MADISON — UW-Madison freshman Manal Mustafa and sophomore Imogen Christen are the recipients of the 2022 John and Katie Baumann Inspiration Project Scholarship.
This scholarship assists undergraduate students who graduated from Monroe High School and are attending UW-Madison. Both students represent the values consistent with the Wisconsin Idea. “Katie and I are excited to share our appreciation of both our hometown of Monroe and our alma mater, the University of Wisconsin,” said John Baumann, former Colony Brands president and chief executive officer. “We are so excited to help offset the cost of tuition for both Manal and Imogene,” said Katie Baumann.
The pandemic changed Manal Mustafa’s life. With her father working 12-hour shifts at a restaurant and her mother cleaning houses, Mustafa learned to juggle caring for her baby sister, Nour, and keeping up with schoolwork. She learned the value of time management, making sure she cared for Nour while excelling in school and even becoming captain of the forensics team and president of the Fashion Club. Her goal is to earn a political science degree and later pursue a law degree and become a trial lawyer. “I’ve always been fascinated by the use of cardinal decisions made in the past as guides for critical decisions made in the present,” said Mustafa. “I want to express my sincerest gratitude to the Baumanns for providing the funds for this scholarship,” she added. Their generosity has allowed me to begin my college experience free of worry. I am able to focus on classes instead of being preoccupied with the daunting idea of how I will pay for college. I wholeheartedly thank them for their kindness.”
This is the second Inspiration Project Scholarship for Imogen Christen. “I am most proud of my improvement throughout my freshman year here,” said Christen. “At first, I struggled to adjust to college-level coursework, but second semester, I worked hard to raise my GPA and started to get into the flow of college.” Christen is beyond grateful for the scholarship. “I have always worried about money, so this scholarship will help me a great deal,” added Christen. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to pursue my future with help from [the Baumanns]. My gratitude is beyond words.”
John Baumann ’82 and Catherine Doyle-Baumann ’85 initiated this scholarship fund. They are passionate members of the Badger community. John served on the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association Board of Directors for 11 years. He retired from his role as president and CEO of Colony Brands, Inc., after 35 years with the company and now serves as the president of the Colony Brands Foundation.