What does this scholarship mean to you?

SOME OF OUR 2021 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS SHARE…

I am so honored and humbled to carry on Brian’s spirit within me.  Through the good and the bad, I will always know he is looking out for me.  I will make sure to keep being nice, trusting others and maintaining a good attitude- some great words to live by. 

I’ve been so inspired by the Foundation and your family turning Brian’s tragedy into triumphs for students like me.  I will never forget this day and I will never forget your advice to stay true to myself.  One of the first things people say after me is I’ve got a great smile.  After reading Brain’s book tonight, it sounds like he did too.  I get the feeling we have a lot in common.  I’ll be sure to keep flashing my smile and spreading happiness just like Brian.

Thank you again.  It’s a blessing to have been the 1000 scholarship recipient and here’s to 1000 more in the future!

Brady Wittig, 2021 Brian LaViolette Scholarship Recipient

“This scholarship means a lot to me.  I can’t believe I was selected as a recipient.  Receiving the scholarship means I have succeeded.  A lot of people say there isn’t help out there, but this shows that there are others who help.”

Saraza Byake, Andrew Brownfield Scholarship of Honor Recipient pictured here with Jackie Summer, North High School’s guidance counselor (left)

 “It is an honor to receive the Thomas Hudner Scholarship of Honor.  Both Thomas Hudner and Brian LaViolette’s stories have inspired me in my cadet career.  I hope I am able to carry this inspiration through my future pursuits.”

Isaiah Bastian, Tom Hudner Scholarship of Honor recipient

“This scholarship means a lot to me because it’s a driving force to keep me motivated to achieve all of my aspirations.  I now understand and truly believe that hard work pays off”

Mansha Ghai, 2021 David Parmentier Pay it Forward Scholarship

“I want to express my gratitude and honor in being a recipient of this scholarship.  I am both humbled and inspired by the story of Ken’s life.  He epitomizes the person and physician I aspire to be someday.  With the generosity of this scholarship fund, I feel my dreams becoming more of a reality.  I know with such support; I can go forward and change lives as a physician just as Ken did.” 

Mia Strazny, 2021 Ken Kubsch Scholarship recipient

Life updates from past Scholarship Recipients

Haley R.K. Okamura, 1LT, MS, Operations Officer

I can’t believe it’s been almost 11 years since I was a brand new MS1 at the University of Hawaii Army ROTC program and as a winner of the Nainoa Hoe Scholarship of Honor and receive a gracious donation from the Brian LaViolette foundation.   I commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery Officer in 2015 and spent three years in Fort Sill deploying to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel.  In 2019 I branch transferred to Medical Service Corps and was selected to serve as a 67J Army Aeromedical Evacuation Officer  where I became qualified to fly the UH-60M at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

I recently transferred to Fort Irwin California to the busiest active duty MEDEVAC in the Army CONUS as part of the C CO 2916th Aviation Battalion, Desert Dustoff!  I currently serve as the Operations Officer for the C CO and am beginning my transition from the UH60M to the UH60L.  I am truly grateful to have been selected to receive such an amazing gift and extend my deepest thanks and aloha to the Hoe family and the Brian LaViolette foundation. 

Nainoa’s dad, Allen Hoe with Haley during the 2010 Scholarship presentation.

Nainoa Hoe graduated from Kamehameha Schools in Kailua, Oahu, in 1995 and was an Army ROTC graduate from the University of Hawaii. He was a person who understood what it meant to serve his country.

In 1999, as a member of the 100th Battalion, Nainoa was selected as the Pacific Area's Army Reserve Soldier of the Year. Nainoa enjoyed karaoke and body surfing. Nainoa and his wife, Emily, were married in June 2004.

He was killed on January 22, 2005.

We didn't do it alone... 2021 Scholarship Recipients

“This scholarship means the world to me. Receiving this scholarship means that I did not let adversity defeat me. I instead defeated adversity. It was not easy to do, but I did it and achieved everything I ever wanted to.”

Mason Vosters, Riley Garbe Scholarship recipient

Mason is joined by 55 other scholarship recipients this year. Many of these young men and women are motivated to make a difference through pursuing degrees in nursing, teaching and other careers on the frontlines.

