Coulee Region Engineering Scholarship paves path to tomorrow

April 11, 2024

By La Crosse Community Foundation

Blueprints for the Future

The Coulee Region offers a unique opportunity each year for aspiring engineers, thanks to the partnership between the Western Chapter of the Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers and La Crosse Community Foundation. The Coulee Region Engineering Scholarship helps make it possible for students who want to shape the future through engineering.

Jeremy Tomesh, a civil engineer focusing on transportation and municipal engineering, has been instrumental in overseeing the scholarship. With a decade of experience, Tomesh emphasizes the importance of supporting the next generation of engineers.

“This scholarship is financial aid, of course, but it’s also an investment in the engineers who will shape our communities,” he said.

Engineering scholarship awards two students

This year, the scholarship proudly awarded two promising students — Luke Fischer from Alma Center’s Lincoln High School and Jillian Awe from Eleva-Strum High School — each with $1,200 scholarships toward their tuition.

Both students are a testament to the drive and passion the scholarship seeks to nurture.

Civil engineering is more than designing; it’s about being a part of the community and evolving with society, said Fischer.

“I look forward to being a part of transforming civil engineering and implementing the latest technologies while adapting to the ever-changing world in which we live.”

The scholarship, endowed and growing each year, bases its selection on a comprehensive evaluation covering academic achievements, extracurricular activities, work experience, and a passion for engineering. It’s a process that Tomesh and his committee, comprised of both practicing and retired professional engineers, take seriously in their quest to identify and support the most deserving students.

Tomesh’s own journey in engineering, sparked by a curiosity about how things are built and a desire to contribute to the community, mirrors the aspirations of scholarship recipients like Fischer.

Bettering society

“Engineering offers the unique opportunity to better society,” said Tomesh. “It’s about working hand-in-hand with community leaders on projects that benefit our friends and neighbors.”

The Coulee Region Engineering Scholarship represents how donor contributions do more than provide financial assistance; they fuel the ambitions of young minds eager to make a positive difference. They remind us that donors supporting scholarship funds, like the Coulee Region Engineering Scholarship, aren’t just funding education; they’re investing in the future of our community and the world at large.