2026 LAUNCH Impact Report

IMPACT REPORT 2025 -2026

OurMission

At LAUNCH, our mission is to empower students through experiential learning, innovation, and real-world problem solving. By partnering with industry leaders and fostering entrepreneurial thinking, we equip the next generation with the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.

BytheNumbers

GuidingPrinciples

Experiential Learning

Students learn by doing through hands-on projects, real-world challenges, and meaningful community and business partnerships.

Innovation & Creativity

LAUNCH fosters an entrepreneurial mindset by encouraging students to think outside the box, take risks, and develop original solutions.

Collaboration & Communication

Teamwork is central to LAUNCH. Students work closely with peers, mentors, and industry professionals, learning to communicate ideas effectively.

Professionalism & Accountability

Students are held to high standards of conduct and responsibility, preparing them for future academic and career environments.

Purpose-Driven Impact

Every project in LAUNCH is designed to create value whether for businesses, communities, or individuals—emphasizing the importance of purposeful work.

Growth Mindset

Mistakes are seen as learning opportunities. Students are encouraged to reflect, iterate, and continuously improve.

MEET DR.HALL

LAUNCH’s innovative Executive Director

Under Dr. Hall’s leadership, LAUNCH collaborates with over 300 organizations and community members providing high school students with realworld learning opportunities that bridge education, business, and community.

Dr. Hall’s journey with LAUNCH reflects his commitment to redefining education by integrating practical experiences and fostering strong partnerships between schools and the broader community.

Reflecting on the 2026 LAUNCH year, Dr. Hall says, “LAUNCH gives students opportunities that go beyond a traditional classroom by focusing on real-world experiences and career readiness.”

LAUNCH continues to innovate and scale. Our goals for 2026-27 are:

1.Scaling Human Skills: We’ll continue to investigate and examine explicit ways to teach human skills.

2.Deeper Project-Based Learning: With growing mentor capacity and clearer frameworks, we’ll challenge students to work on more open-ended and challenging projects with real deliverables that matter and provide value to our clients.

3.Pathway Continuity: We’ll investigate clearer bridges from middle school to LAUNCH, and from LAUNCH into college, certifications, and early career. This continuity supports not just exploration, but growth and momentum.

ThankYouElmbrookLeaders!

District Leaders: Brookfield East Brookfield Central

Mark Hansen

Emily Greiber

Chris Thompson

Benjamin Prather

Pam Casey

Mekenna Ellis

Amie Farley

Robert Hall

Mitzi Cass

Rick Domach

Caitlin Harrison

Lisa Rettler

Dan Scott

Liz Stegemann

Andy Farley

Darcie Fellmeth

Paige Lightner

Ben Westphal

Brett Gruetzmacher

Don Kurth

Chad Whalley

Bryan Groshek

LAUNCHNetwork

CAPS Network

The LAUNCH Network is part of the national CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) Network, which connects high school students with realworld professional experiences. CAPS bridges the gap between academics and industry needs through immersive, project-based learning. Students gain hands-on experience in fields like business, engineering, healthcare, and technology, working directly with professionals to solve real-world problems. As a CAPS-affiliated program, LAUNCH partners with companies and community organizations to offer industry-relevant projects that build critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork preparing students for future careers.

Wauwatosa School District

Since joining the LAUNCH network in 2019, the School District of Wauwatosa has continued to grow its commitment to real-world, project-based learning. This year alone, dozens of Tosa students engaged in cross-district LAUNCH strands, working alongside peers from neighboring districts and over 100 industry mentors. From developing marketing plans for local businesses to designing prototypes for real clients, students applied academic skills to authentic challenges while gaining invaluable experience and confidence. The program has strengthened Tosa’s focus on career readiness and helped students build lasting professional relationships across the region.

