Central scholarship targets OK students

Superior native and Central High School alumna Carol Reasbeck had a dream.

A former educator, she wanted to create a scholarship fund as she and hundreds of other Central graduates gathered for an all class reunion to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the former Superior school last summer.

“Fortunately, through the efforts of all these people she was right,” said Marlene Case of the Central class of 1954 and member of the reunion planning committee.

Proceeds from the reunion and contributions from alumni made Reasbeck’s dream a reality when the Central All Class Reunion planning committee turned over a $27,000 check late last week to the Superior Scholarship Foundation.

The money will support a $1,000 scholarship given annually to a student planning to attend a trade school, community college or university after graduation from Superior High School.

“We’re hoping that alumni who read that we’ve established the fund will continue contributing because we want to have not only one $1,000 scholarship but two,” Case said. “We do have promises from people who said they will contribute once it’s established, so hopefully.

She said $20,000 will fund the first scholarship, and $7,000 will be left to grow with the goal of creating the second $1,000 scholarship. The group also retained $5,000 in the event another all school reunion is planned, and if nothing comes of it in the next five years, they plan to turn that money over to the scholarship fund too.

Contributions to the fund can be sent to the Superior Scholarship Foundation in the name of the Central All School Reunion Scholarship Fund.

By giving it to the foundation like that it’s tax deductible, said Nancy Pedersen, executive director of the foundation.

Ron Cain of the class of 1961 and member of the reunion committee said there is still reunion merchandise available if anyone is looking for a holiday gift idea for alumni. Proceeds from the sale of the merchandise also benefit the scholarship. He can be reached at (715) 392-8985 for merchandise.

The annual scholarship will go to one senior each year with a grade point average of 2.5 to 3.5.

“We want to, hopefully, include those middle scholars who aren’t at the top of the list and maybe don’t have a chance for another scholarship,” Case said. “They can use it to attend any trade training, university or state college that they wish.”

When all factors are equal, Case said, seniors with a relationship to someone who attended the former Central high or junior high school are the preferred candidate for the scholarship.

When the high school hands out scholarship applications, they consist of four pages with all types of questions on them, Pedersen said. She said this year one of those questions will be whether the student had any relatives who attended Central.

For more information about contributing to the fund, call Marlene Case at (715) 399-8152.

Contributions can be sent to Superior Scholarship Foundation, 3025 Tower Ave., Superior, WI 54880. Write Central Scholarship in the memo line.

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