Recipients

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the Brian Wagner scholarship. It has been a tremendous help in financing my college education and has allowed me to focus more on my studies. I am incredibly grateful for your generosity and support. Thank you again for this amazing opportunity. Sincerely,  Ella Lawton

I am extremely grateful to have received the BEWSF scholarship, which has allowed me to attend college at the University of Notre Dame. This scholarship has helped me pursue a prestigious education and continue to explore my academic and extracurricular interests. I am very thankful for this scholarship, and I will continue to honor Brian's legacy during my time at Notre Dame.

The Brian E. Wagner scholarship has helped me attend Marquette University where I am studying Accounting. It is such a privilege to be able to attend college and it means a lot to be able to go to a Jesuit University. I am honored to carry on Brian's legacy by showing compassion towards everyone I meet and participating in service activities, such as the Red Cross Club.

I am studying nursing at Saint Louis University. Last year, I was so incredibly honored to have been granted the BEWSF scholarship and strived to honor Brian’s memory at SLU. This year was amazing largely because of all the opportunities that the BEWSF scholarship opened up for me. This scholarship lifted some of the financial burden that comes along with attending college and allowed me to participate in various activities that I would not have been able to partake in without the financial aid. I plan to continue to honor Brian’s legacy throughout my next three years at SLU.

The BEWSF gives me the honor in helping to fund my valued path of education at one of my dream schools. This scholarship award motivates me in focusing on my academic path and becoming a leader within my intended career as a nurse with this great achievement in support of my education. I will influence others through my university by becoming a leader through starting maybe a unique club and becoming well involved to follow in the honorable leadership of the late Brian E. Wagner with this remarkable honor.

Thanks to the BEWSF I have been able to pursue an education in management information systems and business analytics at Bradley University. Additionally, I have been able to continue my cross country and track careers on a collegiate level. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunities the BEWSF has given me and I will strive to continue Brian’s legacy during my time at Bradley.

The Brian E. Wagner Scholarship Fund has helped me immensely in my pursuit of a mechanical engineering degree from Michigan State University. In my time here so far, I hope to have carried on Brian's legacy and represent him well. Like Brian, I am very active both in the classroom and through the university. My first semester I achieved Dean’s List standing with a 4.0 GPA and hope to do so again this semester. Moreover, on campus I am very active participating in ASME, the Honors College, club lacrosse, and I was recently selected to be a member of the prestigious 2022-23 class of the MSU Tower Guard Sophomore Honor Society. It is a service organization committed to academic excellence and service to those students assisted by the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities. This organization follows the ideals of academics, leadership, character, and dedication to service, just as Brian embodied. Through the Brian E Wagner Scholarship, I was able to help eliminate the worry of financials and was able to focus on getting the most out of my education. Eliminating this worry has allowed me to be the best engineering student I can be as well as allowing me to be more active in the MSU community and help others. I am very grateful for this scholarship and will continue to emulate Brian throughout my college experience at MSU.

Choosing to attend UCLA has been one of the greatest decisions I have made in my life thus far. It is so motivating to be surrounded by a diverse group of students who are all passionate and hardworking in their own unique way. I am proud to say that I will be majoring in Human Biology and Society with a concentration in public health and medicine. I am thankful for this scholarship and the opportunity it has given me to explore my academic interests while carrying on Brian’s legacy!

I am honored to have been selected a recipient of the Brian Wagner Scholarship. This scholarship has helped me continue my education at College of DuPage as I continue to work toward my degree in education. Brian Wagner brought a smile to everyone’s faces and I strive to do that every day.

The Brian E Wagner Scholarship has aided me immensely in attending my dream school and paving the path to a bright future. At Syracuse University, I am studying Journalism, Geography, and Environment, Sustainability, and Policy to hopefully report on climate change or pursue a job in the field. One day, I dream to find solutions to the environmental crisis. The work I find myself involved in is a constant reminder of how Brian led his life with values of leadership, determination, and service. My freshman year, I took on a leadership role to plan the largest day of community service on campus, connecting students to the Syracuse community. I am excited to see what is in store for me in the future and am very grateful to have received this scholarship!