School District of Monroe

In partnership with LAUNCH, the School District of Monroe has expanded opportunities for students to engage in meaningful, hands-on learning. This year, Monroe students collaborated with industry partners on projects ranging from sustainability solutions to business innovation, applying classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. Participation in LAUNCH has helped Monroe students gain exposure to diverse career fields, improve communication and problem-solving skills, and explore their passions in a supportive, mentor-driven environment. The district’s continued involvement reflects a strong commitment to preparing students for success in both college and the workforce.

OurStaff

EngagedinExcellence

The School District of Elmbrook’s annual Engaged in Excellence Awards celebrates the exceptional staff, volunteers, alumni, and community partners who make our district thrive. This high-profile, community-wide initiative captures thousands of nominations each year, culminating in a Hollywood-style Red Carpet Gala at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. The evening honors dozens of finalists across teaching, leadership, support, and community roles, presenting winners with the district's highest formal honor—the Golden Apple Award.

Pat Perez (English, LAUNCH)

Pat Perez is an exceptional teacher and a core member of the LAUNCH program who defines kindness and patience. This year, he continues to simultaneously teach classical literature while standing at the forefront of integrating AI and innovation into English instruction. Pat creates an environment where friendly banter and high expectations coexist, using guiding questions that push students to grow. As a collaborative voice of reason, he remains a safe place to land for both students and colleagues.

LAUNCH Future Teachers (Lisa Farley & Nicole Augustin)

Lisa joined Nicole and the Future Teachers strand this year and together they have found new ways to create meaningful opportunities for students. Through the addition of a special education course and CARE training, they have introduced Future Teachers to another critical dimension to education - supporting the needs of all students. Additionally, Nicole and Lisa model expert lesson design, building connections with students, and clear communication to give our Future Teachers the foundational skills they need to become great educators.

Community Partner - Discovery Commons

Discovery Commons Brookfield and its Director of Celebrations, Anna Villalpando, have played a vital role in supporting students enrolled in the LAUNCH Medicine and Healthcare strand. Since the partnership began in 2023, they have hosted more than 100 students, providing a unique opportunity to engage with a community designed to empower residents as they age. While students gain valuable healthcare knowledge and skills, the most impactful aspect of this experience is the development of empathy and compassionate care.

Milwaukee Tool has evolved into a global industry leader by pioneering disruptive cordless technologies like the M18 and MX FUEL platforms, which are engineered directly from jobsite feedback to solve real-world trade challenges. Milwaukee Tool actively bridges cutting-edge industrial advancement with a dedicated mission to equip and inspire the next generation of skilled tradespeople and engineers.

In 2026, Milwaukee Tool dedicated 40 industry mentors to our annual Innovation Challenge, impacting 160 students. At th NCH Community Partners narrow down the 40 teams to 10, who ees to crown a winner.

Charles Laning

Vaanya Agarwal

Vaibhavi Manikonda

Laiba Jamshed

Esha Somanchi

Connor Sprague

Chetan Pothuru

Matthew Valoe

Matthew Mahdasian

Cole Auchter

Henry Rom

Grady

Emilia Schmidt

Owen Schroeder

IndustryProjects

LAUNCH connects high school students with local businesses to solve real-world problems through hands-on, collaborative projects. Students gain experience in research, teamwork, and professional communication, ending each project with a formal pitch to industry professionals. Here are some examples of the projects our students worked on during the 2025-26 school year.

As part of the LAUNCH program in collaboration with ManpowerGroup, students will design and develop an AI-powered pipeline to evaluate candidate profiles based on their proficiency in Microsoft technologies. The goal is to create a scalable and intelligent system that can ingest candidate data (e.g., resumes, LinkedIn profiles, job board activity), extract relevant technical skills, and assess them against a defined set of Microsoft tech competencies (e.g., Azure, Power Platform, Microsoft 365, .NET).

Due to limited resources and a lack of accessible tools for hospital price transparency, this initiative leverages a student-led test environment to build, analyze, and refine features that make complex pricing data usable for the public.

