Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation announces 2022 scholarship winners

The Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation announced today the recipients of scholarships for two area high school seniors: Mara Bakke and Noah Lopez.

Since 2019, American Family Insurance and the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation have committed to funding scholarships for local high school students.

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. This year's recipients will each receive a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 per year up to a total of four years).

2022 recipients

Mara Bakke will graduate on May 28, 2022 from Abundant Life Christian School and this fall will attend Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Not only did Mara earn a spot on the honor roll each year of high school, she is a member of National Honor Society and the Valedictorian of her class. She also did volunteer work at her high school and donates her time to the Door Creek Church technical production team.

Along with school and volunteering, Mara is a gifted athlete. She played varsity basketball her freshmen and sophomore years, and during her junior and senior years she was the only girl on the boys’ varsity golf team. She plans to continue golfing with the Olivet Nazarene University Lady Tigers.

Noah Lopez will graduate on June 5, 2022 from Madison East High School. His plans following graduation are to attend Columbia College Chicago in this fall. His academic focus has earned him membership in the National Honor Society as well as a place on the honor roll every year. Noah has a passion for travel and photography and plans to earn a degree in film and television.

He is an avid golfer and has played on the Madison East High School varsity golf team all four years. Due to his strong leadership skills, he became captain of the golf team his sophomore year. Noah also spends his free time coaching with The First Tee of Southcentral Wisconsin, teaching other young people the important life skills he’s learned through playing golf.

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 the American Family Children’s Hospital and hundreds of charitable organizations.

Scholarship criteria

Scholarship applicants have to be high school seniors and earn at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and demonstrate 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 display 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