Michael J. Spector Memorial Fund

The Shorewood School District announced the creation of a new endowment honoring Michael J. Spector, a Shorewood alumnus and longtime champion of public education in Wisconsin. Established by Mr. Spector's wife, Joan Spector, the fund will provide support for deserving students in financial need, and will also help create pathways to college and career success for underrepresented minority students in the Shorewood School District.

Each year, the Michael J. Spector Memorial Fund will support student awards in three areas:

• The Michael J. Spector & Family Scholarship, a one-year scholarship that will support a deserving Shorewood student in financial need attending a college or educational institution in the Wisconsin public university system;

• Travel Scholarships for Shorewood students in financial need in grades 7-12 who are seeking travel support in order to participate in school-related trips; and
• Scholarships for students participating in the African-American Male Initiative (AAMI) program, which helps prepare students for college by experiencing life on a university campus.

"We are very grateful to Mrs. Spector and her family for this incredibly generous gift, which establishes a permanent legacy at Shorewood Schools in honor of her husband's commitment to public education," said Superintendent Bryan Davis. "This endowment will make an enormous difference for students in financial need and underrepresented minority students in Shorewood."

Students will receive awards from the Michael J. Spector Memorial Fund starting this school year. Each year, the endowment will provide $5,000 for the Michael J. Spector & Family Scholarship; $10,000 for Travel Scholarships for Shorewood students in financial need in grades 7-12 who are participating in school-related trips; and $5,000 for students participating in the African-American Male Initiative (AAMI) program. Shorewood Intermediate School and Shorewood High School students interested in applying for these funds should contact their principal for more information.

Michael J. Spector was a leader in Wisconsin public education and a long-time participant in and supporter of public life in the Village of Shorewood. A 1958 Shorewood High School graduate, he served in public office beginning at the age of 28, when he was elected to the Shorewood School Board. In addition to serving as a School Board Member (1969-73) and School Board President (1970-73), he was also a Member of the Shorewood Plan Commission (1977-81), Shorewood Village Trustee (1982-85) and Shorewood Village President (1985-91), and a founder of the Shorewood Historical Society. He was also a 2003 recipient of the Shorewood School District Tradition of Excellence Award. Michael Spector and his wife Joan settled in Shorewood and raised three sons, John, Tom, and Joe, who attended Shorewood public schools. A lawyer who dedicated much of his life to helping to reform public education in Wisconsin, Michael Spector retired in 2002 as Managing Partner of Quarles & Brady LLP after 37 years with the firm. Mr. Spector was also Vice-President of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.

Mrs. Spector attended a signing ceremony on November 14 with her sons, John and Tom, where the endowment agreement was officially approved by the Shorewood School Board. Members of the School Board expressed their appreciation for Mrs. Spector's generosity in establishing the fund.

"We hope that by honoring Mike in this way, more students will enjoy the full experiences and benefits of a Shorewood public education, as did he and our sons," Mrs. Spector said.

The fund is open to ongoing contributions, and donors may give additional donations to help grow the endowment.

For more information about the Michael J. Spector Memorial Fund, or to learn about how to create a new endowment to support students in Shorewood Schools, please contact Ted Knight at 414-961-3161 or [email protected].