On May 24, 2023, four students from West High School in Green Bay, WI received college scholarships provided by the Do Great Things Initiative, a program designed to help students plan for their future, become college ready, and fund the cost of college.
Charlie Brault Receives the Marquette University Full Tuition Scholarship
Charlie is an IB Full Diploma Senior at West High who is interested in the arts and sciences. They are the President of NHS. They are very involved in the International Baccalaureate Programme when they are not searching dinosaurs. Outside of his interest in science, they enjoy band, theater and art. In the fall, they will be attending Marquette University with a major in the biological sciences and they intend on working with animals and conservation in the future. The quote Charlie lives by is, “Muddy water, let stand, become clear” by Laozi.
Giselle Morelos Balbuena Receives a “Bridge The Financial Gap” Scholarship to Marquette University
Giselle is a senior at West High. French has become her favorite subject; she likes that IB higher level French class allows for small groups to bond and learn together. Giselle has taken on more leadership roles and, along with her friends, started a new club at West called Fuerza Latina (Latin Power.) The goal of the club is to get more involved in the Hispanic community. As for the future, Giselle plans on attending law school to become a civil lawyer. Giselle’s heroes are her hardworking parents. They have taught her many life lessons that she will take with her throughout life. Giselle’s parents inspire her to work hard every day!
Ivan Grant Receives a “Bridge The Financial Gap” Scholarship to Marquette University
Ivan is an IB Full Diploma Senior at West High. Whenever he has spare time he likes to read. Outside of school Ivan primarily works, but he also actively volunteers and helps out in the community. He plans to attend Marquette University where he will be continuing his education to become a neurosurgeon. His ultimate goal is to make a difference in his lifetime and to leave something behind for future kids to look up to and feel inspired. Ivan lives by an Albert Einstein quote: “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”
Derek Thepphone receives a $6,000 Scholarship Award to UW-Green Bay
Derek’s Scholarship was provided by “A Community Who Cares,” a group of women from Hinsdale, IL that held a fundraiser in April to raise funds for a scholarship to be awarded by the Do Great Things Initiative.
Derek is a senior at West High. With acceptance to Marquette, MSOE, and UW-Madison, there were multiple paths he could have taken. However, with heavy emphasis on family and close relationships among other factors, Derek decided to stay close to home and attend the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay with the possibility of transferring in the future. Derek aspires to become an electrical engineer as a result of his passion for both the sciences and math. One of his favorite quotes is, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory” by Dr. Seuss.
Keynote Speakers Applauded the Student’s Accomplishments
Students were congratulated and given advice from Michelle Jacobson, Principal of West High School, Brian Dorrington, Assistant Vice President for Advancement Communication at Marquette University, Vicki Bayer, GBAPS Interim Superintendent and Jennifer Jones, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment at UWGB.
Local Coverage of Signing Day
Green Bay School District Blog Post
