St. Thomas More HS announces new $10 million scholarship fund | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kevin Russell, St. Thomas More High School
March 10, 2017
(Photo courtesy of St. Thomas More High School)
St. Thomas More High School announces the creation of the Leonard Gigowski Scholarship Fund, which will bring over $10 million in new funding to St. Thomas More in the decades to come. This scholarship fund will award between $500,000 and $600,000 annually in perpetuity, benefiting over 150 students each year beginning with the 2017-18 school year.
Created through the Leonard Gigowski Catholic Education Foundation, the Gigowski Scholarship Fund will provide support to current and incoming St. Thomas More students who demonstrate:
“The cost of tuition is a significant burden for many families,” St. Thomas More principal Nicholas Kelly said. “Many Milwaukee families who wish to send their children to St. Thomas More cannot simply because they do not have the financial resources. Strongly influenced by his own high school experience, Leonard wanted to ‘pay it forward’ for the next generation of St. Thomas More students, helping more families afford a high-quality Catholic education.”
Starting for the 2017-18 school year, St. Thomas More will award five one-half-tuition scholarships to incoming freshmen through the Gigowski Scholarship Fund. The remaining funding will provide one-third-tuition scholarships to St. Thomas More students at all grade levels.
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Leonard Gigowski graduated from St. Francis Minor Seminary – a predecessor school to St. Thomas More – in 1943.  After graduating, Leonard spent several years in the US Navy, including serving in World War II.  After his time in the military, he returned to Milwaukee and enjoyed success as an entrepreneur. Leonard remained active in his alma mater and celebrated his 90th birthday with our students and faculty in April 2015. Leonard passed away in July 2015, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, devotion to his faith, and philanthropy in the community.
“As one of our most passionate supporters, Leonard believed that a well-rounded education can transform the lives of young people,” St. Thomas More president Mary McIntosh said. “This gift ensures that St. Thomas More can help promote Leonard’s vision of a transformative education for all students for many years to come.”
To apply for the Leonard Gigowski Scholarship Fund or one of St. Thomas More other tuition assistance programs, please visit www.tmore.org/tuition.
About St. Thomas More High School
Located in Milwaukee’s historic Bay View neighborhood, St. Thomas More High School educates over 500 young men and women in grades nine through 12. Guided by nearly 150 years of experience and tradition as a Catholic college preparatory high school, St. Thomas More strives to nurture the whole student: intellectually, spiritually, and personally. Emphasizing project-based learning in all aspects of education, St. Thomas More challenges students academically while instilling values of personal responsibility, compassion, and conscientious citizenship.
For more information about St. Thomas More High School, please visit www.tmore.org.
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