"It was a miracle"

“Victoria was super surprised and blessed.  She opened the envelope after she got off stage and started crying.  She has been working and saving money to attend Youth With A Mission YWAM as a step of faith and training she wants to attain before full time college.  Her and her mentor were praying for God to provide the rest of the money she needed.  She has been working and saving and praying!  The amount of the scholarship was the exact amount she needed to go.  It was a miracle!  Thank you for being a part of this amazing testimony!”  - Heather Faulkner Young Life area director

Victoria Perez received the Matt Schmidt Kindness Scholarship during the 2024 Young Life Fashion show. She is pictured here with Young Life area director, Heather Faulkner.

After half a century, can a timepiece bring two soldiers together?

by Kristin Kreuser

This is a story about two different people in two different parts of the world.  For our purposes, their stories first begin in 1968.  And now, almost 56 years later, we are hoping that with your help, their paths will cross for the first time.  

Before you meet the two subjects of this story, we would like you to think back to December 31, 1968.  If you lived it, you might remember seeing the image of the very first EarthRise, captured by the astronauts of Apollo 8 a week earlier on Christmas Eve.  And if you didn’t live it, you have no doubt seen the captivating image of the illuminated Earth as the crew orbited the moon.  

Doug LaViolette on field maneuvers with the US Army in Germany during the summer of 1969.

When the U.S. Army newspaper Stars and Stripes hit the newsstands on that New Year’s Eve,  service men and women around the world were awestruck by that image of Earth.  It literally took their breath away.  Doug LaViolette was one of these servicemen.  As a young soldier, a kid actually, Doug wondered about his future and what the world would have in store for him.  Little did he realize that within a few years, he would meet the love of his life, Renee; they would be married in 1974; and matters would change from “I” to "us".  They would have two loving children, a son they named Brian, and a beautiful daughter christened Kimberly, and in September of 2024 they would celebrate 50 years of marriage.  

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. For the story to continue, we need to go back to that last day of 1968.  Doug was stationed in Augsburg Germany, knee-deep in the Cold War and the cold weather. On that same day half a world away, actually 5922 miles away, another soldier was at the House of Adler Vietnam Exchange, buying what was possibly his first “good watch” with his hard-earned combat pay.  We know that this soldier was an E4, serving with the 611th Transportation Company.  His name appears to be Thomas C. Neshah and his RA Service Number, 56xxxxxx.  

Photo by Doug LaViolette

How do we know all of this?  It’s written somewhat clearly at the bottom of the original receipt. Though we wonder, is his first name actually Thomas?  Or could it be Shane?  Or Sheamus?

The battle cry on the 611th Transportation Company unit patch seems so appropriate as we continue our story…

WHAT NEXT? 

The timepiece that this soldier so carefully selected and then, for decades, took such good care of, will be coming up for auction at the end of this year in New York City. 

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, formed in 1992 after Doug and Renee’s son Brian was lost in a swimming accident in Door County.  To date, this inspirational foundation has awarded over 1100 scholarships to high school students. 

In anticipation of this year’s auction, we would be honored to share more of the story of the soldier who first owned this Technos Sky Diver watch, but we wonder. . . 

Technos Sky Diver watch, photography by Ty Alexander Photography

Who is he and what has his life dealt him?  

Who were the other men in his unit and does he ever keep in touch with them? 

Did he marry? Did he have children? Might he have grandchildren? What did he do for a living? Did he ever wear the watch in combat or did he buy it right before he rotated home to the United States?

Dave Langenfeld, a good friend of the LaViolette family, discovered the watch in Sturgeon Bay.  From the little information that we have about the original owner, we know that he spends his summers in Door County and his winters in Florida.

Our hope is that now, over a half a century later, these two soldiers will have a chance to meet and share their stories.

Our hope is also that this Swiss-Made wristwatch will have an impact on a young student for decades to come.  

As our story comes to an end, for now, we are hoping for your help.  If you know who this soldier is, or if you know someone in his family, please reach out to Doug at (920) 655-4098 or doug@laviolettefoundation.org.

