The Madison Wegener Memorial Scholarship was established in 2020 to honor the memory of Madison Wegener, a freshman at BHS who died at the age of fourteen. As 2023 would have been her senior year of high school, it is only appropriate that the first scholarships be awarded to members of her graduating class.
At the age of six, Madison was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, a rare, degenerative disease that is currently without a cure. Living with a rare disease means managing unique challenges, including freqient doctor visits, rigorous treatment routines, and hospitalizations. Yet, she continually faced her disease with humor, grace, and courage. She never took a "Why me?" approach to life and instead wished to become a doctor, helping kids just like her.
The scholarship is open to Brighton High School seniors planning to attend an accredited two or four-year college, technical school, or university beginning in the upcoming fall. Scholarship recipients will be selected based upon their response to an essay question in which the student demonstrates how their career path was inspired by adversity or a challenge that they were forced to overcome and the degree to which that career will contribute or help others facing similar challenges.