OAF Awards $41,000 in Student Scholarships in 2025
by Rebecca Seymour
Congratulations to the Oconomowoc High School Class of 2025! One of our favorite events of the year is the OHS Community and Academic Honors Night Program in early June. It’s a chance to witness first-hand how our amazing community wraps it’s arms around our students as they embark on their next journeys. We also have the opportunity to congratulate the amazing students receiving scholarships from the OAF!
We are grateful to Oconomowoc visionaries Hilbert N. Scherffius (1909-1997) and George A. Markham (1916-2009) for creating lasting legacies through the Oconomowoc Area Foundation that will support our community for generations to come.
Each year, the Hilbert N. Scherffius Fund supports three $12,000 scholarships through the Oconomowoc Area Foundation for deserving Oconomowoc high school seniors seeking to pursue their dreams of attending college.
The George A. Markham Memorial Fund Award supports Oconomowoc students pursuing a degree in the arts with a $5,000 scholarship each year. His legacy of living large and giving back to his community continues to live on through the OAF.
George Andrew Markham grew up in the Oconomowoc area, attended Summit School, was a Rotarian for more than 55 years and twice served as District Governor. He also participated in Village of Oconomowoc Lake issues and stayed informed on national and international topics.
OHS Principal Jason Curtis leads the celebration for the OHS Class of 2025!
Supporting Oconomowoc students in this way is made possible through a wonderful, longtime partnership with the Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund. For more information, visit oconomowocscholarshipfund.org.
Meet the OAF’s 2025 Scholarship Recipients!
Written by Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund board members, Colleen Moran and Dr. Susan Schrank
Aiden DeMark will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study computer engineering with a $12,000 scholarship over four years from the Oconomowoc Area Foundation. Aiden is the son of Misty and Greggry DeMark of Oconomowoc. He is a Global Scholar, a member of the OHS Robotics team and a member of the LINK crew which helps incoming freshmen transition smoothly. When Aiden isn’t at school, you can find him as a lead instructor at Mathnasium helping more than thirty students a week with everything from kindergarten math to calculus.
Avery Taylor aspires to advance healthcare technology through a degree in Biomedical Engineering at UW–Madison. Her drive to improve the lives of others is matched by her ability to excel across academic, athletic, and leadership arenas. A standout student-athlete, Avery has achieved notable success in volleyball while maintaining active involvement in DECA, Future Business Leaders of America, LINK, and multiple honor societies. She is the daughter of Kate and Todd Taylor of Oconomowoc and has been awarded a $12,000 scholarship from the Oconomowoc Area Foundation to support her undergraduate education.
Tyler Wacker, son of Timothy and Ellen Wacker, of Oconomowoc, will receive a $12,000 scholarship over four years from the Oconomowoc Area Foundation to study accounting at the University of Minnesota. He was exposed to accounting when he was elected Treasurer of the Oconomowoc Chamber Orchestra, a volunteer-based organization. Tyler is an accomplished violinist with the OHS Orchestra and a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He enjoys mentoring young musicians as well as encouraging his fellow teammates on the cross-country and track and field teams.
Katelyn Wieschel’s musical journey has been one of growth, passion, and dedication. The daughter of Melissa and Jonathan Wieschel of Oconomowoc has performed in the OHS Marching Band and Pit Orchestras, and participated in Tri-M and the WSMA State Honors Program. As a recipient of the $5,000 arts scholarship from the Oconomowoc Area Foundation, Katelyn will continue her musical pursuits at UW–Madison while also studying Sociology. Beyond music, Katelyn was also involved in Costume Crew, Fashion Club, Hope Squad, and the National and Spanish Honor Societies.
