Swan Scholarship
The Swan Scholarship is a four-year full tuition day student scholarship for residents of Beaver Dam.
Mary Swan graduated from Wayland Academy in 1925. She returned to teach English at Wayland from 1956 to 1969, and was highly respected for her steadfast devotion to teaching students to write clearly and concisely. Alumni continue to sing her praises for instilling an appreciation for solid communication, grammar, and vocabulary skills in her students.
After retirement, Mary served on Wayland's Board of Trustees from 1971 to 1975. In April 1989, Wayland's Swan Library was formally dedicated to Mary Swan and her family, and later that year Mary was named the twenty-third recipient of Wayland's Distinguished Service Citation, the highest alumni honor bestowed by the Academy.
Ms. Swan and her family were also strong supporters of the Beaver Dam community, contributing to the public library, city parks, community theater, the YMCA, and other community initiatives.
Following her death in 2003, Mary's family created the Wayland Academy Swan Scholarship in her honor. The scholarship provides one rising 9th-grade student living in Beaver Dam with a four-year full tuition scholarship to Wayland Academy—valued at over $100,000.
“Mary was not only devoted to, but a strong advocate of education. She was determined to use her intellectual resources as a teacher as well as her material resources to open doors.”
—John B. McKinstry H`10, Wayland trustee and life-long friend of Mary Swan
Swan Scholarship Criteria
The criteria to be selected as the Swan Scholar includes:
- Applicants must be a resident of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
- You must apply for financial aid by February 1 and admission by February 15.
- You must email your Wayland admission officer or admission@wayland.org expressing your interest in the scholarship before the application deadline of February 15.
- Must complete an additional interview with the Dean of Enrollment and Financial Aid and other members of the Wayland Leadership Team.
- Applicants should be in good academic standing and should not have any serious disciplinary issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
- How much is annual tuition for a day student?
- If I don't live in Beaver Dam, do I still qualify for the Swan Scholarship?
- If I am not selected to receive the Swan Scholarship, are other scholarships available?
- How do I prepare for my interview?
- When will I find out if I was selected as the Swan Scholar?
Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
How much is annual tuition for a day student?
If I don't live in Beaver Dam, do I still qualify for the Swan Scholarship?
If I am not selected to receive the Swan Scholarship, are other scholarships available?
How do I prepare for my interview?
When will I find out if I was selected as the Swan Scholar?
Swan Scholars
Lauren West `27—2023 Swan Scholar
Pictured here with Trustee John B. McKinstry H`10
“The environment is amazing—everyone is so friendly and wants to be here to learn. When I got here, I felt like I was in college. I'm looking forward to the opportunities here.”
“Meeting so many different people with different backgrounds…I'm excited about the challenge Wayland Academy has in store for me and everyone else. I know I can learn a lot at this school.”
Easton Keil `26—2022 Swan Scholar
Pictured here with his mother, Dawn.
“Here at Wayland, I’ve met numerous people from places as close as here in Beaver Dam to places like Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. My time here has shown me that no one is left out in the Wayland community.”
Mathias Seufzer `25—2021 Swan Scholar
Pictured here with his parents, Joseph and Allison.
“Receiving the Swan Scholarship is a great honor. The scholarship provides a way to earn a place in the Wayland community. It also brings a sense of accomplishment and responsibility to its recipient. Wayland is an amazing place, and I am grateful for receiving the scholarship.”