A message from our new Associate Director, Kristin Kreuser

"The Journey is the Reward". These five words first became a part of my life following the loss of my younger cousin Brian. At the time, I was a 20-year-old college student, whose journey was just beginning. Throughout the last 31 years, I have found meaning in Brian’s mantra in many different ways, both personally and professionally.  

My journey in supporting education started in the classroom, where I taught language arts for over 28 years. Other than my first semester of teaching, which was at Green Bay East High School, I spent my entire career at Green Bay Preble High School. One of the many great aspects of teaching is being able to mentor and develop connections with students and their families. Watching them start their own life journeys and work towards their goals was the most rewarding part of my job.  

Over the years I tried to stay as involved in the school community as possible, in positions such as Academic Decathlon coach, Key Club advisor, newspaper advisor, cheerleading coach, language arts department chair, and Building Leadership Team member. My husband Terry and I live in the Preble community, along with our two adult children, Sydney and Michael, who both graduated from Preble.  

Brian’s foundation has been an integral part of my entire adult life. I have been involved as an advisory board member and a volunteer at events. I have watched my cousin’s memory be honored over and over, through the hard work of Doug, Renee, and Kim, through every dollar donated, kind word expressed, and scholarship awarded. I am humbled and proud to continue this work as the Associate Director of the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation.

Cadet overcomes cancer, receives LTG Robert Foley Scholarship of Honor at West Point

A message from 2023 LTG Foley Scholarship of Honor recipient Justin Free…

“I am honored to be selected for the LTG (R) Robert F. Foley Award of Honor, although I am certain there are many other cadets from my class who equally deserve this award. Brian’s quote, ‘The Journey is the Reward,’ is very similar to how I have tried to live my life through both the good times and the bad.

During the first semester of my yearling year I had long periods of exhaustions and I finally went to my doctor to get a full examination. Just a few days before Christmas I found out I had Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and needed to begin treatment immediately.

Unfortunately, that would mean that I would have to step away from the Academy for an unknown amount of time and began chemotherapy just after the new year. As tough as this news was for me, it was even more difficult for my family and close friends. Without even knowing it, I had become the bedrock and strength of my family even as I underwent my treatment and worked through my situation as courageously as I possibly could.

After finishing chemotherapy, I then needed to go through a strenuous radiation therapy regiment which kept me from returning to West Point for another semester. I continued to stay positive both for my family and myself. I was always making jokes to make people laugh and doing everything I could to show that they did not need to worry about me at all. During my second semester away, I felt much healthier and began working out significantly more to ensure I would be in the best shape possible when I returned to West Point. I finished my radiation treatment the day before I had to return to West Point.

Justin is pictured here with his parents Edward and Claudeen Free, Commandant -BG Lori Robinson, Sergeant Major -  CSM Robert Craven, and Staff and Faculty members in the United States Corps of Cadets. 

There was never a moment where I felt alone thanks to the support from everyone around me. I am so humbled to be graduating from the United States Military Academy. “It takes a Village” has never felt more applicable than it does for me today. This is certainly a collective success story as a result of the involvement and support of so many during my Journey.

I would like to reiterate how humbled and honored I am to receive this Award. I feel privileged to be associated with the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation. I will strive to live my life with the same values of Brian LaViolette, LTG Foley, and everyone else who’s footsteps I will continue to strive to be a source of positivity and support for my peers and my subordinates when I enter the Army as an Officer. I have met some of the most influential and inspiring people during my time here at West Point and I will continue to push myself every day to follow in their footsteps as I enter the Army profession.”

You can also learn more about Justin and the LTG Foley Scholarship of Honor in this article in Army.
https://www.army.mil/article/272586

New Year, New Board Members

The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation is proud to welcome two new board members.

Megan Dickman-Renard

Megan Dickman-Renard is the CEO and publisher of The Business News and the founder and CEO of Dickman Media Group. She is deeply involved in various areas of the communications and technology fields, including print, digital, audio, and visual media. 

