The UW–Madison College of Engineering Master of Science in Engineering Management (MEM) program is pleased to announce the Spring semester recipients of the Wayne Pferdehirt Memorial Scholarship. This award honors the legacy of Wayne Pferdehirt, an inspiring educator and lifelong champion of mentoring, service, and professional growth, by supporting students who demonstrate those same values in their careers and communities.
This semester’s scholarship has been awarded to three MEM students: Ryan Gitzke, who is being honored again this semester, along with Justin Wolfram and Lexi Bogalhas.
Gitzke reflected on the direct impact the scholarship has already had on his professional development. “The scholarship made it possible for me to take the technical communications course this past semester, which strengthened my ability to write clear and concise executive summaries and project proposals,” he shared. “It also helped me improve my presentation skills, and those combined improvements have already made a noticeable difference at work in how confidently and effectively I share information.”
For Bogalhas, the award represents an important step toward her long-term goal of moving into engineering management. She noted that the scholarship eases the financial burden of graduate study, allowing her to focus more fully on academic and professional growth. Inspired by Wayne’s commitment to mentorship, Bogalhas hopes to one day “support and empower a team by fostering an environment where individuals can grow, develop new skills, and feel encouraged to learn each day,” helping to build a workplace culture rooted in continuous learning.
Wolfram is pursuing his degree with aspirations to lead new product development projects and multidisciplinary engineering teams. He plans to extend the impact of his education through active involvement with the American Welding Society Fox Valley Section, applying his learning in service, mentorship, and leadership to strengthen both the engineering profession and the broader technical community.
The Wayne Pferdehirt Memorial Scholarship continues to recognize students who pair academic excellence with a commitment to lifting others up, reflecting the spirit Wayne brought to UW–Madison throughout his career. Congratulations to this semester’s recipients as they carry that legacy forward.