Dr. Joan E. Sosalla Endowed Scholarship

Early in my career in education, first as a speech clinician and then as a learning disabilities teacher, I realized that rural education needed more resources. In order to help access these resources I needed to obtain an educational administration PhD. In the 1980’s and 90’s for a woman who lived in very rural Independence Wisconsin, that was simply a dream. However, over several decades, with the support of my family, network of friends and Western Technical College (where I started work as an administrator in 1991), I accomplished my dream! Then, I believe, I worked to bring resources that helped countless others reach their dream careers.

Please note that there were no online education classes in the late 1900s. I had to drive from Independence WI to Madison WI during the school year (once a week near the end of the workday and returning home just before midnight – about 300 miles round trip). For many summers, I stayed overnight to do research and attend classes. During these years I worked full-time, raised 2 children and helped farm a 270 acre farm. There were times I thought getting through this was an impossibility. There were many “bumps in the road” that almost stopped my dream from coming true. Thank heavens I worked at Western! The support financially and even more important, the constant encouragement that came in countless ways helped me accomplish my goal!

From the time that I first recognized what I wanted to do until I accomplished my goal was around 20 years! But the most important part was during the last 7 years when Western and my family and friends kept my dream in focus. Now I feel I want to assist others who have a dream of completing a degree, but may be experiencing “bumps in the road” that could stop a dream from coming true.

Part of the establishment of an endowment will hopefully assist various individuals’ need to finish a degree. All I ask is to “pay it forward”. At some time in your life, in some way, help others to get over their “bumps in the road” so they can accomplish their dream career.