Harry Hecht Family Memorial College Scholarship Program Application 2026

Harry Hecht Family Memorial College Scholarship Program Application 2026
The Jewish Community Foundation offers scholarship awards from the Harry Hecht Family Memorial College Scholarship Fund, the Evelyn & Ben Breitman Education Endowment Fund and the Marcus and Rita Wohlfeiler Memorial Scholarship Fund. Outstanding Jewish high school seniors may apply to help fund their college freshman year at a full time accredited undergraduate program in the U.S. In 2026, one-time awards will be available ranging from $1,100 to $5,000. Completion of this one application makes a student eligible to be considered for a scholarship from any of these three funds.
1. Awards are based on financial need, academic performance, and community service.
2. Applicants are required to be residents of the Milwaukee metropolitan area.
3. Applications and accompanying documents and materials for students beginning their Freshman year in the Fall of 2026 must be received by 11:59 PM on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Applicants will be requested to attach a letter of recommendation, and copies of the most recent academic transcript, their household's most recent tax return, and their parent/guardian's W-4.
4. If applicants are deferring college, they should apply the year they matriculate, not the year they graduate high school.
5. If the applicant's financial assistance situation changes from the time of application submission to the time of notification of a JCF scholarship award (i.e. applicant receives a full ride scholarship from another source, etc), the selection committee reserves the right at that time to reduce or rescind the award, so that funds may be available for other students with greater need.
Who was Harry Hecht?

The Jewish Community Foundation's college scholarship program was established by the opening of the Harry Hecht Family Memorial College Scholarship Fund in 1996. The Hecht Family Scholarship seeks to make an impact in the lives of Jewish families with financial need through a one-time scholarship, preferably to a Wisconsin University. This scholarship was established by Harry Hecht, a young Polish immigrant who journeyed alone to the United States in 1928 when his mother Sarah, died.

Harry faced many challenges and found himself depending on the kindness of the Jewish community to help his family meet their needs. He tried his hand at many businesses and eventually became successful with a business then known as Hecht Mfg. Harry never forgot the lean years and later in life sought to pay the generosity he received forward.

Today the Hecht Family Scholarship Committee continues Harry's mitzvah. We seek to assist Jewish candidates in Milwaukee who show a commitment to their communities through volunteer work, involvement in Jewish and secular organizations, solid academic achievement, and who demonstrate a desire to succeed and bring their talents back to their communities to continue Harry's vision.

Harry struggled to help his son Richard attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and later Madison. We believe in Wisconsin schools and in keeping our dollars and talent in Wisconsin communities. For that reason, we may prioritize applicants attending Wisconsin schools.

Hard work was a cornerstone of Harry’s life. He worked nonstop as an immigrant child until his own retirement in his eighties. While community service is an important part of what the Hecht Family Scholarship Committee looks for, we recognize that for some families an outside job is more than a character builder, it’s a necessity, and for this reason work histories will also be valued.

The Jewish Community Foundation has expanded its ability to assist students with the cost of college with the opening of the following funds:

In 2011, the Evelyn & Ben Breitman Education Endowment Fund was established at the Jewish Community Foundation, in memory of Evelyn & Ben Breitman, who highly valued education, with the purpose, similar to the Hecht Fund, it would be used to help support students with furthering their education.

In 2023, the Marcus and Rita Wohlfeiler Memorial Scholarship Fund was established at the JCF, in memory of Marcus and Rita Wohlfeiler. Marcus Wohlfeiler was a Holocaust survivor whose family was aided by Jewish communities in Wisconsin.

The Hecht Family and the Jewish Federation invite all interested high school seniors who feel this touches them to apply to continue Harry’s legacy.

