Economics Scholarships
Investing in Your Education
We understand very well how large of an investment your college degree will be, and how seriously you take this financial responsibility. Fortunately for Blugolds interested in economics, there are several Foundation funds designated for econ students, so be sure to look at the criteria and application process for each.
Some of these funds are in memory of alumni, others founded to honor faculty, but they all have the potential to help make a significant dent in a tuition bill, and we thank the generous donors who make funding like this possible for Blugolds.
Find more UW-Eau Claire scholarship information and helpful links on Gold for Blugolds.
- 2024-25 John Callahan, Sydney Penzotti
- 2023-24 Milo Burns
Donor Background: This scholarship was established by Paige and Brandon Magliocco. Brandon graduated from UW- Eau Claire in 2015 with a degree in Economics. Upon graduation, Brandon attended the University of Minnesota for a graduate degree in Economics and Public Health. Paige and Brandon reside near Minneapolis, MN where Paige teaches high school math and Brandon oversees health economics and outcomes research for an association that is involved with national health care reform. While Paige ultimately transferred to the University of Minnesota, UW – Eau Claire remains special to both Paige and Brandon because they met in class and share many fond memories. Paige and Brandon created this scholarship in order to promote opportunities for student research in Economics, which has influenced both of their lives enormously. To this day, Brandon attributes his success in the field of Economics to the mentorship and instruction of the phenomenal Economics Department and UW – Eau Claire.
Application Requirements: This scholarship is for an economics major who has participated in student-faculty research in the last year. A GPA of at least 3.0 is required. Economics faculty members nominate students for this award.
Previous Recipients:
- 2024-25 Morgan Dekan
- 2023-24 Morgan Dekan
- 2021-22 Gabe Wilhorn
- 2020-21 Megan Roehl
- 2019-20 Madeleine Mayer
Donor Background: The Donald L. Ellickson Memorial Scholarship was created in 2018 through contributions from Dr. Ellickson's family, friends, and colleagues. Dr. Ellickson taught in the UW-Eau Claire Economics Department from 1958 until his retirement in 1994. He was appointed chair of the department in 1967 and served in that capacity until 1990. He was an adviser for the Economics Honor Society and the Young Republicans. Dr. Ellickson was involved in service to his community through civics and strong advocacy in the areas of human services and eldercare. He was a member of the Grace Lutheran Foundation Board of Directors, the City of Eau Claire Bus Transportation Committee, and the Zoning Appeals Board. In retirement, he was a member of the Eau Claire County Board from 1994 until 2008 and enjoyed volunteering for the Community Table.
Application Requirements: This scholarship is available to full-time economics majors and minors. Students must be junior or senior status and have completed nine credits of economics courses. An overall GPA and economics GPA of 3.0 is required.
Previous Recipients:
- 2024-25 Luke Plagens
- 2023-24 Luke Plagens
- 2022-23 Connor Garland
- 2021-22 Tobias Kinstler
- 2020-21 Savanna Grunzke
- 2019-20 Megan Roehl
Donor Background: A memorial fund created to honor Josef Gapko, an enthusiastic economics major who died at age 22 from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Josef was an outstanding senior in economics, an accomplished vocal performer with a passion for singing, and an inspiration to those who knew him. His philosophy was 'to do the best one can in any endeavor and be ready to help others reach their potential when opportunities arise. We all have strengths and weaknesses: life is about sharing them for the benefit of all.' His family desires to help another young economics student with a passion for learning and helping others.
Application Requirements: This scholarship is available to a junior or senior pursuing a major or minor in economics with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The successful applicant will demonstrate an understanding of the value of a liberal education and be an inspiration to others.
Previous Recipients:
- 2024-25 Joseph Olson
- 2023-24 Morgan Dekan
- 2022-23 Lillian Roubinek
- 2021-22 Kayla Irlbeck
- 2020-21 Charlotte Cheng
- 2019-20 Emerson Ngu
- 2018-19 Jacob Mussell
- 2017-18 Nicholas Meyer
- 2016-17 Timothy Frederick
- 2015-16 Joseph Hunt
- 2014-15 Jonathon Plumper
- 2013-14 Brandon Magliocco
- 2012-13 Courtney Brown
Donor Background: The Gerald and Mary Jacobson Economics Scholarship was offered for the first time in the 2005-2006 academic year.
Application Requirements: This scholarship is awarded to UW-Eau Claire students at the junior or senior level with an Economics major who have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Previous Recipients:
- 2024-25 Morgan Dekan, Elina Jouppi, Joseph Olson
- 2023-24 Drew Gibson, Joseph Olson, Gabe Wilhorn
- 2022-23 Erica Kladar, Isaac Nelson, Jeremiah Rumsey
- 2021-22 Jordan Boswell, Jackie Martin, Jeremiah Rumsey
- 2020-21 Sara Patoka, Zoey Tan
- 2019-20 Chloe Knuth, Wyatt Pajtash
- 2017-18 Selena Scheller, Jill Wegner, Zhao Yang
- 2016-17 Isaiah Knott, Selena Scheller, Helue Vazquez Valverde
- 2015-16 Joseph Hunt, Isaiah Knott, Joseph Westenberg
- 2014-15 Mitchell Fischer, Stephen Kahlow, Beth Nettescheim
- 2013-14 Oyunsuren Enkhbat, Lindsey Gohr, Lydia Harrer
- 2012-13 Emily Anderson, Courtney Brown, Stephen Fisher
Donor Background: Dr. Jamelske and Dr. Kemp have both engaged numerous economics students in their research projects for many years since joining the Economics faculty in 2002. Their work has provided students with meaningful high impact experiences that have significant benefits for both the students as well as for themselves as professional economists. Helue Vazquez Valverde, a former economics student who worked with both Dr. Kemp and Dr. Jamelske, was so impacted by her experience that she created this scholarship which aims to provide financial support in recognition of students that have exhibited excellence in their work on a faculty mentored student research experience in the Economics Department at UW-Eau Claire.