Brian's Foundation continues to award scholarships in 17 states and 3 foreign countries. We did not do this alone. The school guidance offices, sponsors, selection committees and presenters go above and beyond to make this a life-changing experience for each and every recipient.

On behalf of the following scholarship recipients, their families and the communities we serve, thank you.

Ron Anderson Scholarship: Suring High School-- Recipient, Camilla Doherty

Matt Atkinson Scholarship: Green Bay East High School, WI-Claire Schumacher

Bellin College Scholarship- Green Bay, WI- Madison Monk

Ollie and Helen Bogsted Scholarship: Suring High School, WI- Camilla Doherty

Rachel Bosveld Scholarship: Waupun High School, WI- Brady Gerritson

John Bradley: Appleton West High School, WI-Kylie Olson

Andrew Brownfield: North High School, Akron OH- Saraza Byake

Mike Colalillo: Denfeld High School, MN- Madisyn Hindermann

James Cathey: Reno High School, NV- Aislinn Behan

Esther Cleveland: Oconto High School, WI- Breanna Duncan

Danny Dietz: Heritage High School, Littleton, CO- Cristiano Palazzo

Ben Edinger: Green Bay West High School, WI- Alexander Knutson

Wendell and Shanna Ellsworth (2 scholarships): Belding High School, MI-Carter Houghton and Tara Rackham

Nichole Frye: Lena High School, WI- Chloie Potter

Robert Foley: United States Military Academy, West Point NY- Eston T. Smith

Riley Garbe (2 scholarships): Freedom High School, WI- Mason Vosters and Sage Greiner

Sal Giunta: JFK High School, Cedar Rapid, IA- Aliyah Mally

Joel Gentz: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN- Kori Howard

David Hatfield: Tunstall High School, Dry Fork VA- Miranda Cochran

Kyle Hemauer: Chilton High School, WI- Kayla Stenz

Ken Hess: AC Reynolds High School, Asheville, NC- Chablis Smith

Nainoa Hoe: Schofield Barracks, HI- to be awarded in August

Thomas Hudner: Fox Valley Composite Civil Air Patrol- Isaiah Bastian

Isaiah Hunt: Bayport High School, WI- Ava Heyrman

Ryan Jerabek: Pulaski High School, WI- Colton Maroszek

Junior Achievement- Business Challenge-Naveen Balu

Len Keller: Auburn High School, Rockford, IL- Amari Hudson

Ken Kubsch: Manitowoc High School, WI- Mia Strazny

Brian LaViolette: Ashwaubenon High School, WI- Brady Wittig

LEAP School Science and Math (2 Scholarships), South Africa- Courage Mlalazi

Eric McColley: Gettysburg High School, PA- Kaelyn Blocher

NWTC Scholarship (2 scholarships): To be awarded in Fall 2021

Nueske Family (2 scholarships): Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School, WI- Kailey Butkowski and McKenna Metropulos

David Parmentier: DePere High School, WI- Mansha Ghai

Victoria Parmentier Scholarship: Ashwaubenon High School, WI- Jaelyn Hoppman

General George S. Patton: Pilsen, Czech Republic,- Simona Schmiedhuberová

Poland Scholarships: Nidzica Poland (2 scholarships)- September 2021

Robert Safford: Oconto High School, WI- Garrett Anderson

Ron Sager: Fox Valley Lutheran High School, WI- Kenzie Mielke

Matt Schmidt: Young Life, Green Bay, WI- Gabriel Vasquez

St. Norbert Scholarships (2 scholarships): DePere, WI --Katie Morrison and Grace Beno

Ken Stumpf, Elmer Burr: Menasha High School, WI- Luke Johnson

"The Journey is the Reward": Oconto High School, WI- Will Sherman

"The Journey is Reward": Suring High School, WI- Carrie Griffin

Jesse Thiry: Luxemburg Casco High School, WI-Lidia Stahl

Brent Vroman: Omro High School, WI- Kyle Dietzen

Joe Welke- Stevens High School, Rapid City, SD- The Learning Center

Ray Zimmerman: Green Bay West High School, WI- Jayda DoBeck