Prior to her current ventures, Megan was the Head of Community and Content for Demiplane, a technology start-up based in Green Bay, WI. Before Demiplane Megan was the Principal Owner/Writer for Crystal Clear Resources, a writing, editing, and translation company that specialized in print and digital editing, proofreading, and publishing. Crystal Clear Resources also translated to and from over 25 different languages. 

Megan graduated from Bay Port High School and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Master’s degree from Bryn Mawr College.

Bruce Valk

Bruce Valk, who has been in multiple executive roles as an investor, founder, and a member of upper management teams and hasan impressive track record of creating and transforming corporate visions into viable and profitable realities. He most recently worked for AriensCo in Brillion, WI as the Director of Special Projects.  

Since receiving his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI, Bruce has been active in several non-profit organizations including United Way, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, and the Valley Kids Foundation.

Bruce and his wife Carol live in Appleton.

"We know that education is critical in a young person’s life"

Darold Cichocki studied at NWTC in Green Bay, WI and this year he and his wife, Pat, wanted to give back and sponsor a scholarship where he started his college education. We feel it is not a coincidence that the 2023 scholarship recipient, John Nowak, would like to also pay it forward one day.

John Nowak has 11 siblings and states that money in their household gets tight at times so the little he does earn goes to help support my family. In his scholarship essay he shared; “I would not let my education go to waste. I will work hard every day, make school my top priority, and greatly appreciate the financial help. Someday I hope to be able to ‘pay it forward’ if I ever see anyone trying their best who could use a little help financially.”

 I chose to take the electricity course at NWTC because I wanted to learn a hands-on skill that was interesting and challenging. My parents both attended NWTC and encouraged me to take that path. I enjoy working outdoors, being hands-on, staying active, and focusing on something where I'm able to see my progress. I like to be able to learn how to do things the right way from an instructor who knows the trade because he/she has worked in it, knows the problems one can face in that field, and knows how to overcome the obstacles if there are any. It's important to me to be able to do things the right way the first time, and if for some reason I get it wrong, learn from my mistakes, and do things safely and effectively.

John is on track to graduate from the electricity program in May 2024.

“We chose to donate a scholarship to an NWTC student because we know that education is critical in a young person’s life.  

After reading John’s letter we can see that he is a very deserving young man and we are proud to help him on his journey.”

Darold and Patricia Cichocki, sponsors of the 2023 Brian laviolette NWTC Scholarship

For the first time in Foundation history...

...we have two staff members!

The Foundation, which was established in 1992, was entirely volunteer run for 14 years until Brian's sister, Kim joined as the one and only employee 17 years ago. Today, we are happy and proud to announce that Kristin Kreuser has joined our team as Associate Director.  

We are keeping things in the family as Kristin was Brian’s cousin (and Kim's of course) and has been involved with the Foundation for a long time. She served on our Board of Advisors, and has volunteered at many of the Foundation’s events.   

Kristin recently retired from teaching after 28 years at Green Bay's Preble High School and has a passion for education. 

An Oconto native, Kristin earned her undergraduate degree at St. Norbert College and her master's degree from Lesley University.

Kristin and her husband live in Green Bay with their two adult children, Sydney and Michael, and their Danish exchange student, Ida.

She has a love of travel, books, puzzles and time spent with family.

We are thrilled to have her on the team and we look forward to you all meeting her down the road- whether it is in person or through her work with the Foundation.

Give with Confidence

We are honored to announce that the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation has received the highest possible rating on Charity Navigator. This four-star rating designates Brian’s Foundation as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that our organization is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria. Charity Navigator is America’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator.

This milestone achievement for Brian’s Foundation couldn’t have happened without your trust and your support. 

From Preble High School to NASA.. an update from 2020 Recipient, Lauren Bonetti

"I will be forever grateful and honored to be a Brian LaViolette Scholarship recipient. Brian's values are never not with me, and I am extremely proud to have a small part in his legacy. 

Next semester, I will be the AFROTC Cadet Wing Commander at the Marquette Detachment. I will be in charge of over 50 cadets and their training for 14 weeks...I am nervous, because I want to do a good job, but mostly excited. 

