Sophia and Elmer Oerter Charitable Foundation Annual Scholar Recognition
"Student Recognition for Academic Achievement and Leadership"
The Sophia and Elmer Oerter Foundation was created pursuant to the Last Will of Sophia Oerter. In her Will, Sophia Oerter made a provision which provided for a monetary donation to create a Foundation in her and her husband’s name for the purpose of “promoting, furthering and supporting charitable, education, literary, religious and public objectives and programs within and without the City of Columbia, Illinois”. The Foundation has been in existence since 1987 with its registered agent being Crowder & Scoggins, Ltd., a law firm in Columbia.
In 1988 through 2005, the Foundation honored students from Columbia, Dupo, Gibault, Valmeyer, and Waterloo High Schools. Beginning in 2006, the Foundation not only honored the scholars from those high schools but also began awarding a $500.00 scholarship to the top scholar from each high school. The Foundation began hosting an annual banquet, as well, for the scholars, their family, their school administrators, and their teachers. In 2017, the Foundation increased its scholarship award to $1,000.00 to the top five (5) honor students.
Since 2019, the Foundation continues to honor students who are in the top 15% of their senior class with one of those students who displays “exemplary efforts not only in scholarship, but in character, service and leadership” being awarded a $2,500.00 scholarship.
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2020 - 2021 Oerter Foundation Recognized Scholars listed below! The scholarship winners will be named here once all have been notified by his/her respective high school.
In 1988 through 2005, the Foundation honored students from Columbia, Dupo, Gibault, Valmeyer, and Waterloo High Schools. Beginning in 2006, the Foundation not only honored the scholars from those high schools but also began awarding a $500.00 scholarship to the top scholar from each high school. The Foundation began hosting an annual banquet, as well, for the scholars, their family, their school administrators, and their teachers. In 2017, the Foundation increased its scholarship award to $1,000.00 to the top five (5) honor students.
Since 2019, the Foundation continues to honor students who are in the top 15% of their senior class with one of those students who displays “exemplary efforts not only in scholarship, but in character, service and leadership” being awarded a $2,500.00 scholarship.
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2020 - 2021 Oerter Foundation Recognized Scholars listed below! The scholarship winners will be named here once all have been notified by his/her respective high school.
2020 - 2021 Recognized Scholars
Columbia High School |
Mason Albers |
Anna Baur |
Paige Bierman |
Patrick Birner |
Bryson Bourisaw |
Maci Brown |
Natalie Busch |
Emily Buss |
Alycie Caya |
Emily Chace |
Kylie Cleveland |
Paige Drabant |
Alexandria Evans |
Peter Gutknecht |
Emily Kohlenberger |
Andrew Maulding |
Colin McLaren |
Kelsie Ohlendorf |
Kolin Ohlendorf |
Olivia Peterson |
Isaac Schreckenberg |
Rose Sippel |
Victoria Voelkel |
Jillian Wisneski |
Dupo High School |
Briana Conway |
Lena Devine |
Ellie Elfrink |
Allyson Ellis |
Larissa Hoffmann |
Chase Holland |
Grace Jelinek |
Rylea Mueller |
Bree O'Guinn |
Sandra Totra |
Gibault Catholic High School |
Grace Busch |
Madalyn Davis |
Katherine Grawitch |
Ande Grohmann |
Andrew Harmon |
Reagan Herrmann |
Melanie Rueter |
Zoe Swip |
Valmeyer High School |
Ellie Brewer |
Elizabeth Buchanan |
Lea Hoock |
Katie Morwick |
Megan Morwick |
Jacob Niebruegge |
Jacob Rowold |
Waterloo High School |
Garrett Barksdale |
Anna Dawson |
Emily Dougherty |
Aaron Eckart |
Breeyn Garrett |
Edward Heinen |
Jane Kaniecki |
Robert Lee |
Thomas Lewis |
Carson Luhr |
Laurin Lunk |
Alexis Mudd |
Grace Nikolaisen |
Emma Rick |
Jordan Scharf |
Garrett Scherrer |
Claire Schultheis |
Deanna Schultheis |
Madeline Shormas |
Hugh Skinner |
Haley Storm |
Emma Stutsman |
Megan Vogt |
Isabel Wahn |
Haley Weilbacher |
Samantha Wheat |
Taylor Wilson |
Adam Yount |
