Catholic Charities Diocese of Madison has announced four high school seniors from the Diocese of Madison were awarded the Mary Jeanne Kennedy Anderson Youth Faith in Action Scholarship, recognizing their commitment to community service through their Catholic faith.
A total of four $2,000 scholarships were awarded to:
- Ben Bruer, Sacred Heart Parish, Reedsburg
- Danika Doll, St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Monroe
- Regan Schuette, St. Mary and St. Paul Parish, Mineral Point
- Veronica Volz, Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish, Sun Prairie
The scholarships were presented on February 12 at Frassati Fest in Wisconsin Dells by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison and Catholic Charities Executive Director Shawn Carney.
About the scholarship
The annual scholarship was created in memory of Mary Jeanne Kennedy Anderson, a retired Madison-area nurse who served on the Catholic Charities Diocese of Madison Board of Directors and various committees.
She was a devoted mother of five and grandmother of nine who enjoyed volunteering and directing her energies to helping others. She passed away on December 6, 2013, from ovarian cancer.
The Mary Jeanne Kennedy Anderson Youth Faith in Action Scholarship was established by her family and Catholic Charities in 2014.
“I am deeply honored to extend heartfelt congratulations to the deserving recipients of this year’s scholarships,” Carney said.
“Their commitment to service truly exemplifies the values we hold dear at Catholic Charities. I’m also inspired by the two dozen young adults from throughout the diocese who applied for the scholarship this year, each dedicated to bettering their communities as an expression of their faith.”
Eligible applicants were required to reside in the Diocese of Madison and be current members of a parish within the diocese.
They also must be a high school senior during the 2023-2024 school year with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and plan to attend a college, university, or technical school in 2024.
In addition to completing an application form and short essay, applicants were required to submit a letter of recommendation from a parish priest, deacon, or director of religious education.
Applicants were evaluated on their past and current parish and community service, including leadership roles, and their commitment to a future that encompasses a dedication to putting their faith into action.
About the recipients
Ben Bruer is a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Reedsburg and a senior at Reedsburg High School.
He has participated in Love Begins Here for four years, is a leader for Vacation Bible School, is active in National Honor Society, and has served as an usher at Sacred Heart since his freshman year of high school.
Bruer has been accepted to UW-Platteville, where he plans to study civil engineering, run cross country and track, and get involved in campus ministry.
Danika Doll is a member of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Monroe and a senior at New Glarus High School.
She is co-captain of the swim team and a leader in youth ministry.
She participates in Vacation Bible School as a small-group leader and is an Edge Religious Education leader.
She also volunteers with Home of Our Own helping seniors.
Doll plans to study biology with a long-term goal of working in the medical field.
Regan Schuette is a member of St. Mary and St. Paul Parish in Mineral Point and a senior at Mineral Point High School.
She has been active in Key Club for three years, ascending to the position of Key Club president.
She has participated in the Love Begins Here mission trip for the last four years and was chosen by her pastor to represent her parish on the council of high school students that plans events for teenagers in all four parishes in their pastorate.
Schuette will attend UW-LaCrosse, studying to become a high school math teacher.
She also plans to join the Newman Center on campus, participating in Eagle Catholic service activities and leading a Love Begins Here mission trip.
Veronica Volz is a member of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Sun Prairie and a senior at Sun Prairie West High School.
She has participated in Love Begins Here for five years and attended Frassati Fest for three years.
In 2022, she was recommended to represent her high school’s student body as a member of the Sunshine Supper Committee, a unit of the Sun Prairie food pantry.
She has been active in several service clubs including American Red Cross and DECA.
Volz intends to attend UW-Madison where she will study environmental science and use that degree to support the stewardship of God’s creation.