in 2004 (and originally known as the Midtown Scholars), the Grace Scholars Program provides fouryear scholarships starting at 85% coverage of tuition the first year and gradually increasing to 95% as students continue. The program focuses on creating accessible pathways to higher education for young women from underrepresented backgrounds living in Milwaukee. The Grace Scholars program fosters a sense of belonging from the start, with a cohort model that creates a built-in support network. Incoming students participate in a six-week summer bridge program, which Vasquez described as “college 101.” During the summer session students learn how to study effectively, take notes, navigate classes and connect with professors. This builds a crucial foundation for the group, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

During the summer bridge session students become familiar with campus resources like the Counseling and Wellness Center and the Office of Student Success. There are also many fun activities thrown into the mix, such as visits to the zoo and local ice cream shops.

The experience creates a sense of community among participants that Vasquez believes is crucial to their success — both in college and beyond.

“We want to create a sense of sisterhood that lasts a lifetime,” she said. Vasquez has seen friendships evolve between members of the Caroline and Grace programs. She sees a natural partnership forming, with opportunities for mentorship and friendship to grow between members of the two groups.

Both programs are funded by the generosity of the Burke Foundation (see below), whose support has made numerous success stories possible.

“Everywhere I go I meet alums from these [Grace and Caroline Scholars] programs who are out there doing great things,” said Vasquez. She expressed her gratitude for the Burke Foundation’s continued philanthropic support, helping to ensure that these scholarships flourish well into the future.

The Burke Foundation Legacy: An Investment in Education

Dick Burke believed in the city of Milwaukee. The founder of Trek bicycles created the Burke Foundation to invest in the community through education, something he believed in wholeheartedly.

The foundation is now overseen by Burke’s daughters Kathleen and Mary Burke and Michele Deubel, who work to continue their father’s philanthropic legacy. Executive director Chris Due shared that the foundation is proud to help create the next generation of change agents.

Due, who was a Trinity fellow at Marquette University (a program also funded by the Burke Foundation) knows the value of investing in education firsthand.

“Education is crucial to creating better lives for individuals and their families,” he shared. “The Burke Foundation chose Mount Mary to help young women succeed. We want to see students rewarded for service and to commit to making a positive impact on the community.”

“These programs help to make Mount Mary more accessible and more representative of the city,” he added. “We’re so proud to play a part in that.”

Since the beginning, the Burke Foundation has pledged over $20 million towards the Grace Scholars and Caroline Scholars programs. In that time there have been numerous success stories, with over 300 graduates and counting from the combined programs. Mount Mary University is grateful for the generous support of the Burke Foundation, which makes these achievements possible.