The WCCAA/Rosemary Troia-Baker Scholarship
The scholarship committee will review and rate applications based on scholarship requests, number of applicants, quality of applications, and how the proposed request will impact the field of Early Childhood Education. The committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the WCCAA Board for their approval of the awards to be granted.
The final grant requirement is that all recipients will create a display board that demonstrates the knowledge that was gained through the training and to show appreciation for the Rosie Baker Scholarship. These boards will be displayed at the annual WCCAA Conference.
Scholarships can be awarded up to $500.00 for an individual, $1,000.00 for trainings that you take and materials (related to the training) that will impact your center, and $1500.00 for trainings that you take and materials (related to the training) that will impact the community. You must be a current member of WCCAA to be eligible.
Application due May 1st or January.
Who was Rosie Baker
If you’ve been involved in the child care field for a long time, you know the answer. If you are a newer administrator, you may have never had the pleasure of meeting her. Rosemary Troia Baker, or Rosie, as many knew her better, was a life-long advocate for some of our state’s smallest citizens.
Rosie Baker devoted her career to children and families through a variety of avenues. Her history of community involvement is long and diverse. Among the groups Rosie assisted : Employment and Training Association, United Neighborhood’s South Madison Neighborhood Center, City of Madison Planning District Committee, Dane County Nutrition Council, Dane County Head Start, Madison Mayor’s Task Force on Human Services, Rotary, United Way, the National Association of Child Care Professionals, WECA, WCCAA, and the 4 C’s.
Rosie retired from her position as Executive Director of Child Development Inc. in 1997. Both before and after her retirement, Rosie devoted much time and expertise to our organization. Rosie strongly believed that administrators need a support group of fellow professionals to maximize their potential in their own jobs. The Rosie Baker Scholarship Fund, which WCCAA now operates as a means for administrators to obtain continuing training, had it’s beginnings in “Rosie’s Raffles.” Rosie never missed an opportunity to fund raise for a good cause, and our scholarship fund now stands as a tribute to her dream.
Until her later years when health issues forced her to step back, Rosie spent many hours manning registration tables at our state conference. Participants could always count on a warm welcome from Rosie.
Scholarship applications are available every year at the state conference. If you would like further information, or would like to request an application, contact Nancy Fliehr at (715) 832-3039, or email Nancy at nfliehr@graceluthfound.com
Application due May 1st or January.