The Burke Foundation and Marquette University has awarded Abigail Peterman the Burke Scholarship, a four-year, full-tuition scholarship, including housing and fees.
Based on the application and letters of recommendation Abigail submitted to Marquette University in the fall, she was invited to apply for the Burke Scholars Program. To be selected for this scholarship, undergraduate students must have a passion for social justice and a commitment to community service through leadership, volunteerism, career goals as well as a passion to make a difference.
What sets this program apart is the Burke Scholarship has their recipients commit to serve 10 hours of community service per week during each semester, which equals 300 hours per academic year. The program also includes weekly seminars, leadership development, peer and staff support, and extracurricular activities in the Milwaukee community.
To be selected as a Burke Scholar, Abigail had to submit an application and from the pool of 185 applicants, 50 were selected for an interview with the scholarship panel, which included the Dean, the scholarship coordinator and others. From there, a panel of 17 selected the 10 recipients.
Over the course of her high school career, Abigail maintained high academic standards and community service hours, and was inducted into The Wautoma High School Chapter of the National Honor Society at the conclusion of her sophomore year and Spanish National Honor Society as a junior.
For the past four years, Abigail has shown her commitment to her school and community as a participant of the Wautoma High School Key Club earning the title of treasurer her junior year and vice president her senior year. As a member of the Key Club, Abigail took time out during her freshman year to step outside the box in order and build a friendship with a senior citizen at Silverlake Manor. Abigail spent hours visiting with a woman and doing activities together.
Abigail currently holds leadership positions in almost all of the co-curricular activities that she is involved in at the high school. As a senior, she currently serves as the president of student council, vice president of the National Honor Society, vice president of Key Club, treasurer of the Class of 2022, and the senior editor of the yearbook.
Abigail’s extensive list of extracurriculars does not stop there, as she participates in Future Business Leaders of America, Spanish National Honor Society, Link Crew, and Sources of Strength, a suicide prevention program which consists of teams of peer leaders to help change social norms and encourage students to individually assess and develop strengths in their lives.
On Saturday, May 7, Abigail was invited to Marquette University to be introduced as one of the 10 recipients of this prestigious scholarship out of 185 applicants. The intensive program links academics and career goals as well as engagement with the community in order to provide an opportunity to make change and engage active citizens.
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Abigail Peterman