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Cream City Foundation Awards $50,000 to Ten Students for its 2026 Scholarship Program
MILWAUKEE, WI – Cream City Foundation announces that it has selected 10 scholarship recipients for the 2026-2027 academic school year. Scholarships are made possible by the generous donations of hundreds of donors and the support of Courage Plus and The William J Radler Fund.
Cream City Foundation’s (CCF) Scholarship Program is building on years of success with another class of talented students in Southeastern Wisconsin. This year 10 scholarships were awarded to students in the amount of $5,000 each — a $2,500 increase per award over last year. Cream City Foundation is honored to award these scholarships, which is only made possible through the generosity of its donors.
“Cream City Foundation is dedicated to investing in LGBTQ+ leaders. Building the capacity for leadership often starts with education.” stated CCF President and Board Chair, Charlie Nash.
“We are very excited to have increased the award amount for the 2026 scholarship cycle, with the support of our generous donors. We had so many fantastic applications, it was difficult to award just 10. We are looking forward to meeting this year’s cohort at the Business Equality Luncheon in October.” stated Emmett Roehr, CCF Board Secretary and Scholarship Committee Chair.
Cream City Foundation launches its Scholarship Program every spring. LGBTQ+ identifying students who are residents of southeastern Wisconsin and are pursuing a post-secondary education are encouraged to apply. Students who are allies of the LGBTQ+ community are also encouraged to apply as allies play an important role in making spaces more accepting.
Individuals or organizations who may be interested in learning how to add their support to the scholarship program may contact hello@creamcityfdn.org or (414) 225-0244.
Meet our 2026 Scholarship Awardees
Tamia Abney (She/Her/Hers) | Louisiana State University | Master’s, Social Work
Tamia Abney is the first in her family to pursue a professional degree. For the past three years, she has worked as a case manager supporting youth from diverse backgrounds experiencing housing instability and mental health challenges. She has served young adults identifying as LGBTQ+, aging out of foster care, and those impacted by violence. Witnessing the disproportionate impact on Black and Brown youth inspired her to pursue an MSW and clinical licensure. Tamia believes representation matters and is committed to creating safe, affirming spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered. She plans to continue serving and making a meaningful impact in the field.
Dennis Montgomery Carl (he/him) | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Master’s, Urban Planning
Dennis Carl is a graduate student in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Urban Planning program. Prior to starting his degree, he worked as a project manager in ecological restoration and native land management. He believes equity-driven environmental planning is crucial to the well-being of urban communities. Dennis is a member of the American Planning Association and the American Society of Adaptation Professionals. His long-term goal is to utilize his degree toward a career in water management and coastal resilience. This summer, he plans to intern with The Center for Urban Population Health and Clean Wisconsin. Outside of his professional work, Dennis volunteers with the BESTD Clinic and the Milwaukee Makerspace.
Mason Chester-Hopkins (He/Him) | Tennessee State University | Bachelor’s, Music Education
Mason Chester-Hopkins is a Black Trans male. He will be attending Tennessee State University as a freshman in fall 2026. He aspires to become a music educator in economically disadvantaged communities. Using music, he hopes to bridge educational gaps in economically disadvantaged communities. Mason has seen how poor education affects his community directly, and he has grown tired of waiting for others to see his community struggling to survive and succeed. Mason has a youth apprenticeship working in a 4-6 classroom during his senior year of high school.
Carla De Jesus Aleman (She/Her) | Medical College of Wisconsin | PhD, Medicine (MD)
Carla Aleman is attending the Medical College of Wisconsin and pursuing a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. As the oldest of six and a first-generation student in college and in medicine, she guides her siblings through school and encourages their aspirations to pursue higher education for dentistry and veterinary medicine. She aims to become a pediatric endocrinologist to work with underserved patient populations like Latines who are disproportionately impacted by metabolic disorders like Diabetes and LGBTQ+ youth who are increasingly experiencing barriers to accessing gender-affirming care.
Copper Peter Graniela (He/They) | Milwaukee Area Technical College | Associate’s, Human Services
Copper Peter Graniela is currently attending the Milwaukee Area Technical College to pursue an associate’s degree in Human Services. After a two year course at MATC, Copper plans to expand his education at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee to deepen their understanding of therapeutic and sociological practice. With personal and familial experience navigating mental illness and addiction while being low-income, Latino, transgender, and queer, Copper has recognized faults in the systems they’ve had to utilize; faults that they aspire to ameliorate with their own work in the field. It is through having been seated in the client’s chair that grounds his belief in his ability to reach clients at their level, to find what they need.
Annelise Paczesny (she/her) | Harvard College | Bachelor’s, Government / Psychology
Annelise Paczesny is attending Harvard College and pursuing an undergraduate degree in Government and Psychology. As a lifelong activist, Annelise has advocated for the rights of LGBTQ+ communities and POC communities, especially through her anti-gun violence work with WAVE, the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort. At Harvard, she is currently the Membership Director of the Harvard College Democrats and hopes to continue making a change through advocacy during her time in Boston. Her long-term career goals include attending law school and becoming an immigration lawyer or international human rights lawyer to give back to under-resourced communities.
Jamie Robarge (she/her) | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Master’s, Management–Marketing
Jamie Robarge is a Milwaukee-based photographer, artist, and community organizer, and the founder of Jamie Robarge Photography. She holds a BFA in Fine Art Photography from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, where she also guest taught, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Management–Marketing at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Her work blends portraiture and storytelling to elevate individuals contributing to their communities, with a focus on supporting diverse and underrepresented voices, including LGBTQ+ individuals. Through her photography and community-led initiatives, Jamie creates inclusive spaces for connection, collaboration, and shared resources.
Lawton Schick (She/her) | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Bachelor’s, Biochemistry
Lawton Schick is completing her final semester as a high school senior, graduating third in her class at Cudahy High School. After high school, Lawton will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall of 2026. Through her course of study, she will explore the complexities of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in order to deepen her understanding of hormones and their impact on adolescents. Developing her mastery of the intricate chemical exchange of signaling hormones, Lawton will help educate apprehensive parents of transgender adolescents as an Endocrinologist on the positive impact hormone therapy has on one’s mental health and one’s ability to perceive the world through an optimistic lens.
Maxwell Waldschmidt (He/Him) | Marquette University | Master’s, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Maxwell Waldschmidt will be entering Marquette University’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in the fall of 2026. Through this program, Maxwell aims to become a licensed therapist who specializes in working with the LGBTQ+ community, specifically with those who identify as transgender and/or gender non-conforming (TGNC) or have experienced religious trauma. His commitment to the LGBTQ+ community is evident in his continual community involvement through running the TGNC peer support group at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, as well as his previously achieved bachelor’s degrees in psychology, gender & sexualities studies, and theology & religion.
Undisclosed Recipient | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Bachelor’s, Psychology