FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MILWAUKEE – Dennis J. Kuester, chairman and CEO of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (M&I Bank) and his wife, Sandy, have contributed $1.5 million to establish a new scholarship fund at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Scholarships are intended to cover two-thirds of the current full costs, including tuition, books, fees and on-campus room and board (approximately $10,000). It is anticipated that some funding will be provided by the students either directly or through other student aid, to allow them the maximum amount of time and the conducive environment within which to pursue their college education. The scholarships, with six to eight awarded annually including renewals, are intended to assist African American students from high-poverty areas of the City of Milwaukee who are enrolled full time in the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business at UWM or in a pre-business major with the intent of gaining acceptance to the School of Business.
The scholarships were announced by the Kuesters on Saturday, June 3, at the 14th Annual “To Do What is Just” dinner hosted by the Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) at the Midwest Airlines Center.
The Kuesters stated, “We believe that education is the key to overcoming the poverty and racial bias that exists within our city. We are pleased to be able to share some of the financial blessings that we have received with those young men and women who have a sincere desire to pursue a college degree to not only allow them to rise above their impoverished background but to provide a role model for others in their community.”
Dennis Kuester graduated from UWM in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting/finance. In 1996, UWM awarded him an honorary doctorate in commercial science. He is currently serving as one of the co-chairs of the $100 million comprehensive fund-raising campaign at the university.
A native of Milwaukee, Kuester is on a number of for-profit boards, including Modine Manufacturing Company, Krueger International, Super Steel Products Corp., Wausau Paper Corporation and the Marshall & Ilsley Corporation. In addition, he is involved in various non-profit boards, including chairman of the Christian Stewardship Foundation and a director of Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin, YMCA of Greater Milwaukee, United Way of Milwaukee, Bradley Foundation and the Greater Milwaukee Committee. In addition, he is current chairman of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce and a member of the Federal Advisory Council, which meets quarterly with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
MICAH will be involved in the scholarship application process by assisting UWM in determining that the candidates will be of “good character.” MICAH is a multiracial, interfaith organization committed to addressing justice issues that impact the community in which we live. MICAH’s goal is to empower people to act together for justice in pursuit of their individual and collective interests. MICAH’s membership includes Milwaukee-area churches that are Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox Church in America, Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist, United Church of Christ and nondenominational congregations. A scholarship applicant is not required to be a member of any church or religion.
Scholarship applications are available from Robert Ellis, assistant dean, Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business, 414-229-5403, bellis@uwm.edu.
