Five students from Green Bay West High School were awarded scholarships from the Do Great Things Initiative, founded by alumnus Jim Ryan and his wife. May 8, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Nearly half a dozen students from Green Bay West High School were awarded scholarships Wednesday from an alumnus and his wife.
Jim Ryan, who graduated from West in 1985, created the Do Great Things Initiative (DGTI) in 2021 with his wife, Tracy, after the pair learned how few West High School students apply to Marquette University.
The Ryans, both proud 1989 Marquette graduates, wanted to help West students make their college dreams a reality by providing money to alleviate their financial burden gap. DGTI began by offering two equivalent full-ride scholarships to students attending Marquette.
“We thought that that was going to be enough and we would probably just stop there, but it’s become a lot more,” Jim Ryan said.
He explained how the program has since expanded to providing two scholarships to students attending UW-Green Bay as well. Funding also allowed for a one-time grant to be given this year.
“I’m really excited because we’ve got five students here to send off to go hopefully do great things in their life and in their career,” Jim Ryan said.
During Wednesday’s ceremony, Suabnag Kong and Alisa Lee received the 2024 Do Great Things Scholarship at Marquette University. Marcus Russell and Kristy Rivera Ortiz received the 2024 Do Great Things Scholarship at UW-Green Bay.
Another student, Francesca Campos-Moya, received the Do Great Things $5,000 Grant.
The scholarships will cover the difference, up to direct costs (tuition and fees) for four years (eight semesters), after university scholarships and grants and federal and state grants for which they qualify. The scholarship also includes housing (up to the standard double rate) and food for the student’s freshman and sophomore years.
“We believe in this community. We believe in the families and the students that participate, live and are educated in this community. And they should have as much chance to go out, get an education, go on and do great things as much as anybody else. That’s really the vision and the intent for what we’re trying to accomplish,” Ryan said.
According to Ryan, about $6 million in endowed scholarships has been invested into DGTI so far.
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