Right now, if end users approach us and say they suspect a report has incorrect data, the first thing we do is open the Power BI report and look to see which data views are in it. Taking it to the next step, these data views are constructed from data tables. We would like to be able to have a catalog of this information for easy access.

Employee recognition drives engagement, retention, and culture but our program needs modernization. Design an online recognition program that is simple, meaningful, and aligned to organizational values. Explore vendor options or build an internal concept, define recognition criteria, and propose a launch communication plan.

IndustryProjects

As part of our $100 million new facility, we created a dedicated atrium space we refer to as the Customer Experience Center (CXC). While it has some wall decals explaining some general and limited specific ABB information, it is relatively underutilized. Prepare and execute a plan to install demos and/or video content that allows for any ABB employee or customer to enter the space and engage with the content.

Create a tool that helps a sales rep figure out which customer to visit next by ranking them based on how important they are (deal size, how long since we've talked, etc.), and then show them on a map with other nearby customers they should also try to see on the same trip. The goal is to make sales visits more efficient by batching multiple customer meetings in the same area instead of driving all over Wisconsin for individual meetings.

To maximize logistics efficiency, the team needs to identify opportunities for load pooling to reduce less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments and eliminate out-of-network distribution by sourcing orders from closer production plants, ultimately visualizing these cost-saving findings through Pareto charts.

As part of its overall digital marketing strategy, MLG Capital needs to increase awareness of its brand and investment offerings through social media so that we can educate, engage, and ultimately capture qualified investor leads on MLGCapital.com especially high-net-worth investors and investment advisors.

ProjectTakeaways

At the heart of every LAUNCH experience is student growth. Through real-world problem solving, collaboration with industry partners, and hands-on exploration, students develop more than just technical skills they cultivate resilience, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of their own potential. In this section, students reflect on the challenges they faced, the breakthroughs they experienced, and the lessons they’ll carry with them beyond the classroom.

Kenley Fogltanz - Brookfield Central - Global Business

Taking LAUNCH has helped me understand how many different career options are available in the business world. Through my project work, I worked with three coaches, all of whom work in various areas of business. The real-world experience I gained has better prepared me to think about what I might want to pursue in the future.

Caroline Wanezek - Brookfield East - Media Solutions

Taking LAUNCH courses for the past two years has been very beneficial for me, giving me opportunities that have shaped my growth both in and outside the classroom. It has helped me develop stronger professional communication and presentation skills, and I've become much more comfortable stepping into leadership roles within my groups. Through LAUNCH, I was able to gain experiences like my EEF Internship, as well as earn Microsoft and Adobe certifications, all of which have greatly prepared me for my future.

Evan Laserstein - Wauwatosa West - Global Business

Working on these projects helped me apply what I learned in the classroom to real-world situations. They have strengthened my communication and problem-solving skills while confirming my interest in pursuing a career in marketing.

vi Arora - Brookfield Central - Data Science

a Science LAUNCH was a big commitment, but it was one of the best mitments I have made. I started by learning a new programming uage, Python, and then applied those skills to solve practice blems. From there, we had the opportunity to make a real impact. We ked with Milliman to study real-world chronic illness issues and ored ways to help reduce their prevalence. My LAUNCH project ght me the power of data and how much can be learned, solved, and red from it. It introduced me to potential career paths and inspired re aspirations that I am excited to pursue.

ProjectTakeaways

Brock Laskowski - Brookfield Central - Engineering

Working on projects through LAUNCH gave me valuable real-world experience by allowing me to visit workplaces and participate in professional meetings. These experiences helped me better understand what a professional environment is like and how businesses operate. LAUNCH also strengthened my communication and presentation skills through interactions with mentors, industry professionals, and team members. Learning how to build connections, collaborate effectively, and present ideas with confidence has been incredibly valuable. Overall, LAUNCH has helped prepare me for life after high school by providing hands-on experiences, developing professional skills, and giving me a better understanding of potential career paths.

