Earlier this summer, WIKA USA celebrated the 16 winners of the 2023 Ursula Wiegand Scholarship, which offers financial support to employees’ children who demonstrate a high level of commitment to academic achievement and community service.

College is not cheap. Former WIKA president Michael Gerster knew this 21 years ago when he created the Ursula Wiegand Scholarship. Named in honor of the company’s former president, who was also the first woman to receive Germany’s Business Owner of the Year Award (in 1984), this prize has helped nearly 300 children of WIKA employees pursue their academic goals.

During the WIKA scholarship banquet, Drew Firestone spoke about the achievements of former WIKA president Ursula Wiegand.

But good grades alone aren‘t enough to win this WIKA scholarship. The committee also looks at the applicants’ community involvement and letters of recommendation. This is a one-time award, but past winners are encouraged to apply again as long as they will be full-time students in an accredited undergraduate program.

Jesse Larsen, WIKA scholarship recipient from 2020 to 2023

This year, the scholarship committee gave awards to 16 children of WIKA employees in three U.S. locations. The amounts ranged from $500 to $1,000 per person and go toward tuition or other college expenses.

The winners and their families were honored during a luncheon banquet on June 29, 2023. Drew Firestone, VP of Strategy and Marketing, spoke during the celebration at WIKA USA’s headquarters in Lawrenceville. In addition to a check, each winner also received a gift card, a college sweatshirt, and a yard sign that publicly proclaimed their achievement.

Among the 16 winners were five who have previously received the Ursula Wiegand Scholarship. Jesse Larsen, a history major at the University of North Georgia, is one of those multi-year winners. “This scholarship is very helpful and helped make the last few years of school a better experience,” he said.

Winners of the 2023 Ursula Wiegand Scholarship

Congratulations to these hardworking students and their equally hardworking parents or sponsors. We are honored to be part of your academic journey.

Student

Parent/Sponsor

WIKA USA
Location

Post-Secondary
Institution

Prior-Year
Winners

Benjamin
Bajramovic

Zlata Bajramovic

Lawrenceville, GA

University of Georgia

 

Mark Benton

Steven Benton 

Lawrenceville, GA

Kennesaw State
University

 

Kendall Brand

Joe Brand

Lawrenceville, GA 

Georgia State
University

2021

Caroline Carper

Gregory Carper

Lawrenceville, GA

University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

2022

Zayda Culberson

Chris Culberson 

Lawrenceville, GA

Furman University

 

Jayson Fong

Viengsavanh Fong

Lawrenceville, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology

 

Jesse Larsen

Jonie Larsen

Lawrenceville, GA

University of North Georgia

2020, 2021, 2022

Ana Ledford

James Ledford

Lawrenceville, GA

Georgia College & State University

 

Jonathan
Mutombo

Emmanuel
Mutombo

Lawrenceville, GA

Georgia Gwinnett
College

 

Matelyn Riordan

Timothy Riordan

Lawrenceville, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology

2022

Robert Riordan

Tim Riordan

Lawrenceville, GA

Mercer University

 

Sohail Sohail

Masuun Vanjaria

Lawrenceville, GA

Georgia State
University

 

Nermin
Mujkanovic

Arnela Mujkanovic

Lawrenceville, GA

University of Georgia

2021, 2022

Sana Malhotra

Sandeep Malhotra

Pasadena, TX

University of Texas–Austin

 

Audrey Truss

Sydney Truss

Pasadena, TX

University of Texas at Dallas

 

Kara Peck

Gary Peck, Jr.

Chambersburg, PA

Shippensburg
University

 

 


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