Five High School Seniors Receive BCAW Scholarships

The Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin (BCAW) established the BCAW Scholarship Program in 1995 to provide scholarships to employees of BCAW member bowling centers and their families. As a benefit of membership, BCAW has awarded over $100,000 to students continuing their education beyond high school. In addition to providing four $1,000 scholarships to a current employee and/or immediate family members of a BCAW member bowling center employee, BCAW also awards a $1,000 scholarship to a current USBC youth member bowling in a BCAW member center.  BCAW Scholarships are held at SMART and administered by the USBC.

All applicants must be a graduating high school senior or have a post high school diploma or equivalent; and be under the age of 22 as of February 1, 2020.   This year’s selection committee had a challenging job selecting just five award winners for the 2020 BCAW Scholarships.

Isaac Albaugh of Linden is the recipient of our USBC Member Scholarship. He is actively involved in the youth program at Tower Junction.  Proprietor Shane Straka credits Isaac as one of the founding members of the Iowa-Grant High School Bowling Club, helping to grow it from just six members their first year (2018-19) to 15 this past bowling season.  He plans on attending the University of Wisconsin – Platteville to study chemistry, while continuing to bowl at his home center.

Zachary Brzeczkowski is a graduating senior from Pulaski High School, with plans to study business management at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay this fall.  The 2020 District 8 HSBC Bowler of the Year, capped off his senior year finishing second in the Wisconsin High School State Bowling Championships in the boys singles division.  As the fifth seed on championship Sunday, he fired games of 238, 231 and 217 to earn his spot in the title match.  Coming up just a little short, Zach earned a $400 scholarship from the WI State USBC Association for his runner-up finish. Zach currently works at Village Lanes – Green Bay.

Appleton’s Katelyn Holz has worked at Super Bowl for the past three years while attending Kimberly High School.  She has been bowling in the WI HSBC Program for all four years of high school, and is proudly serving on the local Greater Fox Cities Bowling Association as a youth director.  She looks forward to pursuing her interest in helping others as she plans on majoring in early education at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.  Katelyn also plans to bowl on the NCAA Lady Warhawks’ team.

Collin Krachey is a graduating senior from Sun Prairie High School with plans to attend the University of Wisconsin – Madison while also bowling for the school’s team.  Krachey is a straight A student, ranking #1 in his class of 503; with plans to study aerospace engineering in college.  The National Honor Society member tutors elementary school students while also working part-time at Prairie Lanes.  Krachey has been on the varsity squad of the Sun Prairie Cardinals team all four years of high school, including when the team went back-to-back as the National High School Team Champions (2017 & 2018).

West DePere High School’s Tyler VanLanen is the final recipient of a $1,000 BCAW Scholarship in this 2020 award year.  A valued team member at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay, Tyler has demonstrated his leadership qualities including a strong work ethic and personal accountability.  He is active in a variety of school clubs and volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul.  Tyler is planning to go to the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay and is considering bowling on their school’s club team while studying secondary education and math.

The BCAW Scholarship Program is fully funded through the association’s annual BCAW Scholarship Golf Tournament typically held in June each year.  With the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertain times ahead, BCAW had to cancel this year’s fundraiser.  Thanks to the great support and generosity of so many, we have been able to award  $5,000 annually AND save for a rainy day.  Well this year’s rainy day wasn’t weather related but we’re happy to have the funds available to continue to award scholarships to five deserving students this year and for years to come.

We are already planning for the 2021 fundraiser event.  For more information on the BCAW Scholarship Golf Tournament, check out our website!