Devin Long - Wauwatosa West - Global Business

Working on projects through LAUNCH has positively impacted my learning by giving me the opportunity to work with real companies and gain real-world experience. I have especially enjoyed collaborating in groups because everyone brings different skills and perspectives, which makes the final product stronger.

Josh Benedict - Brookfield East - Global Business

In LAUNCH this year, project-based learning transformed the way I learned and helped me develop many new skills. Through working with a variety of businesses, I gained a deeper understanding of how companies operate, the everyday responsibilities of employees, and many different aspects of the business world. I also worked with teams for several months, improving my leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work on projects that were meaningful and had a real-world impact, shifting my perspective from previous projects that often felt less significant. Overall, project-based learning provided me with valuable experiences that connected classroom concepts to real-world applications and better prepared me for future academic and professional opportunities.

Medicine&Healthcare

As the demands on modern healthcare systems shift, clinical education must evolve past traditional memorization. The LAUNCH model dismantles traditional pedagogical silos, embedding two foundational pillars Medical Terminology and Cultures of Health Care directly into a unified, experiential readiness framework.

At the core of LAUNCH is Profession Based Experiential Learning. Rather than treating technical vocabulary, systemic knowledge, and clinical ethics as isolated subjects to be checked off sequentially, our framework uses real-world application as the lens through which these fields intersect. By fusing clinical precision with human understanding, we are building a model where students do not simply learn about healthcare they practice navigating its real-world complexities.

New in 2025-26, our Medicine & Healthcare strand moved to its new home inside Ascension Elmbrook Hospital. Thank you to Ascension for hosting our future healthcare professionals!

2025-26Medicine&HealthcarePlacementLocations:

AreateensteamupwithFroedterttospreadthewordon medicalpowerofattorney

By: Rebecca Klopf, TMJ4 News

BROOKFIELD, Wis. Anyone over the age of 18 should have a medical power of attorney according to the health officials and a group of high school students is making sure Wisconsin families know it.

Students from Brookfield East High School and Wauwatosa West High School partnered with Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin on a program that lets teens tackle realworld health care issues alongside a mentor. Their focus: medical power of attorney documents, and why so few people have them.

“I, for one, did not know this existed," Pema Sherpa, a senior at Wauwatosa West High School, said. "I really didn't understand the importance of it," Lauren Schmidt, a Brookfield East High School junior, said.

The students tell TMJ4 News that is why they are so motivated to make sure others know. A medical power of attorney is a legal document that allows a person to name a representative to make health care decisions on their behalf if they are unable to make those decisions themselves. The document can be used starting at age 18.

Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin say nearly 80% of people in Wisconsin do not have these important legal forms filled out.

The students say they were surprised to learn that parents even those who carry their child on their health insurance — can be kept from participating in important health care decisions once that child turns 18.

Whitney Gilbert, a palliative care social worker at Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin, is also a mentor to the students, said the need for these documents can arise at any time.

"At any point, any of us can get different medical conditions or there could be a crisis," Gilbert said. Gilbert also noted that Wisconsin does not have next-of-kin protections that might otherwise allow family members to step in.

"It is very state-dependent for next of kin of not having next of kin regulations. And so Wisconsin in this moment is not a next of kin state," Gilbert said.

That hit close to home to students who say they were considering different college options away from home. The students even educated their own teacher, who has a teenager close to college age, on the issue.

"This will definitely be a conversation that we will be having at our house as all our children get older and start to leave home," Melissa Fogltanz, a teacher at Brookfield East High School, said.

The students reached out to TMJ4 to share their findings with a broader audience.

"There are so many people, especially in Wisconsin, who don't know anything about these documents, that coming here to TMJ4, we would be able to reach such a broad population of people in Wisconsin. We thought it would be a great way to spread the word," Evelyn Schuenke, a Brookfield East High School student, said.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers a free medical power of attorney form that individuals and families can fill out.

Q&AwithHaileyDooyema TheMicrosoftMVP

What motivated you to pursue not just one, but five different Microsoft certifications?

