Former Abbotsford Substitute Teacher Receives Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award

Monday, March 27th, 2023 -- 12:01 PM

Congratulation to Mary Nikolay who was nominated by the School District of Abbotsford for the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award.

Mary Nikolay was a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison and taught social studies  at Wausau High School.  She also taught as a substitute teacher for many years in Spencer, Colby, and Abbotsford.

Her late husband, Frank, had a successful law career and served on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. In the fall of 2020 Mary came to the aid of the School District of Abbotsford. They, as a district, were in the process of receiving a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for $2.2 million dollars.

This was a matching grant and the District would be responsible for coming up with the remaining $4.5 million dollars for a $6.7 million dollar addition to the school, which included three classrooms, large conference/meeting room, multipurpose gymnasium, collaboration space, and community safe room.

The project cost had risen due to COVID-19 and inflation. At the same time, it was discovered that the District’s swimming pool had baseball sized holes in the plumbing and it needed major work.

The pool remodel would cost the district nearly $800,000. The District was faced with the decision of which of these capital projects to complete, if any.  The community was surveyed and both projects were supported by the community.

A fundraising campaign was started to help with the efforts.  Mary was quick to step into action and donated $100,000 to the swimming pool project.  She then challenged others in the community to do their part to support the projects.

Mary, 87 years old at the time, personally called many of the larger businesses in the city.  When all was said and done, just over $700,000 was donated to the projects. This would not have happened without Mary leading the way.

The pool project was completed in January 2021 and the FEMA addition is scheduled to be completed in June 2023. Mary also sponsors $50,000 in scholarships annually to graduating seniors of Abbotsford High School.

She provides a $25,000 scholarship to a student going to a Wisconsin Technical School and $25,000 to a student attending a University of Wisconsin school. The District is forever thankful for Mary’s generosity.  She is a true child advocate and is extremely supportive of public education.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.