Four Green Bay West High School students earned the opportunity of a lifetime, and were celebrated at a signing day ceremony at West High on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The Do Great Things Initiative (DGTI) also made an exciting announcement regarding future opportunities for students at Green Bay West High School.

Thanks to the generosity of West alumnus Jim Ryan and his wife Tracy, West High School students Chloe Burton and Kai Alcaide received the 2025 Do Great Things Scholarship at Marquette University, Axel Madaski received the 2025 Do Great Things Scholarship at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, and Ephraim Rogina received the $5,000 Do Great Things 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. These scholarships will be awarded annually to students from West High School. 

“We strive to eliminate the financial obstacle associated with getting a college degree,” Tracy Ryan said. “In doing so, we hope to tap into each student’s passion and focus on the ‘art of the possible’ versus focusing on a limited set of options based upon life circumstances.”

The Do Great Things (DGTI) Announced Major Expansion

The Do Great Things Initiative (DGTI) announced a major expansion of its mission to remove financial barriers to higher education. Thanks to a $500,000 gift from West High School alumnus Gary Wiessinger and his wife Hillary, the initiative will now offer scholarships to students attending technical colleges in the Green Bay area—broadening its reach beyond four-year universities.

The $500,000 funding will establish the Wiessinger Family Scholarships and support students pursuing higher education at two-year technical colleges. In addition, the gift will provide program funding for trade and technical education offerings at West High, including Bay Link ManufacturingⓇ and Bridges Construction & Renovation. This commitment shows the growing momentum in DGTI, founded by the West High alumnus Jim Ryan and his wife Tracy.

“I'm incredibly grateful for the education and support I received at Green Bay West, which opened the door for me to continue my education at Yale and Kellogg and pursue my career dreams,” Wiessinger, West High School Class of 1989, said. “This gift is our way of giving back to the West community and helping today's students pursue their own dreams through higher education-especially through two-year technical colleges and trade programs that offer strong pathways to great careers.” 

The Wiessingers’ goal is to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity-ensuring that more students can access the life-changing benefits of higher education, including expanded career options, increased earning potential, and enriching personal growth. 

“We believe in the power of education to change lives,” Hillary Wiessinger, a middle school math teacher, said. “Many students can achieve their goals through technical or trade pathways, and we want to make those paths more accessible.”