Economics Scholarships

The Fund was established March 31, 1985 by Margaret Meek Bishop in honor of herself and her late husband George, who both received Economics degrees from the University of Wisconsin in the 1930’s.

Nell and Valerie Draminski have been awarding this scholarship since 1989 in memory of their brother, Edward R. Draminski, who graduated from UW-Madison in 1948.

Ron Emanuel graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1968 with a major in Economics. After graduating, he built a chain of retail furniture stores in the Chicago region. Finding success in the industry after 3 decades, Ron went on to found a real estate and investment company doing business across the country. Knowing the impact the UW and Economics Department had on his life and career, Ron wanted to establish a scholarship to assist others in the pursuit of their Economics degree.

Michael J. Degenhart (BS Economics ’84) established this scholarship, in honor of his wife Carmella and his mother Joyce Carpenter Degenhart to assist undergraduate students in the Department of Economics.

Gerald Konz (BS Economics ’57) created this scholarship to make a positive impact in the lives of future economists. He retired from S.C. Johnson in 1999 after a successful career spanning 39 years.

David Grainger created these scholarships in memory of his wife who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1948 with a Bachelor of Philosophy in Economics (a common degree for the time that is no longer offered today).

Veldor Kopitzke was a Professor Emeritus of Economics for the University of Wisconsin System, teaching courses across the Universities of Wisconsin, Lawrence University and Oshkosh State University. He received his BA, MBA, and PhD (‘53) from UW-Madison and did post graduate work at the University of Minnesota, Purdue University, and Case Institute of Technology. In addition, he served in the US-Army Air Force during World War II. Professor Kopitzke was active in his community throughout his life serving on many professional organizations.

Mary Claire Aschenbrener Phipps (1929-2009) had a strong connection with the UW-Madison her entire life. Her father, Willard Aschenbrener, was the first in his family and city to attend university. His success as a banker led him to participate in founding what is now the Wisconsin School of Business in addition to serving as the president of the Alumni Association and establishing scholarships. Mary Claire grew up seeing her father’s generosity and pride. She graduated cum laude with a major in Economics before working for Northern Trust in Chicago and beginning an MBA program at Northwestern University. Mary Claire stayed connected to UW-Madison, serving as a member of the College of Letters & Science Board of Visitors and establishing a scholarship for Economics students with her husband, Charles. Though Mary Claire has passed away, Charles and their children return to campus every year to meet with the Aschenbrener and Phipps Scholars, again following a tradition established by her father.

Everett H. Smith graduated with an Economics major from UW-Madison in 1942. He attributed a lot to his Economics major and established this scholarship to give back to future badger economists.

Dianne Orton and Sandra Turner have established the Virginia Schumacher Orton Student Award in Economics in memory of their mother. Virginia Schumacher Orton graduated in 1944 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin.

During Lorraine’s junior year at UW-Madison, she was hired by IBM. She married Dwight in 1945 and two years later, IBM laid off all married women. Lorraine went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Economics 1970. The Stones established this scholarship as a way to give back to the Economics Department.

Bruce Ammerman created this scholarship in honor of his mother who graduated with a BA in Economics in 1940. She was born in Fond du Lac, WI and went on to have a successful career in Washington DC first working as an Economist with the War Labor Board during WWII and later as an economics consultant with the Washington Neurosurgical Association.

Murugappa “Madhu” Madhavan (PhD, Economics, 1969) is establishing this fund for undergraduate students in honor of the wonderful experience he had at the Economics Department and for the role it has played in his career and life.

The fund was established on June 30, 1984 by Rosalie Morton, widow of late UW Economics Professor Walter Morton, and her son Stephen D. Morton. Walter received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1927. Rosalie received her BS from the UW in 1928, and Stephen received his BS in 1954 and Ph.D. in 1962 from the UW.