Scholarship Opportunities

The Greater Green Bay Chamber promotes the valuing of education and lifelong love of learning, furthering this with a variety of scholarship opportunities. Partners in Education established this scholarship to promote technical college preparation. This scholarship is given to two or more students planning to attend a technical post-secondary institution.

This scholarship was created by the Brown Family to honor their son, Travis, who passed away while he was a student at the University of Alabama. Travis had a special gift of being able to reach out to people in an open and inviting way that showed they really mattered to him.

The Make Everybody Feel Like Somebody Scholarship recognizes a graduating senior that exemplifies the qualities of Travis Brown who really “made everybody feel like somebody” by being friendly, nonjudgmental and going out of his way to make everyone feel welcome. Travis also displayed a passion for service to others by giving back to his school/community and by reaching out to others on a personal level.

The Audrey Nelsen Teacher Scholarship was established by George Nelsen in honor of his mother, Audrey Nelsen, who loved teaching her entire life. She began her career in 1946, teaching grade school in a tiny one-room schoolhouse in Bagley, Wisconsin. After her marriage to Alvin Nelsen in 1954, Audrey moved to Alvin’s farm near Kelly Lake but was unable to continue teaching full-time because of farm work and the birth of their son, George. She later served as a substitute teacher in Oconto Falls for many years, and during the last 20 years of her life Audrey tutored individual students on piano from home. Teaching was her life and she excelled at it, and this scholarship aims to support and inspire a new generation of teachers.

The Clifford Family Athletic Scholarship was established in 1983 when Patty Jean Clifford passed away. Patty was actively involved in the Southwest High School Booster Club and was instrumental in raising funds to support athletics at the school. She was an avid bowler and tennis player and enjoyed golf. Her husband, Gary Clifford, played football at Brainerd Junior College and enjoyed all sports activities.

Gary and Pat had three children – Denise, Paul, and Stephanie. All three were multi-sport athletes at Southwest High School and competed in state tournaments for basketball, hockey, and track & field, while also setting school records in track & field. Denise and Paul both went on to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Gary and Pat believed that participating in school athletics helped develop young student athletes into successful adults later in life. They encouraged all of their children to participate in athletics beyond high school, and their scholarship aims to provide opportunities for other student athletes to do the same. After Gary passed away in 2013, their children made the decision to dedicate the scholarship fund in their family’s name and continue Pat and Gary’s legacy of supporting student athletes.

Growing up in Chilton, Wisconsin Coach Miller served with the 98th infantry division in World War II and later obtained his undergraduate degree from St. Norbert College in 1949 and his first of two masters degree from UW Madison in 1954.

In 1954, he joined the staff at West High School. He was appointed as the head football coach at West in 1971 and served in that role until 1986. As head coach, he achieved four consecutive Fox River Valley Conference championships with two consecutive undefeated seasons. His teams participated in the W.I.A.A. football playoffs in 1981, ’82 and ’83 and almost went to the state championship in 1983.He was named Fox River Valley Conference coach of the year three times and was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992.

Off the football field, folks throughout Coach Miller’s life have actively sought his leadership skills. He served for years as a local alderman on the Green Bay City Council. He also was very active at his local church, Annunciation, near West High School. In each setting, he was an excellent role model for others by displaying compassion, honesty and a desire to do the very best in everything that he did.

Dawne M. Cramer served as a “Parkee” in the summer during her college years; she knew this work was “her calling.” Shortly after graduating from UW-La Crosse, she continued her career journey with the Green Bay Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department. Dawne was initially hired as a Recreation Program Supervisor, and was quickly promoted to Superintendent before being appointed by Mayor Jim Schmidt as the Director of the Green Bay Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department. She proudly and passionately served the Greater Green Bay Community for over 40 years, touching the lives of countless individuals, especially children, leaving behind an enduring legacy. Dawne left her position only upon her death, after her nearly four-year fight with cancer.

The scholarship was created in memory of Fran Growt and her dedication to quality education for the children of De Pere.