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 2022 - 2023 Oerter Foundation Recognized Scholars and the 2022 - 2023 Scholarship Winners listed below!
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 2022 - 2023 Oerter Foundation Recognized Scholars and the 2022 - 2023 Scholarship Winners listed below!
2022 - 2023 Recognized Scholars
Columbia High School |
Bradley Barnard |
Max Barthel |
Braden Bergmann |
Joseph Caya |
Emma Ebner |
Olivia Elie |
Dallas Forgy |
Aurora Gass |
Lindsay Glover |
Madison Groom |
Karsen Jany |
Kayla Juelfs |
Paige Knight |
Taylor Martin |
London Meinhardt |
Addison Miller |
Evelyn Moore |
Andrianna Nickas |
Brooklyn Oestreich - Scholarship Winner |
Calvin Range |
Paxton Reed |
Kate Toenjes |
Breyn Vogt |
Drake Wittenbrink |
Dupo High School |
Hunter Cataldo |
Emma Garner |
Tamoni Jordan - Scholarship Winner |
Isabella Mogg |
Ben Ngotsouvanh |
Natalie Riley |
Grace Schaffer |
Connor Smitt |
Katie Wiechert |
Gibault Catholic High School |
Abby Grohmann |
Adian Murphy |
Nate Nevois |
Emma Schmidt |
Drew Schmoll - Scholarship Winner |
Sydney Wahle |
Valmeyer High School |
Adian Brewer |
Kylie Eschmann |
Jayna Krekel |
Harrison Miller |
Lillian Roever - Scholarship Winner |
Markee Voelker |
Waterloo High School |
Eleanor Bartosik - Scholarship Winner |
Olivia Batts |
Emily Biffar |
Ben Breithaupt |
Jackson Breithuapt |
Ella Brumley |
Jaynanne Caupert |
Nathan Chitty |
Emma Day |
Kailyn Gotto |
Taryn Gregson |
Molly Grohmann |
Norah Gum |
Lilly Heck |
Anne Hicks |
Rylee Ivers |
Megan Jung |
Paris Liyeos |
Maxwell Mitchell |
Teagan Nordorft |
Lillian Prather |
Kylie Ridgeway |
Isabella Schmidt |
Madison Schneider |
Joseph Schwartz |
Calli Smith |
Alexis Stephens |
Morgan Stratton |
Jada Voelker |
Kennedy Voelker |
Kaitlyn Warden |
Lucy Weber |
Noelle Wilson |
