ABOUT US
Education Fund Grants for Students and Teachers
Established in 1988, the Menasha Education Fund is a broad-based, nonprofit community organization. It operates independently of the Menasha Joint School District (MJSD) and receives tax-exempt donations from individuals, businesses, service clubs, corporations and other foundations throughout Wisconsin. Set up as an endowment, these funds are used to award three main types of educational grants that benefit MJSD students and teachers:
- Student Scholarships
- Teacher Mini-Grants
- Penmanship Awards
History of Our Education Fund
With the objective of "Providing Opportunities, Inspiring Excellence," the Menasha Education Fund has taken a leading role in supporting Menasha's long-term commitment to excellence in education and the well-being of our most important resource - our children.
In 1984, the Menasha Board of Education received a bequest of $63,000 from the estate of Henry Jankowski. A longtime supporter of education and children's causes, Henry spent many hours in the Menasha District's classrooms demonstrating his skills as a calligrapher and encouraging students to excel.
Original Penmanship Awards
The Board of Education placed Henry's bequest in the Menasha Education Fund and uses the interest earned from the endowment to provide scholarships in his name and keep the "quest for excellence" alive.
Along with student and teacher grants, a penmanship contest – first started by Jankowski – is held each spring to recognize students from Menasha schools with the best manuscript and cursive handwriting. A simple writing assignment is given by the Language Arts teachers in grades 1-12 which has students duplicate a quote in their best penmanship. A panel of District judges selects the winners and these students receive a $50 gift certificate and are acknowledged at a special program honoring Jankowski's legacy.
Board of Directors
Menasha Public Schools