CHARLES VAN SICKLE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Pierce Pepin’s Madeline Shafer Wins 2025 Van Sickle Scholarship
April 24, 2025—Madeline Shafer of Elmwood is the recipient of the Federated Youth Foundation’s 2025 Charles Van Sickle Endowment Scholarship, worth $5,000. Shafer’s parents, Matthew and Jessica Shafer, are members of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services. Madeline is currently a freshman at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she is studying political science and Spanish.Shafer graduated as Salutatorian from Spring Valley High School in 2024. She has many scholastic achievements and is active in many groups on campus including Chi Alpha (Christian faith group), University of St. Thomas Civic Engagement Group, St. Thomas Center for Well-Being (volunteer), and St. Thomas club softball. In high school, she represented her senate district at the 2023 Wisconsin State Senate Scholar Program.
In her submission essay, Shafer writes about significant events that helped form her future goals, including when her father had multiple surgeries, and she found herself in a leadership role working along with her family to keep the farm running successfully. In high school, her work as a Spanish tutor offered her insight into the need to make sure all people are able to advocate for themselves.
Shafer plans to attend law school, and her future career goal is to “advocate for and serve underrepresented individuals and communities in a collaborative and open-minded manner.”
In her essay, she writes, “I believe that cooperative law offers a unique intersection of community and law. It provides a structure for individuals to work together legally and in an organized way. Cooperative law has the potential to empower people, especially those who might be marginalized or lack access to traditional business models. I want to help cooperatives navigate the complex legal system for them to thrive and provide benefits to their members… Ultimately, I want to be part of a movement that emphasizes and prioritizes collaboration of competition and building community-oriented business. For me, my career and educational goals are about giving back to the communities that shaped me.”
In support of Maddie, Kelly Johnson of the Spring Valley School District wrote, “Maddie is the hardest working student I know, participating in many clubs, sports, leadership positions, church activities, and farm life at home…all the while excelling in her academic work maintaining a 3.9 GPA. In addition to all of her extracurricular activities and work on the family farm, Maddie worked at least five jobs throughout high school to save money for college. Her work ethic is admirable to say the least.”:
Kelsey Carr of the Durand-Arkansas School District wrote that Maddie has “an impeccable level of integrity”, and throughout her years in middle and high school, took on the role of advocating for others and pursuing equity for all.
In learning she was selected to receive the Van Sickle Scholarship, Maddie wrote, “I am incredibly honored and thankful to receive this scholarship and want to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved in making this opportunity possible. This support means that I can continue to focus on my academic goals and inspires me to continue striving towards excellence. I’m committed to making the most of this opportunity and hope to reflect the values behind this award in everything that I do in the future.”
The Van Sickle Scholarship was made possible by an endowment established in 2013 to honor Wisconsin’s renowned electric cooperative lobbyist and attorney, the late Charles Van Sickle. It is awarded by the Federated Youth Foundation to a student studying pre-law or law, with a preference to a student who has an interest in cooperative law.
Congratulations, Maddie!
Oconto Youth Awarded FYF Van Sickle Scholarship
May 17, 2024—Ember DeWitt of Oconto Electric Cooperative is the recipient of this year’s Charles Van Sickle Scholarship from the Federated Youth Foundation (FYF. DeWitt attends University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and intends to go to law school. She has a 3.68 GPA. The total scholarship amount awarded this year is $2,722.67. In her submission essay, DeWitt writes, “Earning a law degree will allow me to give back to my community in a substantial way. I love to raise others up and create a positive living and learning environment for others.
DeWitt volunteers with various organizations including the UWGB Campus Cupboard (provides free food and clothing), Forest to Brooks Enrichment (serves youth with special needs), and Run for the Trails (annual race to fund a public trail.) She became interested in law while advocating against the takeover of family farms by industrial farms.
In recommending her for the scholarship, Dr. Nolan Bennett, assistant professor in the political science department at UW-Green Bay wrote, “Ember is a thoughtful, determined student with a driven desire to help others through law. Based on my evaluation of her intellectual capacity and empathetic approach to legal study, I strongly recommend Ember for your scholarship.”
Assistant Dean of Students Katie Morois wrote, “Ember played an integral role in our campus community, consistently exhibiting a strong sense of responsibility, initiative, and genuine passion for fostering positive change.”
DeWitt has not decided what area of law to pursue, but says she is interested in cooperative law. Her goal is to attend law school at Marquette or UW-Madison after graduation.
Congratulations, Ember!