The Brian E Wagner Scholarship has helped me through the first year of college at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign. Due to the Covid-19 virus, life on campus was not the same for classes and extracurriculars. There were several limitations to what students could participate in, but I did my best to put myself out there in and out of school while still staying safe. The scholarship has helped me purchase important school materials that were crucial to have during online learning and pay for classes that had no reduced fee despite them being completely remote. I will continue to make sure that I reflect the ideals of Brian and make the most of the scholarship opportunity money during my years at UIUC.

Being a recipient of the Brian E. Wagner Scholarship has been a huge honor for me and my family. Thanks to this scholarship, I have been able to pursue a degree in nursing at Saint Louis University. My biggest worry about attending college was that I wouldn't be able to do so due to financial difficulties. However, this scholarship has lifted a financial weight off of my shoulders and it has provided me with many different opportunities. I couldn't be happier at this institution, and all of this wouldn't have been possible without the help of the Wagner Family and donors.

I am honored for that the BEWSF has entrusted me to carry on Brian’s important legacy. My major is Criminology and Criminal Justice and I’m pursuing minors in both French Language and Global Terrorism, I am still a part of the College Park Scholars Justice and Legal Thought program, and loved learning about social justice this semester. I even got to go on exciting field trips such as visiting the Supreme Court and learning about environmental law from legal professionals in Washington, DC. I’m also very involved on campus, some of my favorite activities are: serving as a Residence Hall Association Senator; acting as Vice Chair of the new Residence Police Committee for RHAs; competing on the Mock Trial Team; participating as a member of the University Student Judiciary and playing Club Lacrosse. I wouldn’t have been able to have any of these major experiences were it not for your support in my education. I am eternally grateful to all those involved, and I hope to continue to carry on Brian’s legacy in everything I do. I will continue to do my best to embody the same courage, leadership abilities and kindness as Brian did.

I’m very blessed to have received a scholarship that pays tribute to a remarkable man that I aspire to be like everyday. The Brian E. Wagner scholarship has helped me to continue my education at the University of Kentucky where I’m studying Social Work.  I hope to be the light, and leader that Brian was in so many people’s lives in my next years at UK.

Receiving the BEWSF is an amazing honor. Brian was an amazing young man and I can only hope to attempt to shine Brian’s light, positivity, and drive in my next three years at Calvin University. This scholarship helped tremendously in helping me to attend Calvin for my freshman year and I feel so incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to carry on Brian’s legacy.

I am studying nursing at Saint Louis University. Last year, I was so incredibly honored to have been granted the BEWSF scholarship and strived to honor Brian’s memory at SLU. This year was amazing largely because of all the opportunities that the BEWSF scholarship opened up for me.  This scholarship lifted some of the financial burden that comes along with attending college and allowed me to participate in various activities that I would not have been able to partake in without the financial aid.  I plan to continue to honor Brian’s legacy throughout my next throughout my time at SLU.

The BEWSF scholarship means a lot to me because it doesn’t just celebrate academic achievements, it focuses on contributions the recipients have made within their community. I’m so incredibly thankful and fortunate to have been awarded with this scholarship. Being able to carry out Brian’s legacy during my time at Marquette is a great honor.

The BEWSF means a lot to me. I’m very honored to be a recipient of this award and everything it stands for. In college I am pursuing a major in special education. I couldn’t be happier with what I have decided to do. The amount of pride I get from pursuing this degree is like nothing else in my life. The people I’ve met at school have been the best part about it. To me I’ve gained friendships that will last a lifetime and I couldn’t be more pleased with the school I’ve chosen. 

This honor reminds me that hard work always pays off in the end. Brian Wagner brought a smile to everyone's face. During the next four years and throughout my nursing career, I know I can bring a smile to everyone's face because of the compassion and kindness I show towards others.

The BEWSF is a truly amazing way to honor a truly amazing young man. I am profoundly honored and blessed to be a recipient of the award. The fund I received has helped to alleviate the rising cost of an invaluable college education. My first year at the University of Alabama has provided me with an experience that has far surpassed my expectations. As I continue through my next three years, pursuing a degree in accounting, I will strive to reach my highest academic and personal potential. I will continue to live by the values that my parents have instilled on me and aim to be the best person I can be.

