2010 Scholarship Winners

The scholarship committee of the World Championship Musky Classic recently awarded consecutive year, $2000 scholarships to two Lakeland Union High School seniors.

The scholarships are given each year to North Lakeland area students who will be attending an institution of higher learning.  The purpose of this scholarship is to honor Ben Bendrick, a conservation warden who dedicated his life to the preservation of the natural resources of the State of Wisconsin.

His efforts, on behalf of all the people of the North Lakeland area, serve as an inspiration and a model, which the recipients of this award may emulate while building their own productive lives.

Two very deserving candidates received the award this year.  Those students are Ian Derber and Andrew Kerecman.

Ian Derber, from Presque Isle, is interested in the outdoor environment, and specifically, in hunting, fishing, trapping and outdoor tripping.  He has extensive outdoor education and adventure experiences, including a recent 45-day trip to Brooks Range of Alaska.  Derber has been an active in the community during his high school years, helping at the libraries, at work weekends, and at special events including the Journeys Marathon.  Derber plans to attend Vermillion Community College to study Wilderness Management, before transferring to a four-year school to earn his Bachelors Degree. 

Andrew Kerecman, Boulder Junction, enjoys living the Northwoods way of life:  hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, ATV riding and shooting sports.  He is thankful to receive a scholarship “in memory of a man who cared very much about conservation.”  Through Andrew’s various activities, he too has gained an appreciation for conservation and the out of doors.  Kerecman plans to attend Nicolet College this fall.

The Bendrick scholarship is administered by the World Championship Musky Classic Board of Directors.