When I first heard that we were going to be doing Microsoft certifications I was excited because my dad uses Excel, Word, and Powerpoint on a daily basis so I wanted to pass each of the tests to show my dad! I never thought I would get 5 but I am excited to use those certifications as I work to get my degree in business!

What certification are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my Excel Expert certification. In my opinion, Excel is the hardest out of all the certifications and so the first time I tried taking the Excel Expert test I failed the first time and the retake as well. Then I tried again and ended up passing it on the first try. I am proud of how I didn’t let the failure from the first time change my mindset for the second time. I worked hard, watched the videos, and studied until I was confident that I knew what I was doing and it paid off!

How has your workflow or confidence changed from the first certification to the last?

Now that I have taken 7 certification tests, I am way more confident using the Microsoft features and I am able to create slideshows and documents that are more complex because I have that knowledge and background skills from taking all those certification tests.

Can you share an example of a project where you used your certification knowledge?

This year in my Milwaukee Tool project, I had to use Excel to create a bunch of pivot charts and tables that were complex and had a lot of data in them. I was able to use my knowledge from taking the excel test to help my team figure out how to use Excel and how to create pivot charts and other graphs as well. It was cool being able to use my knowledge from the excel certification and put it into practice in real life!

What are your ultimate career goals, and how do these tools fit into that dream?

I am planning on going to Dordt university to study business and youth ministry and I know that Microsoft certifications are necessary as I pursue a business degree so as I go into the workforce I know that those skills will come in handy and set me apart from other students and employees. I know that whatever path I end up on, these certifications will be something I can use to help me in the workplace as I create presentations, use spreadsheets, and create documents as well.

What advice would you give to another student who is intimidated by the idea of taking their first certification exam?

My advice to anyone who is taking a certification exam is that your mindset is everything and it’s the work you put in when no one is watching that matters the most. Also, go into the test with confidence. Yes, it can be intimidating but trust the work you put in and go in with confidence knowing you can do it!

Q&AwithBradyHeisman AdobeCreativeSuiteSuperhero

What motivated you to pursue not just one, but seven different Adobe certifications?

I really wanted to learn all of the Adobe software that was viable to be used in the working environment. Having multiple certifications would allow me to be used for work in multiple kinds of media creation.

What certification are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my Adobe After Effects certification because that software is very difficult, and learning motion effects is a very complicated process and task to learn.

How has your workflow or creative confidence changed from the first certification to the seventh?

Going into the first test, I was very nervous because I was just beginning to create content and media. Now that I have seven, I am very confident in my skills, and I also feel like I am able to help teach others around me. I also have been less uncertain about the design choices I make.

Can you share an example of a project where you used your certification knowledge? One project where I used my knowledge was for a couple different videos I had to make for LAUNCH Media Solutions. I used my knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro to help me do the skills and create a polished product!

What are your ultimate career goals, and how do these tools fit into that dream?

I plan to become an architect, so these different programs will help me do that process by designing and creating graphics that could showcase my work.

What advice would you give to another student who is intimidated by the idea of taking their first certification exam?

Don’t be nervous about it! Practice the skills in the software beforehand, so that when you take the test you feel like you’re just messing around in the software!

LAUNCHCoaches

We cannot thank our LAUNCH coaches enough for the time, talents, and industry knowldege they share with our students!