This award is an absolute honor because I get to represent Brian's memory and what he stood for. He was a man of integrity who always went the extra mile and led by example.

This first year was amazing at Saint Louis University studying Physical Therapy and the Brian E. Wagner scholarship allowed me to have this great of a year.  While getting this scholarship definitely helped me this year on the financial side, it also means a lot to me because I get to carry on Brian’s legacy.  For me this means to be caring to everyone I meet and make an impact wherever I can and whenever I can.  Whether that is in the pep band, on the ultimate frisbee field, volunteering, or just walking around on campus.

I intend to continue living my life with the same attributes that helped Brian Wagner become a successful leader. Those are traits I try to resemble in my own life.

I feel honored and privileged to have received this award and continue Brian Wagner's spirit of setting goals and being the best I can be. Because of Brian, I have been inspired to tryout and make the University of Wisconsin-Madison Dance Team as well as give back to the community by volunteering for organizations known as Badgers Give Back, Love Your Melon, Athletes in Action, and Cardiac on Campus. Additionally, I am currently pursuing a degree in healthcare/medicine, and continue to make my studies a top priority. My passion to do well at college, set goals for the future, and achieve them is something I know I will continue to do with my life and promise to live up to the role model that Brian continues to exemplify for many students. I will continue to keep Brian's spirit with me throughout college and beyond. This scholarship is a true honor and I, along with my whole family, feel very grateful for such a generous aid the BEWSF provided in allowing me to attend the college of my dreams.

To this day, I am extremely humbled and honored to be a recipient of the Brian Wagner Scholarship. I am proud to be a recipient because Brian Wagner attended Visitation, just like I did, where we were taught how important it is to give back to your community. I am currently attending the University of Dayton where I major in Marketing and have furthered my commitment to serving others by joining volunteer groups as well as looking for service opportunities offered through my on campus job.

Receiving the Brian E. Wagner Scholarship has been an honor, privilege, and a tremendous help to pursuing my future goals. Hearing about Brian from family and friends of his, it is amazing to be associated with someone who has touched as many people as Brian did. This great award that has been given to me is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. With working toward an associates degree in science, and college nowadays being insanely expensive, the help that this scholarship has given me has allowed me to focus more on the school, and less on the money. Again, this award is such an honor, and I hope I will be able to touch as many people in my life as Brian did.

I was honored to receive the Brian E. Wagner Scholarship considering this past year has been financially straining on my parents. With help from the Wagner family and all of their generous donors, I was able to confidently continue my academic career at Illinois State University to study Business Administration. I am beyond grateful to have received this scholarship and will continue to reflect Brian's values in my everyday life. 

Being awarded the Brian E. Wagner Scholarship has helped my family tremendously with the high price of a college education. However, the reminder to strive to lead a life to truly honor Brian's has affected me far more as a person. Brian was an incredible example of what it meant to be a great person, friend, athlete and student; throughout my first year in college, as I met new friends and faculty, I was inspired by Brian's legacy to work harder, stay humble and be a positive influence on those around me. I am so grateful to the Wagner family, friends and foundation for selecting me as a recipient of such a meaningful scholarship and honored to be a part of remembering Brian's legacy.

"Being a recipient of the Brian E. Wagner Scholarship has meant a lot to me and my family. It has truly been an honor and I am grateful to have the opportunity to carry on Brian’s legacy. Brian has made me want to become a better person in my life, and I will continue to carry the same integrity as he once did. His dedication and hard work has inspired me day in and day out, and I am thankful for having the chance to learn about his life. Thank you again to the BEWSF, your kindness towards my family have allowed me to pursue my dreams at Indiana University."

Being awarded the Brian E. Wagner Scholarship was a tremendous honor for me. To be included among the list of very intelligent, talented, and gifted individuals before me has been incredible. This scholarship has helped to ease the load of the cost of college and has afforded me the ability to recognize Brian for the impact he left on so many people. I am currently studying Integrative Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am also following the pre-med track and hope to one day attend medical school.

