Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation announces 2020 scholarship winners

The Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation announced today the recipients of two scholarships for students in southcentral Wisconsin: Trent Jarvi of Waunakee and Katherine Meier of Middleton.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the 2020 American Family Insurance Championship, American Family Insurance and the Steve Stricker American Family Foundation committed to continuing contributions to charitable organizations in 2020 in the amount of $2.8 million. This also includes funding the scholarship program, which was introduced in 2019.

Each year two deserving local high school seniors who meet certain criteria and live in the Wisconsin counties of Dane or Rock are awarded scholarships to help reach their educational goals. Katherine Meier and Trent Jarvi will each receive a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 per year up to a total of four years).

2020 recipients

Trent Jarvi is a 2020 graduate of Waunakee High School. He was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, where he qualified for state competitions and was the public relations officer. Trent also belonged to the Pay It Forward club, where he did various volunteer work around the community and raised money for charitable causes. He also held leadership positions in the club, including vice president. Trent was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and served as a peer tutor.

Trent has played soccer most of his life and was on the boys soccer team throughout high school. However, he says golf has had the greatest impact on his life. A member of the boys golf team for four years, he says the game has taught him patience, self-confidence and respect. He has shared his passion for the game through volunteer work with younger players in junior golf programs, and enjoys the opportunity to see other young people learn to love the game as much as he does.

Trent will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall to study business.

Katherine Meier is a 2020 graduate of Middleton High School. A golfer since the age of three, Katherine was a member of her high school’s varsity girls golf team for four years and served as captain for two years. During that time, the team achieved two runner-up state championships and won the state championship her senior year. Katherine says she is extremely grateful for all the friends and relationships she’s made through golf.Her other interests include photography, painting, poetry and spending time with her family.

She has been involved in many clubs and extracurricular activities, but her biggest passion has been working on the school yearbook for three years and serving as editor for two.

Katherine will attend Loyola University in Chicago in the fall to study business and play on the women’s golf team.

AmFam Champ proceeds fund scholarship program

The scholarship program is funded with proceeds from the PGA TOUR Champions American Family Insurance Championship distributed through the Foundation, which has also distributed grants to hundreds of charitable organizations. Including this year’s contributions, nearly $10 million has been donated since 2016, the inaugural year of the tournament.

Scholarship criteria

Scholarship applicants had to be high school seniors and earn at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and demonstrated participation in the game of golf through competitive participation, recreational participation, employment at a golf course or golf retailer, caddying at a golf course, and/or by volunteering at a golf tournament. They must also have displayed exemplary character, leadership and community service, along with other requirements.

The Scholarship application process was administered by a third party, Scholarship America.

For more information about the PGA TOUR American Family Insurance Championship, visit the tournament website.

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About Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation
Established in 2013 when Steve Stricker became a brand ambassador for American Family Insurance, the mission of the foundation is to inspire and develop strong families and healthy kids so they can pursue their dreams. The foundation supports organizations that produce tangible outcomes that align with this mission. Web: www.amfamchampionship.com/foundation-and-charities/; Twitter: @StrickerFNDN