Homestead High School is proud to announce that seniors Lauren Anderson and Benjamin Levin were recently honored as Herb Kohl Education Foundation Student Excellence Scholars. Student Excellence and Initiative Scholarships of $10,000 are awarded to 187 graduating high school students across Wisconsin who have demonstrated academic excellence and initiative and have displayed a broad range of activity and leadership in their community.
Award recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program’s co-sponsors: The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, and the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association.
"I was thrilled to hear that Lauren and Benjamin were recognized as Herb Kohl Foundation Scholars. Their dedication to academic excellence and strong commitment to serving their community exemplify the very best of what it means to be a Mighty Highlander,” said Eric Ebert, principal of Homestead High School. “This achievement reflects their drive and the supportive environment that we foster here at Homestead. We commend them for their remarkable accomplishments and are confident they will continue to make a positive impact in their future endeavors."
At Homestead, Lauren Anderson has been very involved in several clubs and activities, such as GEMS (Girls Enjoying Math and Science) and DECA, and especially the student council, where she serves as vice president and is involved in planning the annual blood drive, prom, and toy drive. She has also enjoyed being a part of the Homestead orchestra for all four years. Outside of school, Anderson is a competitive Irish dancer who has traveled globally for competitions. She works as a teacher at her dance school and loves working with young dancers to help them improve and reach their goals. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and paddleboarding. After graduation from Homestead, she plans on majoring in biomedical engineering.
Benjamin Levin has participated in Homestead Robotics for four years, has played for four years on the Homestead Tennis JV and Varsity team, and is a leading member of Homestead's Soliloquy Club, working to create a student-driven literary magazine. Additionally, he leads the Mequon Jewish Preschool Alumni group, facilitating events from fundraisers to games for preschoolers, their parents, and the broader Jewish community. Levin plays the double bass and serves as bass principal of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra's (MYSO) Senior Symphony and the Homestead Chamber and Symphony Orchestras. He has enjoyed competing in the MYSO concerto competition, WSMA Solo and Ensemble, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Stars of Tomorrow. He has especially enjoyed playing at local senior homes and other community events, creating inspiration through music. He spends his free time cooking, experimenting with new food and flavors, especially carrying on family Jewish food traditions, reading, playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends, and exploring new places with family. After graduation, he plans to major in physics.
The Kohl Foundation award program was established by Herb Kohl, former U.S. senator, philanthropist, and businessman who died late last year on December 27, 2023. Since 1990, the foundation has awarded nearly $38 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students, and schools. For more information on the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation, visit KohlEducation.org.