100 Women Who Care

Waukesha County

Diane Voit

Elise Campbell Viroglio

Laura Campbell

ABB

Abigail Carlson

Jason Wasserman

Jeff Hengemuhle

Jodi Cooper

Joe Powell

Kristin Anderson

American Friends for Journey House Actions

Rwanda

Bill Pollock

Brian Studebaker

Ascension

Bala Narayanan

Colleen Pashke

Sarah Koltermann

August Brown

Daniel Berg

Aurora

Jodi Doering

Rachel Stevens

Big Unit Foundation

Christen Meyer

Brookfield Central

Bret Frederickson

Brett Gruetzmacher

Tina Berna

Brookfield East Girls

Wrestling

Mike Rakowiecki

Brookfield Police Department

Officer Zartner

Carlisle

Brad Van Dam

Sergio Brumfield

City of Brookfield

Allie Gerschwiler

Brookfield City Lifestyle

Jessica Opat

Concurrency

Alyssa Gayle

Amy Cousland

Brian Haydin

Kate Weiland-Moores

Levi Wolff

Meghan Focht

Creative Construction

Sam Anderson

Cryptek

James Ballard

Culvers

Alicia Braatz

Dan Braatz

Dental Associates

Angeline Sadowski

Discovery World

Paul Mech

Sarah Szymborski Porter

District IQ

Rebeka Sinclair

Dyslexia Achievement Center

Maggie Gunther

Nicole Boyington

Elmbrook New Berlin Senior

Taxi

Francis Vogel

Elmbrook Schools

Dan Scott

Mark Hansen

Pam Casey

Rick Domach

Erin Hills

Kris Schoonover

NIKKI YELMENE

Brookfield Central (‘20)

Milwaukee Tool Analyst – Supply Planning

The Ultimate Inside Track: Coaching Students from the Corporate Frontlines

For Nikki Yelmene, LAUNCH provided an opportunity to explore her interests while gaining real-world experience long before college.

One of her favorite memories was participating in the Milwaukee Tool innovation challenge, where she worked on a topic she was genuinely passionate about and competed alongside other student teams.

Advancing to the Top 10 and presenting at Milwaukee Tool's Brookfield office was a defining moment. It gave her the chance to share ideas in front of business professionals and experience the kind of public speaking and professional communication that many students don't encounter until much later.

Throughout the program, Nikki developed skills that would give her a head start in both college and her career. From collaborating with professionals to participating in team meetings and solving real business challenges, LAUNCH helped her build confidence and better understand the professional world. Just as importantly, it confirmed her decision to pursue a degree in business.

Today, Nikki has returned to LAUNCH as a professional coach. After benefiting so much from the program herself, she wanted to help create the same opportunities for current students. In many ways, her return feels like a full-circle moment. LAUNCH introduced her to Milwaukee Tool and helped spark the career path she ultimately chose.

Nikki enjoys helping students explore future possibilities and build confidence in their own abilities. She believes programs like LAUNCH are invaluable because they allow students to explore careers, develop professional skills, and gain meaningful experience before making decisions about college and their future.

Her advice to students is simple: try everything you can. The more experiences students have, the easier it becomes to discover the paths that excite them and the opportunities they want to pursue.

