UW–Madison alumna Rebecca Onken, a 2023 graduate of the School of Education’s MS Educational Psychology: Professional Educators (MSPE) program in the Department of Educational Psychology, is a recipient of a Teacher Fellowship award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation.
Onken, a social studies teacher at Baraboo High School, is one of 100 educators from across Wisconsin who have been awarded $6,000 fellowships this year, recognizing their leadership and service in and outside the classroom, as well as their ability to inspire a love of learning and to motivate their students.
“Herb Kohl believed that education is the key to the future of Wisconsin and our nation,” JoAnne Anton, president and CEO of Herb Kohl Philanthropies said. “That’s why he invested in and prioritized awards that recognize students, teachers, and principals who demonstrate incredible hard work, achievements, and service. We hope this year’s awards help this impressive group of recipients in their individual pursuits today so that they pay it forward in the future. We call that the Herb Kohl Way.”
Award recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program’s co-sponsors: The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, and the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association.
The Kohl Foundation award program was established by Herb Kohl, former U.S. senator, philanthropist, and businessman who died Dec. 27, 2023. Since 1990, the foundation has awarded nearly $38 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students, and schools.