William Welch, Sr. Endowed Scholarship

William G. “Bill” Welch, Sr. came to the La Crosse Vocational School in 1960 while he was still employed by Southern Minnesota Supply Company to start an evening program in electronics. In 1961 he was employed by the school full-time to organize and start a two-year Electronics Program. Bill used his 22 years of education, military and business experience as the major resource to initiate this successful program. This program was one of the first programs to be offered as an associate degree program at the school.
Bill taught electronics for nine years before he became chairman of the trade and industry division. He continued to teach one course each year. Many vocational and associate degree programs were developed, under his guidance, for the Industrial Division.
Bill was instrumental in doing the research necessary to develop the Biomedical Electronic Program, the first in Wisconsin and one of the early programs in the United States. He was very active in state and national organizations that promoted technical education. He was also active in the promotion and development of training programs for area industries.
Bill retired as Dean of Technology at WWTI in June of 1986. His son, William Jr., continues to teach in the Electronics Programs at WWTC.
His wife, Mary Funke Welch, established this scholarship. The scholarship is for full-time students in the Electronics Program, with preference for female students in this area.