LAUNCHCoaches

Faith, Hope & Love

Heather Lojeski

First Tee

David Cohn

Wyatt O'Loughlin

Focal Point

Coaching/Allume

Steve Kopecky

Froedtert

Abby Williams

Alicia Brinkmann

Ana Graber

Andrea Tobin

Heidi Boarman

Kristen Jensen

Michelle Scott

Natalie Goniu

Tim Petrie

Whitney Gilbert

Game Plan Strategies

Amanda Guralski

GE Healthcare

Bill O'Rielly

Bob Erhardt

Girls on the Run

Angela Cooper

Hucke Exteriors

Beatrice Laufer

HUSCO

Caleb Cordova

Gretchen Bruhn

Mark Atkins

Mark Dreikosen

Tim Dolan

Impact100 Greater

Milwaukee

Carla Cummings

ISG, Inc

Chelsea Davis

Erich Golden

ITU Absorbtech

Justin Hayes

Jenny Mazoch

Robert Beyer

Johnson & Johnson

Lauren Sanders Fleming

Jonathan's Portraits

Brittany Roob

Joyosity Creative Space

Cassie Jackson

Junior Spartan Basketball

Lauren Mcbride

Lynne Fehrenbacher

Sara Garcia

Keller Williams

Jackie Rynish-Knapp

Koru Health

Kassi Becker

Meghan Davis

LAUNCH

Amanda Mast

Bob Hall

Eric Hagen

Kelly Ebbole

Rayyana Hassan

Shawn Wurtzbacher

Liz Klein Photography & Design, LLC

Liz Klein

Manpower

Mario Cortez

Arvind Subramani

Wilson Lima

Marathon Health

Jessica Olson

Leslie Pierce

BEATRICE LAUFER

Brookfield East (‘20) Hucke Exteriors

Marketing Coordinator

Paying It Forward: Launching Careers

from Inside the Industry

As a LAUNCH student, Beatrice Laufer discovered what it looked like to solve real-world problems. One of her most memorable projects was working with Milwaukee Tool to develop ideas for making its district offices more sustainable.

"It allowed us to be creative and think of meaningful, feasible ways the company could make small but effective changes," she said.

Beyond the project itself, LAUNCH gave Beatrice an early understanding of how concepts learned in the classroom are applied in professional settings. That experience proved valuable as she moved into college and began her career.

Today, Beatrice has returned to LAUNCH as a professional coach. Looking back, she recognizes how much the program influenced her educational journey and helped her discover a career path. That perspective allows her to connect with students in a unique way.

"It is amazing to see all the creative ideas students come up with and the passion they bring to their projects," she said.

Beatrice believes the involvement of local businesses and alumni is a key part of LAUNCH's success. She still remembers the projects she completed and the mentors who guided her along the way experiences that helped her learn about different industries and build connections within the community.

As a coach, one piece of advice she shares often is to embrace public speaking. While final presentations can feel intimidating, she reminds students that the confidence and communication skills they develop now will benefit them long after LAUNCH ends.

For Beatrice, returning as a coach is a chance to give back to a program that helped shape her future and to inspire students as they begin shaping theirs.