Application Requirements: This scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding student majoring in economics who is engaged in or preparing to participate in a collaborative research project with a faculty mentor. The recipient must be participating in the research project during the year the scholarship is received.
Previous Recipients:
- 2024-25 Gabriel Smerillo
- 2023-24 Brett Neumann
- 2022-23 Erica Kladar
Donor Background: Established by Kay (wife of former Economics faculty member Jerry) Johnson.
Application Requirements: Excelling academically and active student research assistant
Previous Recipients:
- 2020-21 Sara Patoka
Donor Background: The Harry Kaiser Scholarship was first introduced in 2017. Created to encourage students economics students to participate in economic-related activities outside the classroom.
Application Requirements: Students selected to receive this scholarship have a major in economics and are enrolled in the cultural immersion course, Economics 390/Latin American Studies 390. This award will go towards funding the student to study abroad in Argentina.
Past Recipients:
- 2017-18 Munirah Mazlan
Donor background: This scholarship was established by Thomas Lake, a 1995 UW-Eau Claire economics graduate living in Minnetonka, MN with a long history of generosity in support of his alma mater. Tom, an avid jazz lover, has worked in the financial services industry his entire career. His educational experiences at UW-Eau Claire, especially his connection to faculty mentors such as Dr. Duane Oyen, motivated him to fund this scholarship.
Application requirements: This scholarship will be awarded to a student majoring in economics who is engaged in or preparing to participate in a collaborative research project with a faculty mentor. The recipient must be participating in the research project during the year the scholarship is received.
Previous Recipients:
- 2024-25 Anna Kovalchuk
- 2023-24 Grace McLean
- 2022-23 Andrew Lindaas
- 2020-21 Eric Winkler
- 2019-20 Foong Wong
- 2018-19 Levi Soborowicz
Donor Background: This scholarship was created in 1998 by professor emeritus of economics Duane Oyen, in memory of his wife, Lynne.
Application Requirements: Available to economics majors or minors who have completed nine credits of economics courses and have junior or senior status. Full-time student standing of 12+ credits and overall and major GPA of 3.0 are requirements.
Previous Recipients:
- 2024-25 Elina Jouppi, Kaitlyn Schmelebeck
- 2023-24 Clare Palen, Abigail Curry
- 2022-23 Lillian Roubinek, Andrew Weiss
- 2021-22 Andrew Weiss, Madelyn Zenner
- 2020-21 Maria Kummer, Nathan Schmitz
- 2019-20 Hannah Johnston, Madeleine Mayer
- 2018-19 Elise Chapin, Sisi Zhou
- 2017-18 Cora Cornett, Elizabeth LeMay
- 2016-17 Molly Burrow, Joseph Westenberg
- 2015-16 Isaiah Knott, Joseph Westenberg
- 2014-15 Sara Fisher, Jacob Raleigh
- 2013-14 Emily K. Anderson, Ashley K. Pope
- 2012-13 Stephen J. Fisher, Mai Neng Vang
The family of Mike Reinke, a 1972 UWEC economics graduate, has donated $65,000 for a scholarship, which will provide an annual award of $2,000-$2,500 to an economics major. Mike died in a bicycle accident in the summer of 2004. The contributions are from Mike’s family and colleagues; particularly those Mike worked with in the International Dairy Foods Association. Mike was an Associate Director of Dairy Procurement at Kraft Foods. The first award was in the spring of 2005 with the funds available for the 2005-2006 academic year. The 2017-2018 Application Form for all Department of Economics Scholarships is now online.
Previous Recipients:
- 2024-25 Adrien Stoen
- 2023-24 Elina Jouppi
- 2022-23 Drew Gibson
- 2021-22 Jeremiah Rumsey
- 2019-20 Sara Patoka
- 2018-19 Sydney Simon
- 2017-18 Paul Willfahrt
- 2016-17 Jill Wegner
- 2015-16 Dominique Wilson
- 2014-15 Shawn Peterson
- 2013-14 Sara Fisher
- 2012-13 Samuel Levitus
Donor Background: Dr. Edward Young was born in Milwaukee, WI. He married his wife Jackie in 1967. He received his doctorate degree in Labor Economics from Washington State University in 1975. Dr. Young taught in the Economics department at UW-Eau Claire for many years, including serving as department chair, until his retirement in 2008. As department chair, he chose a flying pig as the department’s mascot to remind students and staff to question everything. Dr. Young served three terms on the Eau Claire City Council, representing Putnam Heights. He was instrumental in advocating for the bike trail that now runs through Eau Claire. He had a lifelong passion for travel, visiting over 30 countries including 15 trips to Vietnam.
Application Requirements: This scholarship is available to economics majors and minors. Preference will be given to students who are underrepresented, under-served, and who have financial need (as determined by the UW-Eau Claire Foundation scholarship award standards), including, but not limited to, returning adult students and first-generation college students.
Past Recipients:
- 2024-25 Marc-Joel Henry
- 2023-24 Morgan Dekan
- 2022-23 Jesse Castellanos-Martinez