Riley Garbe Scholarship 

Riley Garbe is a 2013 graduate of Freedom High School. After high school, Riley went on to study at UW-Green Bay where he competed for the university's cross country team and earned his degree in English Education.

Going to college was a far-fetched idea for Riley, as he grew up surrounded by drug addiction, alcoholism, abuse, and violence. Despite the adversity Riley faced throughout his childhood, he persevered and achieved his goals. He has chosen to react to his tough life by sharing love with the world.

Riley volunteered as a mentor for the Phuture Phoenix program that gave so much to him, and he also returned to his old neighborhoods in Green Bay to work in after school programs, coach elementary running clubs, and lead summer programs for at-risk youth. Currently, Riley is a teacher and coach.

Riley discovered his calling after returning to his roots and connecting with kids growing up like he did. He feels blessed to have worked with children of all ages, who speak different languages, and come from various cultural backgrounds. Children have come to him broken in many forms, and Riley uses his own story to bring hope to these youth crying out to be loved. Riley says that everywhere he goes, he sees himself in the children and feels a special calling to be a protector of children.

The Riley Garbe Scholarship is awarded annually through a sponsorship by Pam and Bill Welter who continued to be moved by Riley’s story of resilience. Read Riley's speech from the first annual Riley Garbe Scholarship presentation.

Apply online here.

Scholarship Recipients 

2023

Tayah Conrad is studying Nursing at NWTC

Jack Vosters is studying Business at UW-Madison

They are pictured here with Riley on Scholarship Awards night

2022

Grace Hambel is studying Psychology

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2021

Sage Greiner is studying Health and Medicine at UW-Madson.

Mason Vosters is studying Data Analytics / Accounting at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

2020

Reeve Lambrecht is studying Pre-Physical Therapy at UW-LaCrosse

Colby McHugh is studying Education at UW Oshkosh

2019

Haley Schuh plans to pursue a degree in Business or Human Services at Fox Valley Tech. She is pictured here with Riley on awards night.

2018

The Riley Garbe Scholarship is a one-time $2000 award.  Riley was taken by two of the applicants and decided it should go to both of them.  The recipients are:

Taylor Witthuhn is studying Neuroscience and Psychology at UW-Madison

Maya Kwasny is studying Psychology at UW-Milwaukee

Made Possible by  

Pam and Bill Welter