High Character?
Bold Dreams?
In 2022, we celebrated four major milestones at the Wentcher Foundation:
- Launched our 21st class of Wentcher Scholars.
- Reached $20 million in scholarship funding.
- Awarded the 1,000th Wentcher Scholarship.
- Celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the incorporation of the Wentcher Foundation.
Our founder Ernie Wentcher believed that a student with a good education could achieve anything. No dream was too big. With high character and a desire to succeed, a Chicago-area student can move mountains. That's exactly what Wentcher Scholars do.
The Wentcher Impact:
As Told By Our Scholars
I was struck by the philosophy behind the Wentcher scholarship—that it is not a handout but an investment in the individual to make a positive contribution to society. When someone makes an investment in you, you are all the more likely to want to give back and to make the most of what you’ve been given. The impact of the Wentcher scholarship was enormous. Not only did it take the financial burden off of my parents, it allowed me to fully devote myself to academics.
Troy Boccelli
Wentcher Scholar
Walter Payton College Prep HS, 2014
Harvard University, 2018
Securing the Wentcher Scholarship gave me the opportunity to focus on my studies and enjoy the full breadth of my college experience without having to worry about the financial burden of higher education. Each semester, I felt supported and nurtured by the Wentcher Foundation.
Toccarra Castleman
Wentcher Scholar
Curie Metro HS, 2002
University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign, 2006
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