Ethos of Rugby Scholarship Information

Scholarships from the Ethos of Rugby Foundation (both High School and Continuing Education) are awarded based upon demonstrated leadership and community service. While helping to coach youth rugby programs is a form of service, most of our past scholarship recipients have also performed important services to their communities beyond just our sport.

Ethos of Rugby 2023 Continuing Education Scholarship Winners

  • Hanah Chip was awarded a $500 Marge Buchanan Scholarship. Hannah is attending UW-Stevens Point and is pursuing a degree in Accounting/Business. In High School she participated in a number of activities. Some of the more prominent are “Feed My Starving Children”, HOSA (Health Occupational Student Association and FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America). She also volunteered to be a Pen Pal to local nursing home residents during the pandemic, writing them when it was impossible for them to have outside contact. After graduation Hanah hopes to continue volunteering by using  her business skills with a charity organization that helps those less fortunate.
  • Joseph Hein was awarded a $500 Richard Staedtler Scholarship. Joseph is attending UW-Oshkosh but had plans to transfer to UW Madison with a goal of becoming a Physician’s Assistant in an emergency or cardiology setting. In High School he was one of the captains of the rugby team for all three years that he played. Plus one of its biggest recruiters in his last year. Rugby taught him to keep a level head during matches so that he could manage and lead the other players. Being able to keep calm and under control during rugby games is a skill that should serve him well working in an emergency or cardiology setting.
  • Jaiden Venem of the UW LaCrosse Women’s Rugby Club was awarded a $500 Marge Buchanan Scholarship. Jaiden is applying to the UW LaCrosse School of Business to pursue a degree in Business Management. Jaiden is Vice President performs numerous duties as Vice President of the UW LaCrosse Women’s Club. She also assists coaching with high school girls rugby in Albert Lea, MN. She works to make sure that all players are accepted on the HS team and that the rugby club is a safe environment for all that participate. Jaiden hopes to work in Human Resources after graduation and would like to start a small business with her sister.

Ethos of Rugby 2023 High School Girls and Boys Scholarships

2023 Scholarship Winners:

  • Riley Ann Truckey of the Green Bay Banshees Rugby was awarded a $500 Marge Buchanan Scholarship. Riley will attend UW River Falls to study Psychology in hopes of becoming a children’s therapist. She was the Captain of her school’s rugby team and has played since 7th grade. During the summer she also coaches flag rugby. Riley has volunteered her time in service of the 4H Club, the Miracle League, and the Student Council, where she was active in The Spine Project. The Spine Project gives chiropractic care to veterans and their families.
  • Michaela Gleason of SPASH Rugby (Stevens Point Area Schools)was awarded a $500 Elizabeth Godfrey Memorial Scholarship. Michaela will attend Northern Michigan University to major in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. She not only served as her team’s Varsity Field Captain, but was also a certified rugby referee. Michaela has served as a FFA (Future Farmers of America) Chapter President, where she volunteered as a face painter, organizer of food drives, and member of the minor road cleaning crew. She also served as the KAOS (Kids and Adults on Snowmobiles) Shawano County Representative.
  • Maggie Behnke of SPASH Rugbywas awarded a $500 Marge Buchanan Scholarship. She will attend UW-Eau Claire and plans on studying business and marketing. In addition to rugby, Maggie competed and gymnastics and served as Team Captain her senior year. Throughout her high school years, she participated in community service as a member of FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)and HOSA (Future Health Professional).Activities included creating Christmas gifts for a local hospital, bell ringing for the Salvation Army, trunk or treat for kids, and making superhero capes for children in the hospital.
  • Caley Ulrichof SPASH Rugby was awarded a $500 Dorothy Jafferis Memorial Scholarship. She will attend UW-La Crosse and will spend her freshman year exploring a wide variety of classes before zeroing in on her major. Throughout her high school years, she participated in community service as a member of the National Honor Society, FCCLA, and HOSA. Activities included bell ringing for the Salvation Army, food drives for her church, and helping at the annual Community Thanksgiving Meal. Her favorite volunteer opportunity was with the Stray Souls Animal Rescue Service.   
  • Jonah Goetschof Green Bay Leprechaun’s Rugby was awarded a $500 Larry Sewell Memorial Scholarship. Jonah will attend Iowa Central to earn a degree in HVAC before starting his own business.  During his senior year, he participated in the Junior Apprenticeship program and worked for a HVAC (Heating and Cooling)company in De Pere. This program allowed him to work from 5:30 am to 10:30 am each day, and then finish his high school classes, before playing sports in the evening. Jonah participated in rugby (including with the Badger Selects), football, and wrestling, while serving as a Captain in each sport. He volunteered for two years as a coach for various youth sports including flag rugby.
  • Jacob Kleistof Elkhorn Demon Elks Rugby was awarded a $500 Dick Staedtler Memorial Scholarship. Jacob will attend Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, where he plans to major in Exercise Science and to minor in Strength & Conditioning. Last month, he was excited to play a higher level of rugby in Spain with EIRA (Eagle Impact Rugby Academy). Jacob helped with fundraising for his school’s football and wrestling programs at the Walworth County Fair, during all four years of high school. He also volunteered as a coach for elementary and middle school football, wrestling, and rugby.
  • Austin Novak of Green Bay Leprechaun’s Rugby was awarded a $500 Robert Buchanan Scholarship. Austin will attend the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis, where he plans to major in Data Science, as well as playing rugby with their Division 1 team. Austin participated in a multitude of organizations that promoted hunting, fishing, and community service: Algoma, Kewaunee, Great Lakes Sport Fishermen Club, Larrabee Sportsmen Club, Denmark Lions Club, Denmark FFA (Future Farmers of America), White Tails Unlimited, Izaac Walton, Ruby’s Pantry, Cerebral Palsy Telethon, and the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America).