Thanks to the generosity of alumni, board members, donors and friends, the Graaskamp Center for Real Estate has successfully completed its Building Bright Futures Scholarship Campaign, raising $1,488,993 in gifts and commitments for graduate student scholarships.
Launched in December of 2025, the achievement reflects the strength of the Wisconsin Real Estate community, with 68 donors contributing to the campaign. While several larger gifts helped propel the effort, the campaign’s success was equally driven by participation from alumni, board members and friends of the program. Thirty-four donors made gifts of less than $1,000, demonstrating that every gift played a meaningful role in helping students succeed.
The campaign surpassed its original $1 million goal by nearly $489,000, reaching 149 percent of goal and creating new opportunities for talented students to pursue graduate education, develop their leadership potential and make a lasting impact on the real estate industry.
To remain among the nation’s leading real estate programs, Wisconsin Real Estate must continue attracting exceptional students from a wide range of backgrounds. Scholarships play a vital role by reducing financial barriers, enabling students to fully engage in academics, leadership development, experiential learning and career preparation. After graduation, they become the developers, investors, lenders, advisors, researchers and industry leaders who shape the future of real estate.
Thank You to Our Campaign Donors
The Building Bright Futures Campaign demonstrates what is possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose. Because of the generosity of alumni, donors, board members and friends, more students will have access to a Wisconsin Real Estate education and the opportunity to become the leaders who will shape communities across United States and beyond.
If you would like to contribute to this scholarship fund, but missed doing so, don’t despair! We would love to include your donation in the Campaign to help us achieve the $1.5 million level. Donate here>
Legacy Supporter ($100,000+)
- Mark and Julie Askelson
- The Lenz Family
- Jacques Gordon and Elizabeth Wiltshire
- Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA)
- Peter and Karola Jungbacker
Skyline Supporter ($20,000+)
- Bill and Mary Komlo
- Art Pasquarella
- Dave Tomfohrde
- Michael Brennan
- Peter Hitch
- Brad Olsen / Friends of Brad Olsen
Keystone Supporter ($10,000+)
- Martin Nussbaum
- Arun Bhatia
- Steven Jarchow
- Joe Spoerri
- Justin Nelson
- Debra Christgau
- Joel Behrens
- Pat Halter
Foundational Supporter ($5,000+)
- Chuck Murphy
- Aaron Siegel
- Justin Ehrlich
- Dan Webb
- Gloria and Mike Komppa
- Jeff Rotter
- Pat Gilbert
- John Zakowski
Community Supporter (Up to $4,999)
- Rebekah Tobias
- Tiffany Neijna
- Tray Flowers
- Maria Vasilatos
- Mike Kalscheur
- Eric Herro
- Joel Sher
- Ryan Mallery
- Tracy Harris
- Leslie Marshall
- Robert LeFeber
- Morgan Wiseman
- Mark Buth
- Ronald Blum
- Stephen Holle
- Jacqueline Barlow
- Randall Eggert
- Kevin Mahoney
- Dan Metzger
- Andrija Prodanovic
- Beth Rosen
- John Oharenko
- Johnathan Brown
- Tim Carr
- James Bauer
- Rose Marchuk
- Lorrie Heinemann
- David Murphy
- George Helf
- Andrea Bechtel
- Sheri Cirvello
- Dawn Davis
- Kristin Faust
- Madison Development Corp
- Smart Asset Captial
- Max Scaife
- Jeffrey Heymann
- Thi Hanh Linh Tran
- Reynolds Pire
- Michael Hines
- Spencer Kane