NEB Scholarship Recipients

National Exchange Bank & Trust is pleased to announce the recipients of the National Exchange Bank 2025 scholarships offered to the children of its employees. Students were judged on articulated financial need, academic achievement, school involvement, work experience, community and volunteer involvement, and a personal statement.  

The scholarships, in partnership with the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, are awarded to the sons and daughters of active National Exchange Bank employees. Renewable scholarships are available for $4,000 per year for a baccalaureate degree and $3,000 per year for a technical college degree. This year’s recipients are: 

Alexis Beger

Alexis Beger of Plymouth recently graduated from Plymouth Comprehensive High School. She is the daughter of Tya Beger, an operations manager at the bank’s Howards Grove office. She will be attending Wisconsin Lutheran College, where she will play basketball and major in nursing. Inspired by the care she once received in her own surgery, Beger aspires to become a nurse anesthetist.

Throughout high school, Beger was active in basketball and soccer, and she joined the Future Business Leaders of America in her senior year. Outside of school, she volunteers for community clean-up initiatives and assists with basketball camps. Her work experience includes roles as a pizza maker at Papa Murphy’s, a barista at Hartman’s Bakery and G Scoops and most recently as a carhop at Chester’s.  

Adelyn Benzinger

Adelyn Benzinger of Fond du Lac graduated from Fond du Lac High School on June 5. She is the daughter of Bob Benzinger, the senior vice president of retail banking based out of the downtown Fond du Lac office. Benzinger plans to attend UW-Madison to pursue a double major in journalism and communications. She aims to work for a large publication someday, focusing on journalism, interviewing and media management to reach diverse audiences effectively.  

In high school, Benzinger was an active member of the Fond du Lac High School Student Council for three years, serving as Head Officer and Social Media Manager for two years. She participated in track and field for four years, earning varsity letters and serving as team captain for one year. Benzinger also joined the Cardinal Singers, served as a Cardinal Community Mentor and played basketball. Her community involvement includes volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sister of Fond du Lac County, Adopt-a-Family, Youth Service Day and blood drives. Her work experience involves roles as a barista and dishwasher at Beans and Bites Cafe and babysitting.  

Jeffrey Freund

Jeffrey Freund of Juneau graduated from Beaver Dam High School. He is the son of Rebecca Freund, a customer service representative at the Mayville office. Freund has committed to attending UW-River Falls to pursue an engineering degree, with aspirations of specializing in mechanical engineering.  

In high school, Freund was involved in football, basketball and baseball, earning numerous awards such as varsity letters, academic all-state and team honors. He also participated in American Legion Post 146 Beaver Dam baseball and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) for three years, serving as vice president and school store manager. Freund’s community activities include volunteering for pizza making at his church, running concessions at the Prairie View PTO Craft Fair, set-up and clean-up at the FFA Toy Show, coaching Beaver Dam youth football and assisting at the Positively Hoops Basketball tournament. His work experience includes lawn care for the Beaver Dam Unified School District.  

Cooper Gilgenbach

Cooper Gilgenbach of Fond du Lac graduated from Fond du Lac High School. He is the son of Todd Gilgenbach, a compliance specialist based out of the bank’s Fond du Lac operations office. Gilgenbach will be attending UW-Milwaukee, where he will pursue a major in journalism.  

Throughout high school, Gilgenbach was actively involved in broadcast journalism through Cardinal TV, Fond du Lac High School’s reporting team. He also volunteered with Noon Kiwanis and gained work experience at Hang 10 Poke and Crumbl Cookie, where he prepared food, took orders and maintained the stores.  

Carabelle Gebhart

Carabelle Gebhart, of St. Cloud, is the daughter of Ryan Gebhart, the vice president of lending at the Mt. Calvary office. Gebhart will be in her second semester of the radiography program at Moraine Park Technical College. Upon completion of the program, Gebhart aspires to become an X-ray technician.  

Gebhart is active at MPTC as a member of the MPTC Radiology Club. She is also involved in her community, volunteering at her church. She has a variety of work experience including roles as cook for B&B Express, resident assistant for Villa Rosa Assisted Living and customer service representative for Henning’s Cheese.  

Meagan Haupt

Meagan Haupt is the daughter of Marcia Haupt, trust and wealth management coordinator based out of the downtown Fond du Lac office. Haupt currently attends Hillsborough Community College in Riverview, Florida, where she will complete her associate’s degree. Upon graduation, Haupt aspires to attend the University of Southern Florida to obtain her bachelor's degree in animal biology or environmental science.  

Haupt is involved in her community as a volunteer at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB) and a bird sanctuary in Tampa, Florida. She has also assisted with a back-to-school drive and donation drive for local animal shelters with the Bay Shore Animal Clinic. Her work experience aligns with her love for animals; she has worked for the Milwaukee County Zoo, Fond du Lac Humane Society, PetStop, Gandy Animal Hospital and Bayshore Animal Clinic.  

Caroline Kluge

Caroline Kluge of Waupun is the daughter of Cheryl Kluge, a retail loan processor based out of the Waupun office. She recently graduated from Waupun High School and has been admitted to UW-Madison, where she will major in business management and minor in finance as she aspires to become an entrepreneur.  

Kluge was involved in several extracurricular activities throughout high school, participating in student council, Key Club and Future Business Leaders of America and playing softball and tennis. She is active in the community, volunteering for the Knights of Columbus fish fry and participating in various volunteer events through student council and Key Club.  

Miranda Mase

Miranda Mase, of Fond du Lac, is the daughter of Pam Mase, a fraud operations specialist based out of the downtown Fond du Lac office. Mase graduated from Fond du Lac High School and plans to attend Moraine Park Technical College to pursue an associate’s degree in graphic design.  

Mase was a member of the yearbook club and Cardinal Community Mentors throughout high school. She is an active member of her church, volunteering for various events. Mase also worked for her church as a bulletin editor.  

Luke Riedeman

Luke Riedeman, of Rosendale, is the son of Jennifer Riedeman, a financial advisor based out of the downtown Fond du Lac office. He graduated from Laconia High School and plans to attend UW-Green Bay, where he will major in computer science. He aspires to pursue a career in software development or cybersecurity.  

Riedeman was a member of the golf and basketball teams, Future Farmers of America, Brandon Tanagers 4-H Club and the National Honor Society throughout high school. He is an active volunteer with Ruby’s Pantry in Oshkosh, and he participated in many community service projects throughout high school including ringing bells for Salvation Army, making cards for veterans, making blankets for the Fond du Lac warming shelter, visiting with residents at the local assisted living facility, community and roadside clean up and raising money for the Brandon Library, Brandon Food Pantry and Brandon Fire Department. For the last two years, Riedeman has worked as a customer service representative and cashier for Kwik Trip.