Meet the 2025 STEM Forward Scholarship Recipients
Each year, STEM Forward awards $3,000 scholarships to outstanding students from the Milwaukee area enrolled in STEM-related programs to encourage talented students to maintain high academic achievement and service standards. We believe that to add to Southeastern Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, we must provide as many opportunities to students as possible. STEM Forward’s overall scholarship program includes eleven students, totaling $33,000, including scholarship renewals. In partnership with our donors, STEM Forward is tremendously proud to be able to help ten students along on their STEM pathways this next academic year!
The Scholarship Winners will be honored at the 20th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser Golf Outing and Silent Auction on August 14, 2025, at Morningstar Golfer’s Club. Save the date - registration will be coming soon!
Elizabeth Brauer High School Scholarship Recipient
Southeastern Wisconsin High School Scholarship Recipient
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Marquette University Robert Brauer Scholarship Recipient: Abigail Churchill
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Milwaukee Area Technical College Scholarship Recipient: Karolina Fernandes Costa
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Milwaukee School of Engineering Scholarship Recipient: Alexis Fleegel
Hello! My name is Alexis Fleegel; I’m originally from the small town of Medford, Wisconsin. As the oldest of four siblings and someone who began working at a young age at our family-owned movie theater, I grew up with a strong sense of responsibility, dedication, and integrity. My interest in engineering began early, shaped by my experiences in STEM and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) classes, as well as the influence of my aunts, who are engineers themselves. I chose to attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) because of its strong engineering reputation and low student-to-faculty ratio, allowing meaningful connections with professors. I’m pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, focusing on structural engineering, and I plan to graduate in May 2026. During my senior year, I will begin a dual enrollment in MSOE’s graduate program to earn my master’s degree by May 2027.
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Scholarship Recipient: Kayla Knudtson
My name is Kayla Knudtson, and I am a senior at UW-Milwaukee majoring in electrical engineering. From a young age, I was in love with science and math, but was unsure of how to apply these passions to a career path. In my freshman year of high school, I took an engineering course, fell in love, and knew I wanted to be an engineer. Through my AP Physics course, I found my love for solving and creating circuits, which helped me decide specifically on electrical engineering. Along with my love of STEM, I am also an avid environmental and animal lover. From the age of 13, I have been a Racine Zoo volunteer, totaling over 1,000 hours, educating the public and children about wildlife and wild places. With my electrical engineering experience, I plan to work within the renewable energy industry to make a difference in the world around me, combining my love of STEM and the environment into one. After I graduate with my bachelor’s, I plan to continue with my master’s, focusing on renewable energy research. The renewable field is growing rapidly, and I hope to be a part of the change.