Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Winegarden, Alger, Backaus, Stanley
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/29/2019
Winegarden Receives Horatio Alger Scholarship (2019)
Neillsville graduate Rayle Winegarden has been named a recipient of the $10,000 Horatio Alger Association State Scholarship. Submitted photo
By Valorie Brecht
By all accounts, Neillsville High School graduate Rayle Winegarden has a bright future ahead of her. Among her accomplishments, the young lady has been awarded a $10,000 Horatio Alger Association State Scholarship.
Horatio Alger was a prolific author in the late 1800s and early 1900s. His books inspired readers to persevere through adversity and were modeled after his own life circumstances. Since 1984, Horatio Alger Association Members and Friends have funded more than $159 million need-based college scholarships for youth to pursue their dreams through higher education.
“I was very, very excited,” said Winegarden about finding out she received the scholarship. “I was flabbergasted. I was walking down the sidewalk and almost tripped and fell on the ice because I was so excited.”
Winegarden learned of the scholarship back in the fall through a list compiled by Julia Backaus, the school guidance counselor.
“It was listed as a national one and Mrs. Backaus normally said that she still encouraged us to apply, but that we’re not really likely to get national ones. I figured it was worth it to try it,” said Winegarden.
The scholarship required Winegarden to complete an in-depth application. It took her about four to five hours to complete and included three essay prompts. She wrote one essay about the difficulties she had to overcome in life.
Growing up, Winegarden said there was a lot of conflict at home due to her dad having a drinking problem.
“I talked about how I didn’t let that define me and how I was going to grow from that and learn from that rather than let it hold me back,” she said.
The next essay was about her mentors. Winegarden said she appreciated her peers for pushing her to do her best as well as her teachers for investing in her life. She also said she was grateful to her mom and Backaus for their support.
For the final essay, Winegarden had to research one of the members of the Horatio Alger Association and discuss how her life reflected that person’s life.
“She was determined to do it,” said Rayle’s mom, Linda. “She worked very hard on all of the scholarships; I lost track of how many she applied for. A lot of times she was working on scholarships on top of doing the homework for her college classes. A lot of work goes into each scholarship, and she was determined to do everyone she possibly could. I’m so glad it paid off for her.”
Winegarden will use the scholarship as she furthers her education at UW-Green Bay. She said the scholarship would definitely help to alleviate some stress for both her and her mom.
“[With] just a single-parent income I know my mom wouldn’t be able to pay for any of college and it was just going to be on me. So, she can rest much easier knowing that I’m going to have something,” said Winegarden.
She has an undeclared major at this point, but her eventual goal is to become a child life specialist. As such, she would work with children and families in hospitals and other settings to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness and disability.
“I had really swam around in ideas and didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and I actually talked to my anatomy teacher, Mrs. [Randi} Stanley. She really recommended I do something in the medical field … And I’ve always loved children and working with children,” she explained.
Winegarden also is quite artistic and said she would like to incorporate art therapy into her work as a child life specialist. Advanced drawing was one of her favorite high school classes, along with anatomy.
Besides art, Winegarden has several interests. She enjoys reading, writing and singing. She was vice president of the school’s concert choir this year. She performed in solo and ensemble competitions the past four years, making it to state last year, and she attended the Dorian Vocal Festival this past January.
Winegarden was also a member of Spanish Club and History Club. She was a class officer her junior year.
Winegarden exhibited a strong academic record through her high school career, making the straight “A” honor roll every semester. Ranked third in her class, Winegarden participated in National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.
Outside of school, Winegarden volunteers with the United Special Sportsman Alliance, a non-profit that provides outdoor adventures to terminally ill and disabled children and disabled veterans. Winegarden as been a kayaking instructor with the group for seven years.
Along with all of her achievements, the people who know Winegarden she has a sweet personality.
“I can’t think of a more deserving person [for the scholarship] than her,” said Backaus. “She has a warmth and joy about her that few students have – she’s very gracious.
“She’s always very positive and upbeat. I would have never guessed some of the hardships she’s gone through until I read her essays for the scholarship. She has a natural perseverance, character and strength that’s very commendable.”
Winegarden was one of 10 Wisconsin students and 622 students nationwide to receive state scholarships through the association. The scholarship is awarded in yearly increments with $2,000 being awarded the first three years of post-secondary education and $4,000 the fourth year, or if a student attends college a fifth year, the student receives $2,000 the fourth and fifth years.
The Horatio Alger Association also awards national scholarships, career and technical scholarships and scholarships directed toward A specific degree type or college. See www.scholars.horatioalger.org for more information.
