The Dave Anderson Memorial Scholarship

Dave Anderson Memorial Scholarship

The Dave Anderson Memorial Scholarship is intended to support Wisconsin college students who have a passion for public service, civic engagement, and helping others. The scholarship will be administered by the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS) in collaboration with Rotary District 6220.

WIPPS is currently raising funds to establish and sustain the Dave Anderson Memorial Scholarship. Please consider making a gift to help carry Dave’s legacy forward and support future scholarship recipients.

Donate here.

About Dave Anderson

With a career spanning more than four decades, Dave Anderson was a dedicated public servant with a passion for civic engagement and helping others. He served as Director of Appointments for Governor Tommy Thompson, Policy Director for Governor Scott McCallum, district director  for Congressmen Tom Petri and Sean Duffy, and Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. These were among the many roles he held throughout his career.

Beyond his professional career, Dave was a dedicated Rotarian who served as Governor of Rotary District 6220. At WIPPS, Dave served as a Senior Policy Fellow and Chair of the WIPPS Board of Advisors. His legacy is defined by a lifetime of service, bringing people together, and helping strengthen communities across Wisconsin.

Scholarship Audience and Requirements

Recipients will demonstrate the same spirit of service, dedication, civic engagement, and love of community that Dave exemplified throughout his life.

To be eligible for the Dave Anderson Memorial Scholarship, the applicant must:

  • Be a Wisconsin resident attending a college, university, or technical college in Wisconsin.
  • Be enrolled in an associate or bachelor’s degree program for the following academic year, taking at least 9 credits.
  • Submit an essay of no more than 750 words explaining why they should be considered for the scholarship.
  • Submit a letter of recommendation from an adult who is not a family member.
  • Submit school transcripts if selected as a recipient.

Selection Criteria

Recipients will be selected based on their demonstrated commitment to public service, civic engagement, helping others, and strengthening their community.

Applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Demonstrated involvement in public service, civic engagement, volunteerism, or community service.
  • Commitment to helping others and making a positive impact in their community.
  • How well the applicant’s goal, experiences, and values reflect the spirit of service exemplified by Dave Anderson.
  • Quality and thoughtfulness of the applicant’s essay.
  • Strength of the applicant’s letter of recommendation

Application will be reviewed by a five-member selection committee of two representatives from WIPPS, two representatives from Rotary District 6620, and one representative from Dave Anderson’s family.

Scholarship Amount and Duration

The scholarship amount and number or years it will be awarded will depend on the total amount of funding raised.

WIPPS plans to award a minimum of $1,000.00 per scholarship. If less that $2,000.00 is raised, the available funds will be awarded to one recipient. If $2,000.00 or more is raised, the goal is to extend the scholarship across multiple years, with at least $1,000.00 awarded each year.

All funds raised by WIPPS for the Dave Anderson Memorial Scholarship will by used to support the scholarship.