The Jewish Community Foundation offers scholarship awards from the Harry Hecht Family Memorial Scholarship Fund to outstanding Jewish high school seniors to help fund their collge freshman year at a full time accredited undergraduate program in the U.S.
- Awards are based on financial need, academic performance, and community service.
- Applications are required to be residents of the Milwaukee metropolitan area.
- Applications and accompanying documents and materials for Fall 2023 must be recieved by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.
- If applicants are deferring college, they should apply the year they matriculate, not the year they graduate high school.
- Applicants for the Harry Hecht Family Memorial College Scholarship are automatically also considered for scholarships from the Evelyn and Ben Breitman Education Endowment Fund.
There are five sections in this application:
- Personal Information
- Education
- Extra-Curricular Activities and Employment
- Financial Status
- Essay and Uploaded Documents
Who is Harry Hecht?
The Hecht Family Scholarship seeks to make an impact in the lives of Jewish families with financial need through a one-time scholarship, preferably to a Wisconsin University. This scholarship was established by Harry Hecht, a young Polish immigrant who journeyed alone to the United States in 1928 when his mother Sarah, died.
Harry faced many challenges and found himself depending on the kindness of the Jewish community to help his family meet their needs. He tried his hand at many businesses and eventually became successful with a business then known as Hecht Mfg. Harry never forgot the lean years and later in life sought to pay the generousity he recieved forward.
Today the Hecht Family Scholarship Commmittee continues Harry's mitzvah. We seek to assist Jewish candidates in Milwaukee who show a committment to their communities through volunteer work, involvement in Jewish and secular organizations, solid academic achievement, and who demonstrate a desire to succeed and bring their talents back to their communities to continue Harry's vision.
Harry struggled to help his son Richard attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and later Madison. We believe in Wisconsin schools and in keeping our dollars and talent in Wisconsin communities. For that reason, we may prioritize applicants attending Wisconsin schools.
Hard work was a cornerstone of Harry’s life. He worked nonstop as an immigrant child until his own retirement in his eighties. While community service is an important part of what the Hecht Family Scholarship Committee looks for, we recognize that for some families an outside job is more than a character builder, it’s a necessity, and for this reason work histories will also be valued.
The Hecht Family and the Jewish Federation invite all interested high school seniors who feel this touches them to apply to continue Harry’s legacy.