When I received the Brian E. Wagner scholarship, I felt like all my hard work and smart decision making finally paid off. My high school years were not the easiest, but having the honor of receiving this award proves to me that all the suffering I went through made me the person I am today. My leadership qualities said not come easily, but with all the love and support of my family, friends and teachers, I was able to pull through. I am now a nursing major at Elmhurst College, and will continue to be a leader in on-campus activities, such as student ministries and intramural sports. As for community leadership, I plan to continue assistant coaching my sister's volleyball team, volunteer at Elmhurst Hospital and be a leader in my church's youth group. To all the contributors, sponsor, the Wagner family and the BEWSF Committee, thank you so much again! This honor means so much to me.

Being a recipient of the Brian E. Wagner Scholarship meant a lot to me and my my family. In addition to classes, I also play a couple of sports and have a job at Loras so it has really helped me breathe a little easier not having to worry as much . I was honored to be considered and then awarded the Scholarship because of the help it gave me that my family bit I also felt so luck to meet Brian's family. I wish I could have known him. I'm so proud that they saw some of Brian's values in me. I plan to continue to work really hard to live, work, play and help other out when I can the way Brain did.

The Brian E. Wagner Scholarship has allowed and inspired me to get involved at the University of Iowa and make the most of my collegiate experience, through service and leadership. I have worked for Orientation Services, welcoming new student to campus, been very involved in Retention and new student programs, am a campus tour guide , and work int he Admissions office as well. I am excited to be attending a LeaderShape Institute this January with fellow student leaders as well as be a pare of a Hawekeye Service Team this Spring Break, traveling to Denver, Colorado to serve the homeless. None of this would have been possible without the Brian E. Wagner Scholarship inviting me to live a live of service and leadership in loving memory of our dear friend, Brian.

The Brian E. Wagner Scholarship has a very deep meaning to my family and I. I'm humbled to continue Brian's legacy of hard work, leadership, and commitment to excellence. His story inspires me to make every moment count and to serve as a positive influence in the live of others. I will be forever grateful for this great honor of being a scholarship recipient.

The Brian E. Wagner Scholarship Fund made it possible for me to attend the College of Dupage. Where I am in my first trimester taking classes on Geography, India, Math and English. It is because of this scholarship that I am able to pay my tuition for college. I have two brothers and one sister that all go to a catholic school. My parents work very hard but we don't have a lot of extra money to pay for my tuition. I am proud that you saw that I gave back to the community, volunteered and have been accepting all people around me. It is an honor to be given this scholarship and to have some of the qualities of Brian. I plan to learn a lot in school and will continue to vaunter and help those around me because it makes the world better.

Winning the Brian E Wagner Scholarship has not only helpd pay for my college tuition, but has also encouraged me to live a life like Brian's. From what I've read and heard of Brian, he was not only a man of honor an integrity, but also someone who valued his friendships and his relationships with others. That was exactly the person I strove to be in high school. In High school, I strove to invest as much time in a many different individuals as I possibly could, and as a result, I ended up meeting hundres of different people who I've all engaged with, whether it be through a simple conversation or through forming strong friendships. Simply put, I am honored to be selected as a recipient and as someone who acted like Brian.

Receiving the BEWSF award was a true honor. I grew up seeing Brian's pictures at the Visitation Gymnasium, so I look forward to continuing the tradition of Brian Wagner's potential, compassion and determination.

Being awarded the BEWSF Scholarship is an unbelievable honor. It has made me strive to become a better person, to put forth my best effort in all that I do, and to give back to the community. Ithaca made me wan tot make a difference. I plan to pursue an education degree, in hopes of teaching history in a high school. Again, I would like to thank the Wagner family and the Brian E. Wagner Fund Committee for their generosity and faith in me.

The Brian Wagner Scholarship is maybe the most meaningful scholarship that I received because ever since I can remember I would walk into the Valentino Center and see Brian's picture and his trophies. Brian represented what it meant to be a Viking and a Duke, and receiving the scholarship in his memory is truly an honor. I know the world would be a better place if we could all be a little bit more like Brian Wagner.