2022 BCAW Scholarship Recipients Announced
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. 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 has awarded over $120,000 to students continuing their education beyond high school. 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 November 1, 2021. This year’s selection committee had a challenging job selecting just five award winners for the 2022 BCAW Scholarships.
Mara Geiwitz is a high school senior at Sparta High Point Charter School and is planning to attend college this fall at Atlanta’s Savannah College of Art & Design. A member of the WI High School Bowling Club District 5 state-bound girls’ team, she is active in giving back to bowling as a youth coach. She is also involved in many extra-curricular activities through her school and church while also making time to work at Pla-Mor Lanes in La Crosse.
Our second recipient of a BCAW Scholarship is Dale Klika of Hilbert. While working at Official’s Den Bowl & Spirits he has proven himself as reliable and always willing to learn new things. After high school Dale will be attending Purdue University to become an aerospace engineer. When asked about bowling, he states “One of the major reasons I love bowling is because I feel that there will never be a time where I will have my ‘final season’ like in other high school sports.”
Mukwonago’s Brady Lauber is planning to attend the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, studying computer science. In addition to bowling, he is also active in cross country and baseball. Most recently he anchored the Mukwonago Indian’s high school bowling team to a first place finish in the 2022 Sabre Winter Classic. This past year, Brady took a part-time position at Foxx View Lanes assisting at the counter and as a pinchaser. He has also helped with the local Special Olympics program at Jay’s Lanes in his home town.
Zachary Zoromski attends West Bend East High School, with plans to attend the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse to study secondary education and mathematics. He is also hoping to bowl collegiately after his four years in WI High School Bowling Club. The center management at King Pin Bowl & Ale House report that Zach is always helpful and sociable, providing outstanding customer service to their guests.
Tanner Austin of Bangor is the recipient of our USBC Youth Member Scholarship. Tanner plans on pursuing a skilled trade while attending Minnesota State College Southeast in Winona, MN. In addition to bowling, he played football and is the band while attending Bangor High School. His youth bowling coach at Features Lanes in West Salem tells us that he assists with younger bowlers who are just starting to bowl. He has career aspirations to own his own business, utilizing the skills he has acquired through bowling.
For consideration next year, all applications and required documentation must be into the BCAW office no later than November 1, 2022 for scholarships being awarded in 2023. Information and forms have been updated and are posted on our website.
The BCAW Scholarship Program is fully funded through the association’s annual BCAW Scholarship Golf Tournament held in June each year. This year’s event will be held on June 13, 2022 at the Glacier Wood Golf Club in Iola. In addition to raising money to support these scholarships, there is a lot of cash and prizes up for grabs. The $75/person (or $300/foursome) registration fee includes 18 holes of golf with a cart and dinner! For more information and to register for our BCAW Scholarship Golf Tournament, check out our website!