As for classes, I am only two semesters away from my bachelors in Electrical Engineering. I was just inducted into the Honors Electrical Engineering Society, and won outstanding junior electrical engineer of the semester in the spring. Over the next two semesters, I will be working on a senior design project with NASA - creating a lunar rover with some extremely niche capabilities. 

In May, I will commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force or Space Force...hopefully the Space Force. I also applied for the in-service master's program, I am hoping to continue my education with Electrical Engineering." 

Lauren was selected to be an American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) fellow. They chose two cadets in AFROTC nationwide to go to Normandy, France and partake in the Memorial Day and D-Day ceremonies.

"The ABMC maintains American overseas cemeteries. It was an incredible experience and I have an entirely new appreciation for what it means to be in the military--- a genuine calling to serve."

"Not just a random scholarship"

“While it is great to receive the money for the scholarship, I feel most proud of what it means to receive it because it isn’t just some random scholarship I applied for. 

It’s something that I’ve had my eye on this whole year because it was about doing things for others. That sums up the whole reason that I want to pursue my dreams of being a firefighter.

I’m very thankful to receive this scholarship and thank you for choosing me. This award makes me feel very proud and accomplished for all the hard work that I’ve put in and it pushes me to pursue my dream even further.” 

David Ayala, 2023 Matt Atkinson Scholarship recipient, Green Bay East High School

You have probably heard the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child". We had the privilege of attending CollegeReady's Lamp of Knowledge event this month and the keynote speak, Feliks Albright spoke a lot about his 'village'. He emphasized how important it was to create a network of relationships with people who share the same values- to mentor each other and pay the kindness forward.

It got me thinking about students like David, and so many of our scholarships recipients. How at a young age, they see the importance of the 'village' and being a part of one to support each other. 

And I think they learned a lot of that from their school environment and communities- the selfless teachers and guidance office. The sponsors of the scholarships and the people who make sure they know all of the opportunities in life.

Thank you for being a part of that village for so many...

Overcoming Adversity... the Riley Garbe Scholarship

The Riley Garbe Scholarship is awarded to young men and women who have overcome adversity in their lives and are now on a mission to give back to others. Due to such great candidates, we decided to select two recipients this year.

The first recipient, Tayah Conrad, has an incredible story of bravery, perseverance, hope, and compassion. She grew through adversity and is using her experience as an inspiration to become a NICU nurse, helping babies and caring for their families as they navigate a difficult journey.

The second recipient, Jack Vosters, is a young man who made lemonade out of lemons. After suffering an injury that sidelined him from the sports he loves, he found new ways to contribute to his teams. Instead of giving up or being bitter, he became a leader and a supporter of his teammates. He saw his unfortunate situation as an opportunity to experience sports from a different perspective, and now he has the goal of becoming a coach and touching many lives through sports.

They are pictured here with Riley Garbe during the scholarship awards night. This scholarship is made possible by the late Bill Welter.

Surprise!

Once a year, we try to be as discreet as possible, entering a school with a large check, while trying not to be seen from the windows. Then we hide until the time is right. There are lots of behind-the-scene laughs and anticipation.

This year the surprise took place at Green Bay Preble High School when Halle Dessart received the $10,000 Brian LaViolette Scholarship. 

Halle will be attending UW-Eau Claire next fall to pursue a degree in education and teach in the middle or high school setting. During her interview, she mentioned she wants to instill in her students the mindset that "they don't have to do something but they get to do something." In every day life, that is sometimes hard to remember, but it can be really powerful when you are able to shift your focus.

The process is always a heartwarming one and we can't thank Eric and Leah of the Greater Green Bay Chamber enough for being with us each step of the way.

Halle is pictured here with Eric Vanden Heuvel (left) and Renee and Doug LaViolette.

17 schools in the Partners in Education district nominates one student to apply. From there, five finalists are selected and interviewed. 

The decision is never an easy one, but the entire process makes us so hopeful for the future. There is no doubt there are some amazing young men and women ready to make a difference in the world.