Application

Personal Info
Date of Application*

MonthDayYear
Date
Name*

First NameLast Name
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Email*
example@example.com
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Date of Birth*

MonthDayYear
Date

Family Information
Name of Parent/Guardian 1*

First NameLast Name
Phone Number of Parent/Guardian 1*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Address of Parent/Guardian 1*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Occupation of Parent/Guardian 1*
Name of Parent/Guardian 2

First NameLast Name
Phone Number of Parent/Guardian 2
Please enter a valid phone number.
Address of Parent/Guardian 2

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Occupation of Parent/Guardian 2
Is the applicant an immigrant, or the child of an immigrant?*

YesNo
Please tell us more about immigration in your family history.
Applicant resides with:*

Both ParentsMotherFatherOther

Please provide sibling information (if no siblings, put "N/A" in any cell) *

	Age of sibling	Year in School	School sibling attends	Is student enrolled in college Y/N
Sibling #1
Sibling #2
Sibling #3
Sibling #4

Please provide the above information about any additional siblings.

Education

High School Details*

	Name of School	Anticipated Graduation Date	Cumulative GPA	Current Class Rank (if applicable)
High School Information

Academic awards, honors, distinctions that you have attained in High School (title of honor and description). Scholarships will be listed in another section of this application.

Your school-related activities: Sports, arts, clubs, volunteer opportunities, etc

	Name of Activity	Leadership Position	Responsibilities	Most Significant Contribution
Activity #1
Activity #2
Activity #3
Activity #4
Activity #5

Any additional comments or information regarding your high school career that you would like to share (up to 200 words)

College(s) to which you have applied*

	College Name	Cost of tuition	Cost of room & board	Status (pending or accepted)
College #1
College #2
College #3
College #4
College #5

Please provide the above information about additional colleges that you have applied for.

Jewish Education and Activities

Jewish Education

	Name of school	Dates attended	Comments
Jewish Education opportunity #1
Jewish Education opportunity #2
Jewish Education opportunity #3

Jewish Activities

	Name/Title of activity	Leadership Position	Dates of Participation	Volunteer Responsibilities	Additional Comments
Activity #1
Activity #2
Activity #3
Activity #4

Please comment on your most significant contributions in your Jewish Community activities (up to 200 words)

0/200

Other Activities
List and briefly describe any other volunteer activities not listed yet, and state your most significant contribution.*
Please describe your hobbies, interests, and leisure time activities (up to 200 words).

0/200

Employment

Please list your employment history.

	Name of Employer	Location of Employer	Work duties	Dates of Employment
Job #1
Job #2
Job #3
Job #4

Financial Status
Is applicant declared a dependent on either parent's tax return?*

YesNo

Please list other financial scholarships you have applied for.

	Name of Scholarship	Awarded? Y/N/Pending	Amount, if awarded	Comments
Scholarship #1
Scholarship #2
Scholarship #3
Scholarship #4
Scholarship #5

In addition to scholarships, how do you plan to finance your future education? Do you have a trust fund or savings account?*
Since scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic distinction, and community service, please indicate the category for your family’s adjusted gross income from the most recent tax return. Please select a category.*

$49,999 and under$50,000 - $79,999$80,000 - $119,999$120,000 - $159,999$160,000 - $249,999$250,000 - $499,999$500,000 and up
Please include any additional information about your financial information/circumstances that might be pertinent.

Essay Question
In 700 words or less, please tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character, or helped to shape it.*

0/700
How did you find out about the Harry Hecht Family College Scholarship?*

Required Documents
Letter of recommendation*

At least one letter of recommendation from an employer, guidance counselor, teacher, volunteer supervisor, rabbi, etc. If the recommendor wishes to keep the letter confidential from the applicant, they may email it directly to Jen Milkman at jenm@milwaukeejewish.org. This step may then be bypassed by submitting a document that says "Recommendation will be emailed to Jen Milkman".
Cancelof
Academic Transcript*

Please submit a transcript from your most recently completed semester. Fall of 2025 preferred. An un-official version of the transcript is acceptable.
Cancelof
Parent's Most Recent Tax Return*

All tax return and W-2 information is only used to verify the income category selected, and will be kept strictly confidential.
Cancelof
Parent's Most Recent W-2*

Cancelof
Should be Empty:

Harry Hecht Family Memorial College Scholarship Program Application 2026

Application

Family Information

Education

Jewish Education and Activities

Other Activities

Employment

Financial Status

Essay Question

Required Documents