PLATTEVILLE — A scholarship endowment fund is being created to pay tribute to St. Mary’s School in Platteville.
“St. Mary’s School celebrated a 75-year history of providing outstanding parochial school education for youth in our area prior to its closing at the end of the 2011–12 school year,” said Sheila Kelley, chair of the PHS Scholarship Fund Advisory Board. “It is most appropriate that we honor and remember this very important educational institution and its many teachers, administrators, and students.
“Our advisory board is committed to building an endowment that will fund competitive scholarships for Platteville students who attended St. Mary’s School, and in future years, for Platteville students who practice the Catholic faith.”
St. Mary’s School opened in Platteville in October 1935. The school was built under the guidance of Rev. Francis X. Gray at a cost of approximately $33,000. A private donor provided an initial gift of $1,000 to the building fund for the school.
Through the years, St. Mary’s provided outstanding instruction in curricula similar to that in the public schools as well as daily study in the Catholic religion. Over the years, hundreds of students attended St. Mary’s School. The enrollment during its final year of operation was approximately 85 students.
Myron Tranel has been working with the PHS Scholarship Fund Advisory Board to establish the Tribute to St Mary’s School Endowed Scholarship Fund.
“I have been involved with St Mary’s Parish and St Mary’s School for many years,” he said. “It is truly an honor to assist individuals who have shown great commitment to St Mary’s to assure that it is remembered and lives on into Platteville’s future, forever.”
The PHS Scholarship Fund was formed through the work of the Platteville Community Fund. Both are component funds of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc., a tax-exempt public charity.
For more information or to make a donation to the Tribute to St Mary’s School Endowment, contact Kelley, sheilak@kopplaw.net, 348-2615, or Barb Daus, CFSW Donor Services Representative, barb@cfsw.org, 608-778-3344. You can also write to P.O. Box 46, Platteville, WI 53818.