Devotion to Inspire

Brian's Foundation has been awarding the Tom Hudner Scholarship of Honor for the past 19 years. We had the honor of knowing Tom and he will always have a special place in our hearts. 

When the scholarship in his name was established in 2004, Tom was humbled and made his way to EAA a number of times to present the award.

On one occasion he met Jim Tobul, a fellow Corsair pilot. The two connected and had a mutual respect for each other. Jim went on to presented the Tom Hudner Scholarship of Honor that evening in 2012.

Tom Hudner with Scholarship of Honor recipient, Lucas Benish, in 2012 at EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. 

Two years later, the Fox Valley Composite Squadron has taken over the leadership with Tom's Scholarship and its has been awarded to a Civil Air Patrol Cadet.

And that brings up too today. Jim and his wife Shelley did not realize that the Scholarship in honor of Tom was not endowed. They stepped up to do so. 

Because of their support, the Tom Hudner Scholarship of Honor will live in perpetuity. In addition to Brian’s Foundation, David Konrath and Tom and Mary Hennessey have also contributed to help fund the Thomas Hudner Scholarship over the years.

More on Jim and Shelley Tobul...

An avid pilot for over 40 years, Jim takes great pride in carrying the legacy of the veteran Corsair to airshows all over North America. Shelley controls the music and narration while Jim is flying his routine at airshows.

Jim now performs at 18 or more airshows per year, bringing tears to the eyes of veterans and awakening the curiosity of upcoming generations to learn more about the fight for freedom waged by those who came before. He also is proud to participate in the U.S. Navy Legacy Flight program, in which he flies alongside a modern Navy F-18 Super Hornet fighter in a poignant display of military heritage and tribute. 

He and Shelley lives in Jackson Hole, WY.

55 Scholarship Opportunities in 2023!

It's Dr. Seuss Day!

Did you know that "Oh the Places You'll Go" was the last book Dr. Seuss published at the age of 86?

The story is timeless and resonates with all ages. But to me, it resonates most with high school Seniors taking huge leaps in their journey.They are busy making big decisions, wrapping up their high school education and applying for scholarships. We witness it every year-and every year it is an exciting time. 

This year Brian's Foundation has 55 scholarship opportunities for today's students. 

We can't wait to learn about the places they will go-- and share their journeys with all of you! But in the meantime, hear from some past recipient's now by clicking here.

“I just wanted to reach out and thank you and your family again for allowing me to become part of Brian's legacy. My first semester at UW-Madison has been a life-long dream come true and I'm proud to have been included on the Dean's List as a Letters and Science Honors student. I am already actively involved in our student station WSUM, broadcasting live this Badger season, as I pursue my career in sports journalism. 

I just wanted to share my deepest gratitude for placing your trust in me.” - Joey Bonadonna

Watch Auction 2024

About 15 minutes after our last auction, Eric Wind said, "Ok 2 years from now- 2024- we will have another watch auction". 

Eric was a key player in our watch auction. Honestly, we would not have had the success we did without him. He was formally the VP Vintage watch specialist for Christie's Auction house and today he dedicates his time to his own company, Wind Vintage, which specializes in Vintage Watches. He is a go getter, and we are beyond grateful for the hours, connections and expertise he put into the watch auction. We trust him a lot, so when he says "let's do it again".. we get excited.

Not surprisingly my dad, Doug LaViolette, gets excited about a lot of things watch related.

When he saw a limited edition watch- a collaboration by Nivada and Revolution that highlighted a game that Brian and I played-he got really excited. A wristwatch showcasing PacMan markers brought back some fun memories for all of us. 

When it arrived close to Christmas, the "No Barracuda", with a limited edition of 150, he couldn't believe his eyes, he got 123. 1-23.

Brian's Birthday.

Photos by Ty Alexander Photography

123!

Many of you know we love when dates line up with something cool. And we think 1-23-23 is pretty neat. 

Today is Brian's birthday and he would have turned 46.

It is still hard to believe that 30 of those years has been with the Brian LaViolette Foundation.

