Catholic Charities has announced four high school seniors from the Diocese of Madison were awarded the 2024-25 Mary Jeanne Kennedy Anderson Youth Faith in Action Scholarship, recognizing their commitment to community service through their Catholic faith.
A total of four, $2,000 scholarships were awarded to:
- Mary Worden, Joseph Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson
- Reid Washkoviak, Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate, Janesville
- Sullivan McBain, Stella Maris Pastorate, McFarland
- Gianna Green, Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, Monroe
The scholarships were presented Feb. 9 at Frassati Fest in Wisconsin Dells by Bishop Donald Hying and Catholic Charities Executive Director Shawn Carney.
The annual scholarship was created in memory of Mary Jeanne Kennedy Anderson, a retired Madison-area nurse who served on the Catholic Charities board of directors and various committees. She was a devoted mother of five and grandmother of nine who enjoyed volunteering and directing her energies to helping others. She passed away on Dec. 6, 2013, from ovarian cancer.
The Mary Jeanne Kennedy Anderson Youth Faith in Action Scholarship was established by her family and Catholic Charities in 2014.
“We are incredibly proud of this year’s scholarship recipients,” Carney said. “Their unwavering commitment to their faith and their communities is truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing the continued impact they will make in the future.”
Eligible applicants were required to reside in the Diocese of Madison and be a current member of a parish/pastorate within the Diocese. They also had to be a high school senior during the 2024-2025 school year with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and planned to attend a college, university or technical school in 2025. In addition to completing an application form and short essay, applicants were required to submit a letter of recommendation from a parish priest, deacon or director of religious education.
Applicants were evaluated on their past and current parish and community service, including leadership roles, and their commitment to a future that encompasses a dedication to putting their faith into action.
To learn more about the scholarship, visit ccmadison.org/scholarship.
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Mary Worden, a senior at Fort Atkinson High School and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, has dedicated herself to pro-life advocacy and serving the elderly. She has participated in Love Begins Here mission trips for four years and has volunteered at a women’s help center in Madison, providing essentials for mothers and babies. Each Christmas morning, she has helped serve meals at the Fort Community Christmas Dinner and has regularly assisted an elderly community member with daily tasks. Worden plans to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville in the fall to pursue a nursing degree, inspired by her commitment to holistic care.
Reid Washkoviak, a senior at Milton High School and member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate in Janesville, has been actively involved in community service. He has volunteered with the Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels and the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. He has also supported his alma mater, St. John Vianney Catholic School, through its athletic programs and has participated in Love Begins Here, Frassati Fest and Janesville Catholic Youth Ministry. Washkoviak plans to attend a four-year university to study biology or psychology with pre-medical aspirations while continuing to play tennis.
Sullivan McBain, a senior at St. Ambrose Academy in Madison and member of Stella Maris Pastorate in McFarland, has been active in parish life and leadership. He has led the St. Ambrose Bible study group “The Order of St. Jerome,” participated in a senior high discipleship group and contributed to the Frassati Fest planning committee. For three years, he has volunteered with the Miracle League, assisting children with special needs in playing baseball. McBain plans to study civil or environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Gianna Green, a senior at Monroe High School and member of St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in Monroe, has dedicated herself to serving her family, especially her grandparents, and helping on the family farm. Green has volunteered at her parish’s fish fry, helped maintain the Green County Veterans Memorial and participated in Love Begins Here, where she has worked on service projects such as home cleaning and garden upkeep. She plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to study animal sciences, driven by her love for animals and community service.
