Awards & Scholarships
Now accepting nominations
2019 Awards & Scholarships
WETA Scholarships
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John Brasch was a founder of WETA and remained an active member until his death at the age of 53. He was deeply committed to working with disadvantaged students as a guidance counselor at North Central Technical College. The 2019 Brasch Memorial Student Scholarship is a $1000 award payable to the awardee's education provider as indicated on the application. |
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| Dennis Harmon was a dedicated professional who spent most of his working life, before passing at the young age of 47, serving the needs of under-resourced, underemployed, and unemployed through the development, operation, and management of education, employment, and training programs in Wisconsin. The 2019 Harmon Memorial Scholarship is an award of up to $1000 for the awardee to use to participate in a professional development opportunity to advance the awardee's career or volunteer work in workforce development. |
Excellence Awards
WETA recognizes the value of excellence in service and believes that when colleagues recognize the professionalism in other colleagues, everyone benefits. Any WETA member may submit award nominations.
Excellence Awards Include:
- Employment and Training Administration Excellence Award
- Employment and Training Staff Excellence Award
- Kaleidoscope Business Excellence Award
- Workforce Super Hero Award - Special for 2019
Art Besse Pioneer Award
2018 Scholarship Winners
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John Brasch's Memorial Scholarship winner attends Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville working to attain an Early Childhood Education Associates Degree. This mother of five finds time to work part time as a secretary while also volunteering as a work study to assist other students while attending school. Her long term goal, after completing her degree, is to open her own childcare center that will allow other families in her community to find affordable child care while reaching for their own dreams. She hopes her children see her devotion and commitment to reach her goals and believes with hard work, anything is possible.
Noel J |
Dennis Harmon's Memorial Scholarship winner has a passion for helping others. With over 13 years experience providing services to those whose lives have been affected by domestic or sexual abuse, unemployment, or working in a state prison; she wants to provide more than just a sheet of paper with contact numbers for assistance. At a recent training, she learned that one's past does not define them as a person, this was truly an inspirational message for her and she wants to continue to share it with others. It has become her passion to provide better services to our "Justice Served" population.
Dena Daentl |
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WETA 2018 Award Winners
| Art Besse Pioneer Award Sherlyn Kleinow As WETA's highest honor, the Art Besse Pioneer Award was created in honor of its namesake, Art Besse. Art was a founding member of WETA and a great humanitarian. He served the people of Wisconsin through a long and successful career with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The Art Besse Pioneer Award was created to recognize individuals whose achievement and excellence in the field of employment & training through a sustained career in the industry have made a profound impact on the lives of others. The nominee does not have to be a WETA member but must be nominated by a WETA member. As her nomination reads: Sherlyn has more than 30 years' experience working in Social Services, most of which has been in the background, preferring to innovate. She created the first Resource Specialist position in Wisconsin to meet with all new applicants to provide screening, evaluation and targeted support to help people navigate the confusing process of public assistance. She inspired an entire generation of employment and training professionals to never accept the status quo, to push for new innovations and to never lose sight of why we exist-to serve those in need. |
Employment and Training Staff Excellence Award Nikki Holder
Nominee must be a non-administrative staff person who works directly with clients/customers or who supports the staff members who work directly with clients/customers. As Nikki's nomination reads: Working with the Foodshare Employment and Training (FSET) team for just over a year, this nominee has significantly increased the number of engaged customers through her excellent case management skills and collaboration with community agencies. She has traveled to the client to provide assistance with employment related goals and has also partnered with a local church to assist with job skills and maintaining employment. |
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| Employment and Training Administrative Excellence Award Kathleen Olson Nominee must be an administrator, supervisor, coordinator, project director, planner, or hold another administrative position with an organization that provides employment & training services at any level. As Kathleen's nomination reads: This recipient demonstrates her commitment to her organization by providing her crew plenty of opportunities to grow professionally and personally. She makes time for face to face contact each week to ensure productivity and performance, therefor solidifying value for each employee. She recognizes that T-E-A-M means something that brings power to all members of the team. |
Kaleidoscope Business Excellence Award Marvel Browne with UW Health The nominee must be an employer that operates in Wisconsin and be nominated by a WETA member. The nomination should be based on the business's contributions to expanding respect for diversity in the workplace, and demonstrating this by hiring, training, and retaining a diverse workforce. This award recipient receives complimentary attendance on Thursday, lunch, and one night lodging for the WETA 2018 Annual Conference. As Marvel's nomination reads: This years' award recipient has been instrumental in encouraging UW Health to explore unique approaches for recruitment and has worked closely with WIOA staff to create Career Snapshot sessions providing job seekers with exposure to a variety of career options. This partnership has proved successful with respect to all parties, encouraging staff input and striving to create effective program curriculums that will demonstrate real work responsibilities |
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Master R2 (Reimagining & Retooling Specialist Award) Maurice Sprewer This award is given to an individual who provides guidance and assistance to helping job seekers reimagine and retool themselves for gaining self-sufficiency through employment. As Maurice's nomination reads: Six years ago, this participant was scheduled to be a participant in the Pipeline Re-Entry program. In that program, he would learn about resources that could assist him in locating employment. However, when the scheduled presenter did not appear, his mentor graciously agreed to have him speak as a stand-in. Our award recipient made an impactful impression on his audience, and it ultimately led to an employment opportunity with the Department Of Workforce Development. In his time with Job Service, he has excelled at sharing his life experiences so that others can be encouraged and develop self-confidence, clarity and purpose.
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