Rick Nelson Memorial Skilled Trades Scholarship Fund
The Rick Nelson Memorial Skilled Trades Scholarship Fund supports qualified high school graduates in Walworth County interested in a career in the skilled trades.
2025 Scholarship Recipients
RICK’S RUN INC. and the RICK NELSON MEMORIAL SKILLED TRADES SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE FOLLOWING RECIPIENTS OF THE $1,500 RICK NELSON MEMORIAL SKILLED TRADES SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2025!
- Hunter Rehfeldt
- East Troy High School
- Gateway for Heavy Equipment Operator
- Connor Friend
- Whitewater High School
- Western Technical for HVAC Tech
- Holly Kynell
- Big Foot High School
- Blackhawk Tech for Electrician
- Elle Grabow
- Delavan Darien High School
- First Class Cosmetology School for Cosmetology
- Ben Neuman
- Elkhorn High School
- WCTC for Fire Protection
- Jacob Pody
- Elkhorn High School
- Fox Valley Tech for Aero Engine/Aeroframe Mechanic
- Ben Reed
- Elkhorn High School
- Universal Tech for Diesel Mechanic
- Dylan Rumer
- Elkhorn High School
- Blackhawk Tech for Plumbing/HVAC
- Aiden Thomas
- Elkhorn High School
- Gateway Tech for Plumbing/HVAC
- Nicholas Trombley
- Elkhorn High School
- Fox Valley Tech for Welding/FAB
- James Foucault
- Elkhorn High School
- Fox Valley Tech for Electrician
- Emiliano Palos
- Elkhorn High School
- Culinary Institue of America for Culinary Arts
- Aiden McGuire
- MATC for Plumbing
Best of luck to all of you as you face the next chapter in your lives! Keep in touch and let us know how you’re doing!!
Scholarship Requirements
Rick’s Run Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supporting scholarships for the skilled trades in High Schools within Walworth County. This organization was founded in the memory of Rick Nelson who graduated from Delavan Darien High School, owned Midtown Auto in Elkhorn, was a certified ASE mechanic, and was very generous in his support of the community. It’s in this spirit that Rick’s Run Inc. was founded. The goal of this organization is to fund a minimum of (6) $1500 scholarships each year for deserving students that meet the following requirements.
Definition of a Skilled Trade
We define a Skilled Trade as any profession that requires a minimum of 1 year of Technical College education resulting in a degree and requires the student to use their hands. This would be a career such as Auto Service Technician, Diesel Mechanic, Auto Body Technician, Welder/Fabricator, CNC Machinist, Tool and Die Maker, Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter, Cabinet Maker, HVAC Technician, Appliance Repair Technician, Culinary Arts/Chef, OR?? If you have another suggestion, please ask or apply!
Grade Point Average
The minimum GPA requirement for the applicant will be the same as the athletic participation requirement for the high school. We will ask that the applicant have a 1.6 GPA or better to qualify.
Team, Group, or Club Participation
We require that the applicant have participated in a team sport or belonged to a group or club. Working in a skilled trade requires that a person can take instruction from co-workers, work well with others and work towards a common goal.
Letter of Application
The applicant for the Rick’s Run scholarship must compose a letter of application. In this letter, the individual will state the fulfillment of the above requirements, introduce themselves to the selection committee, state their choice of trade, and explain why they want to enter that trade.
Choosing the Recipients
We as an organization would like to be fully involved in choosing the recipients of the scholarships based upon the criteria listed above. We have a 9 member panel consisting of 7 members of the board of Ricks Run Inc., and 2 family members of Mr. Nelson, his widow and his daughter.
Requirements to Claim the Scholarship
To claim the scholarship, the recipient must produce a transcript proving a full year or 2 semesters in school, and a GPA of 2.0 or better.
A request that our organization would also have of the recipients is that they allow us to use their picture, application letter, and success story on our website and at our events. This will assist us in continuing to raise funds to keep the scholarships growing.