As we mentioned in our previous email newsletter, the Foundation will award its ONE MILLIONTH dollar this year. That is a huge and proud milestone for us. Each dollar raised has been used to support students who are making a difference.

Many recipients say receiving a scholarship is life-changing ...because someone believes in them

"Your faith in me pushes and inspires me to have a successful journey in nursing.” Hannah Moe, The Journey is the Reward Scholarship, Oconto

“This scholarship means a lot to me because it’s a driving force to keep me motivated to achieve all of my aspirations. I now truly believe that hard work pays off." Mansha Ghai, David Parmentier Pay it Forward Scholarship

"It means a lot to me that the Brian LaViolette Foundation believes in me as a person and as a student as I pursue my dreams."  Cole Pierucki, Robert Safford Scholarship 

“This scholarship helps give me the push and motivation I need to move forward with a positive attitude." Jessica Causey, Andrew Brownfield

---

“It means a lot to me and shows all my hard work has been noticed and recognized." Amari Hudson, Len Keller Scholarship of Honor.

Remembering Bill Welter, a dear friend and advisory Board member

By Doug LaViolette

“I remember the first time I met Bill; it was like yesterday.  It was a beautiful summer afternoon in Door County, and I was strolling through some glistening classic cars at the annual Egg Harbor Car Show.

Then it caught my eye, a classic Chevy convertible that had an unusual front license plate that read “Where’s The Beef.” I was hooked and had to ask the owner, what’s the story behind the license plate?  That’s when Bill’s eyes lit up and he went on to tell me how he was involved in creating that iconic beef slogan for Wendy’s.  

That chance meeting in 2014 led to a fast friendship.  Bill was not only a marketing genius but a kind, gentle and generous man. Bill served on Brian’s Foundation Board for many years and acted on his intuition many times creating a lasting impression on many.  

One example is when he learned about the story of Riley Garbe through a local news story.  Going to college was a far-fetched idea for Riley, as he grew up surrounded by drug addiction, alcoholism, abuse, and violence. Despite the adversity Riley faced throughout his childhood, he persevered and achieved his goals.  The year after Riley graduated from college, a scholarship was established in his name at his alma mater, Freedom High School.  Bill and his wife, Pam, were the driving force and sponsor of that scholarship.

“He was such a wonderful person. He lived an incredible life. I appreciate the time I was able to spend with him. There is so much to learn from an amazing person like Bill. He is someone that I will tell my children and grandchildren about.”-Riley Garbe

Riley with Bill after the Riley Garbe Scholarship was established in 2018.

 You can learn more details about Bill’s life and his journey here.

 Thank you for being our friend, Bill. We will miss you and I will miss our phone calls. You will always be in our hearts.

In 2023, The Foundation will award its 1 Millionth Dollar through scholarships.

Thanks to all of you, this HUGE and proud milestone is possible.

As we begin to focus on the year ahead, 

this past year has been a special one... here are a few things to note:

• 55 students joined a family of others who have received scholarships before them for a total of 1058 scholarships to date.

• 77% of the scholarships awarded through Brian's Foundation were presented in honor of someone other than Brian, allowing their spirit to live on. We have always been really proud of that.

• A new and exciting fundraiser for the Foundation, a Watch Auction, secured watches from amazing individuals around the world, including Pope Francis. His Swatch Watch set a world record for the most expensive Swatch Watch sold at auction.

• Not only was the Watch Auction successful but it received media coverage from Green Bay, WI to the Revolution Magazine article in Singapore.

Watch Auction Results!

Last week the watch donated to Brian's Foundation from Pope Francis broke a Guinness World Record for the most expensive Swatch Watch sold at auction. The watch sold for $56,250 surpassing the previous record of $45,000. You can see all the watch auction results here.

The auction on November 30th brought in over $144,000 and thanks to the Rago/Wright team, 100% went to support Brian's Foundation and invest in young men and women who are making a difference.

The entire 'Once Upon a Time Watch Project' sales totaled $162,388, including three watches auctioned off in August at our 30th anniversary event.

The auction day in Chicago was an exciting time.! A huge thank you to those who came from near and from far and for ALL the support we received during this process.