LAUNCHCoaches

Marquette University

Carleen Freesmeier

Mary Kay

Sandra Hoeft

Milliman

Jonathan Wood

Scott Weltz

Milwaukee Tool

Anthony Krotiak

Brennen Gleason

Caleb Colbert

Charles Laning

Chris Coleman

Connor Sprague

Corey Kluge

Daniel Medeiros

Erik Fischer

Hunter Prins

Jacob Rosenthal

Jacob Wescott

James Moran

John Cameron

Jonathan Kasun

Joshua Turner

Julian Carvalho

Kyle Lee

Manas Mahaddalkar

Michael Rinaldi

Natasha Moser

Naveen Sivasubramanian

Nikki Yelmene

Nolan Ott

Milwaukee Tool

Oscar Garcia

Pete Johnson

Peter Roser

Rachel Zuern

Robert Stewart

Ryan Spencer

Ryan Williams

Sabrina Wiatr

Sarah Miller

Sarah Westphal

Sean Casey

Sofia Ricker

Steve Tworek

Sudishna Karne

Taher Ujjainwala

Zoltan Polik

MLG Capital

Aaron Krolikowski

Evan Dreger

Moreland OBYGN

Adrienne Bryant

Mosaic Creative Studios

Megan Kitz-Ward

Stephanie Rodgers

MS Run the US

Carrie Berg

MTL Holdings

Kevin Schwartz

Mary Capron

Mike Walker

My Class 101

Teege Mettille

MYSO

Joe Phillips

Shana Baldassi

NARI

Chris Grow

Tom Gies

Network Health

Mushir Hassan

Neudesic

Nate Lasnoski

Northshore Health

Jennifer Rauch

Perry Kreiss

PrimalMKE

Scott Sievewright

REACH

David Binder

James Villa

Katie Hulce

LAUNCHCoaches

Rundell Redesign

Jennifer Rundell

ScentHound

Riley Scharnek

Scouting America

Chad Sorce

Service Learning

Meenakshi Ramasubramanian

Small Business Milwaukee

Kimberly Hughes

Tracy Champagne

Team Awesome Coaching

Katie Rasoul

Team Rehab

Spencer Wall

Mackenzie Rondeau

TEKSystems

Jeremy Lipusch

Magdaleny Soberanis

Marvin Wint

Nathan Hajder

Tree House Child and Family

Center

Koko Cooper

Trench Training

Joel Nellis

Steve Stark

Two3Solutions

Kyle Fritz

VEREGY

Sean Reti

Waukesha County

Amber Botsch

Ashley Fischer

Jen Reinke

Natalie Durr

Waukesha Rotary

Lynn Sigfred

Jackie Rynish-Knapp

Marie Loeffler

WCTC

Phyllis King

Wilson Center

Bridget Munson

Erica Wilkinson

Wisconsin Sports Performance

Stephen Linzmeier

AWSA

Joe Schroeder

FutureTeacherMentors

That you to our LAUNCH Future Teacher Mentors for hosting our students in their classrooms!

Brookfield Central

Jennie Katrichis

Shannon Maki

Jonathan Mroz

Scott O'JedaHestekin

Jamie Silver

Gina Tieman

Brookfield East

Rachel Broge

Mike Carini

Darcie Fellmeth

Kevin Gleeson

Mike Greuel

Abby Grimm

Jacki Jankowski

Paige Lightner

Tyler Saxton

Stacey SteilAnderson

Amber Stroik

Kate Woodson

Kellie Yurk

Brookfield Elementary

Jeffrey Karbowski

Kate Marx

Lauren Radosevich

Carolyn Sosalla

Kate Stencel

Ashley Vongnarath

Brookfield Elementary

Allison Vosters

Holly Zahn

Emilee Deck

Jennie Nellis

Burleigh Elementary

Susan Chartier

Julie Ciborosky

Lauren Davies

Marlo DenticeJohnson

Jean Doucette

Johnell Eales

Nicole Fitzgerald

Emma Gooding

Michael Goodman

Betsy Heun

Katie Hillig

Kara Johnson

Evelyn Luy

Emily Mankowski

Abby Meyer

David Peterson

Christian Pleister

Megan Reuter

Jen Scheunemann

Ally Schnier

Aimee Simek

Jacqueline Topp

Jacquie Vraney

Dixon Elementary

Jacqueline Durham

Holly Eastman

Jill Frydach

Dixon Elementary

Sheila Hamill

Elise Hetzel

Amy Jacobson

Emma Jankowski

Julia Richardson

Luke Sadowski

Amber Serath

Eisenhower Elementary School

Marissa Hallstrom

Darby Millard

Elizabeth Scheer

Elmbrook District Office

Amie Farley

Robert Hall

Emily Greiber

Mark Hansen

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BEATRICE LAUFER

Brookfield East (‘20) Hucke Exteriors

Marketing Coordinator

Paying It Forward: Launching Careers

from Inside the Industry

As a LAUNCH student, Beatrice Laufer discovered what it looked like to solve real-world problems. One of her most memorable projects was working with Milwaukee Tool to develop ideas for making its district offices more sustainable.

"It allowed us to be creative and think of meaningful, feasible ways the company could make small but effective changes," she said.

Beyond the project itself, LAUNCH gave Beatrice an early understanding of how concepts learned in the classroom are applied in professional settings. That experience proved valuable as she moved into college and began her career.

Today, Beatrice has returned to LAUNCH as a professional coach. Looking back, she recognizes how much the program influenced her educational journey and helped her discover a career path. That perspective allows her to connect with students in a unique way.

"It is amazing to see all the creative ideas students come up with and the passion they bring to their projects," she said.

Beatrice believes the involvement of local businesses and alumni is a key part of LAUNCH's success. She still remembers the projects she completed and the mentors who guided her along the way experiences that helped her learn about different industries and build connections within the community.

As a coach, one piece of advice she shares often is to embrace public speaking. While final presentations can feel intimidating, she reminds students that the confidence and communication skills they develop now will benefit them long after LAUNCH ends.

For Beatrice, returning as a coach is a chance to give back to a program that helped shape her future and to inspire students as they begin shaping theirs.

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