Alyssa Molinski served as Student Association president at UWM.

The first recipient of the newly established Estelle Z. Katz Scholarship for Social Justice in Education is Alyssa Molinski, who graduated from the School of Education in 2019 with a degree in early childhood education. The scholarship was set up by Katz’s family to honor her commitment to social justice.

Molinski, who teaches in a K4 Head Start Milwaukee Public Schools classroom at Keefe Avenue School, is returning to UWM’s School of Education for a graduate degree in curriculum and instruction. She will continue teaching full-time while taking classes.

While at UWM, Molinski served as president of the Student Association, and demonstrated her passion for social justice in that role. She worked to encourage students to register to vote and worked with others on campus to establish a food pantry for students.

The UWM Food Center and Pantry, which opened in the spring semester of 2017, received the UW Regents’ Diversity Award in February 2019 for its work to support all students.

“I feel so honored to have received this scholarship,” said Molinski. “Ms. Katz sounded like the kind of person I hope to become.”

If you would like to help fund Community Engagement & Student Success, please visit the Give to School of Education webpage.