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 | Post-Secondary | Prior-Year |
Benjamin | Zlata Bajramovic | Lawrenceville, GA | University of Georgia |
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Mark Benton | Steven Benton | Lawrenceville, GA | Kennesaw State |
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Kendall Brand | Joe Brand | Lawrenceville, GA | Georgia State | 2021 |
Caroline Carper | Gregory Carper | Lawrenceville, GA | University of Arkansas at Fayetteville | 2022 |
Zayda Culberson | Chris Culberson | Lawrenceville, GA | Furman University |
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Jayson Fong | Viengsavanh Fong | Lawrenceville, GA | Georgia Institute of Technology |
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Jesse Larsen | Jonie Larsen | Lawrenceville, GA | University of North Georgia | 2020, 2021, 2022 |
Ana Ledford | James Ledford | Lawrenceville, GA | Georgia College & State University |
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Jonathan | Emmanuel | Lawrenceville, GA | Georgia Gwinnett |
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Matelyn Riordan | Timothy Riordan | Lawrenceville, GA | Georgia Institute of Technology | 2022 |
Robert Riordan | Tim Riordan | Lawrenceville, GA | Mercer University |
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Sohail Sohail | Masuun Vanjaria | Lawrenceville, GA | Georgia State |
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Nermin | Arnela Mujkanovic | Lawrenceville, GA | University of Georgia | 2021, 2022 |
Sana Malhotra | Sandeep Malhotra | Pasadena, TX | University of Texas–Austin |
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Audrey Truss | Sydney Truss | Pasadena, TX | University of Texas at Dallas |
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Kara Peck | Gary Peck, Jr. | Chambersburg, PA | Shippensburg |
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