Brian LaViolette Foundation
Brian LaViolette (January 23, 1977-August 8, 1992)
Since 1992, the year of Brian LaViolette’s death, the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation has been working to ensure his plans for making a difference are carried on. The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation has awarded nearly 400 scholarships in its first 16 years of existence. They currently present over 40 scholarships annually in 10 states and the countries of Poland and South Africa .
The Scholarship of Honor program was established in the fall of 2003 to pay tribute to those who received our nation’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor.
When the LaViolette family began to hear about the sons, daughters, brothers and sisters from our community who died in the War on Terror, they wanted to honor and remember them by offering scholarships in their names. With the financial support of so many, the Scholarship of Honor also pays tribute to the fallen service members’ family—a grieving family looking for purpose, friends looking to remember and a grateful nation looking to honor.
The Scholarship of Honor is an award to recognize those with plans to enlist in the military or pursue a career in public safety or community service. These noble fields include law enforcement, police science, fire safety, EMT services, nursing, teaching and ministry. The program has allowed our message to touch the lives of many around the world. Scholarships are now awarded in a nationwide effort from Gettysburg to Honolulu, as well as two foreign countries.
Scholarship Programs
Northeast Wisconsin
Brian LaViolette Scholarship-presented to one student in the Brown County District, Wisconsin
Bellin College of Nursing Scholarship-Green Bay, Wisconsin-to a student going into Nursing
Christian Foundation Scholarship-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Christian based programs
Esther Cleveland Safford Scholarship-Oconto High School, Wisconsin-presented to a young woman going into the education field.
Junior Achievement Award-presented during their annual Business Challenge to one of the winning teams.
NWTC Scholarships- presented to graduating seniors from Oconto and Suring High Schools attending Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC)
Robert C. Safford Scholarship- Oconto High School, Wisconsin-This award will go to a male student that is going into business and/or a banking related education choice.
Ollie Bogsted Memorial-Suring High School, Wisconsin-Grandpa Ollie was a special person in Brian’s life and to the LaViolette family and after his death in 2004, they established a scholarship in his name at his alma mater, where he graduated from in 1943.
St. Norbert College Scholarships- DePere, Wisconsin- Four annual awards are based on academic and extracurricular excellence.
“The Journey is the Reward” Scholarships-Oconto and Suring High Schools, Wisconsin- “Brats for Brian” was started by Brian’s Aunt Sue LeTourneau, who has put her heart and soul into tailgating at every home Green Bay Packers game to raise funds to provide scholarships at these two schools.
Victoria Parmentier Scholarship-A graduate from Ashwaubenon High School, Wisconsin, Vicki Parmentier has followed her dream and became a successful business woman. She has funded a scholarship since 2005, which is awarded to a young woman going into Education or Business.
Scholarship of Honors
John Bradley Scholarship of Honor at Appleton West High School, Wisconsin
James Cathey Scholarship of Honor at Reno High School, Nevada
Kyle Hemauer Scholarship of Honor at Chilton High School, Wisconsin
Ron Sager Scholarship of Honor at Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Wisconsin
Ryan Jerabek Scholarship of Honor at Pulaski High School, Wisconsin
Andrew Brownfield Scholarship of Honor at North High School, Akron Ohio
Joe Welke Scholarship of Honor at Rapid City Stevens High School, South Dakota
Danny Dietz Scholarship of Honorat Hertiage High School, Littleton Colorado
Ken Hess Scholarship of Honor at AC Reynolds High School, Asheville, North Carolina
Jesse Thiry Scholarship of Honor at Luxemburg Casco High School, Wisconsin
Isaiah Hunt Scholarship of Honor at Bayport High School, Wisconsin
Eric McColley Scholarship of Honor at Gettysburg High School, Pennsylvania
Ben Edinger Scholarship of Honor at Green Bay West High School, Wisconsin
Nichole Frye Scholarship of Honor at Lena High School, Wisconsin
Mike Colalillo Scholarship of Honor at Denfeld High School, Duluth, Minnesota
Brent Vroman Scholarship of Honor at Omro High School, Oshkosh Wisconsin
Ken Stumpf/Elmer Burr Scholarship of Honor at Menasha High School, Wisconsin
Tom Hudner Scholarship of Honor at EAA, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Nainoa Hoe Scholarship of Honor in Honolulu, Hawaii
Robert Foley Scholarship of Honor at West Point Academy, New York
Poland International Scholarships of Honor- The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation teamed up with the Nidzica Local Fund in Poland to coordinate the selection process for the scholarships. Thanks to area sponsors, seven, life changing scholarships are presented their annually.
South African Scholarship of Honor- With the generous support, assistance, and dedication of Gloria and Paul Zimmerman of Green Bay, the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation awarded its first South Africa Scholarship of Honor in July, 2007 . (2)
Brian LaViolette Foundation Mission
By providing yearly scholarships to today's students, our mission is to honor hard work and community service, to offer inspiration, and share the belief that "The Journey is the Reward."
External links
Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation website: www.briansjourney.com