Nearly 800 attendees gather to celebrate leading K4-12 school’s success and honor Ted and Mary Kellner, All-In Milwaukee for leadership in city’s education landscape.
Milwaukee (May 12, 2025) – St. Augustine Preparatory Academy (Aug Prep), a high-performing K4-12
Christian school in Milwaukee, raised a total of $3.2 million from the nearly 800 community and business
leaders who gathered to celebrate Aug Prep students and offer their generous support at the school’s
annual scholarship gala on Friday night.
Aug Prep raised $1.7 million from a record crowd of gala attendees and sponsors, and the total was
generously matched by $1.5 million from an anonymous donor. Together, these funds will be used to
support the needs of current Aug Prep students; every year, the school must raise approximately $2,500
per student beyond what is provided by state funding.
Aug Prep’s largest annual event highlighted the continued excellence and momentum of the top K4-12
school in Milwaukee and #2 K4-12 school in the state. Aug Prep earned the highest possible rating, five
stars, on the most recent Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) report card — indicating that
Aug Prep significantly exceeds expectations for student outcomes. Aug Prep has exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations on its state report card every year since it was founded in 2017.
“We are grateful for the generous and abundant support we continue to receive from the Milwaukee
community,” said Gus Ramirez, who co-founded Aug Prep with his wife, Becky. “Aug Prep supporters
know, as we do, that the best way to level the playing field for Milwaukee students and families is
providing access to a high-quality education. We have been doing that here since we founded Aug Prep
in 2017, and will further amplify our impact with the launch of Aug Prep North in 2026. When at
capacity, these two campuses will shape the future of our city, 400-500 young men and women every
year who are equipped to make meaningful and lasting contributions to our workforce and our
community.”
Building on the theme of “Anchored in Hope, Eyes on the Horizon” the event showcased Aug Prep
students who overcame obstacles to find hope and step towards their futures. The gala also honored
philanthropists Ted and Mary Kellner, along with college completion partner All-In Milwaukee, for their
support of Aug Prep and leadership in Milwaukee’s education landscape.
The Kellners, who have generously given extensive support to Aug Prep and many other
education-centered philanthropic endeavors across Milwaukee, were presented with the 2025 Founders
Award. All-In Milwaukee, a college completion program that supports high-potential, limited-income
Milwaukee students – currently including 66 Aug Prep graduates — was recognized with the 2025 Friends Award. Aug Prep’s 2024 WIAA Division 3 State Champion Boys’ Soccer team also surprised founder GusRamirez with a commemorative championship ring.
“As I shared at the gala on Friday, hope is alive at Aug Prep,” said Abby Andrietsch, Chief Executive Officer of Aug Prep. “And we know that does not happen by accident. Hope comes from intentional action. It comes through the tireless work of our teachers, the encouragement provided by our families, and the resilience that our students show every day. And it comes through the generous support of the
Milwaukee community, including leaders such as Ted and Mary Kellner and impactful organizations such
as All-In Milwaukee. Our students don’t just find hope at Aug Prep, they are hope – both at Aug Prep and
within our broader community.”
Founded on four pillars – faith, family, academics and arts/athletics – an Aug Prep education focuses on
equipping the mind, body and soul of each child with excellence.
Aug Prep continues to deliver one of the state’s highest rates for student academic growth, based on the
most recent DPI report card. Aug Prep’s growth score of 90.7 is equal to or higher than 98.8 percent of
K-12 schools in the state and 95.4 percent of all schools in the state.
This excellence in education and student development is making an impact on more students every year.
Originally launched with nearly 600 students in 2017, Aug Prep South has grown to serve just under
2,200 predominantly low-income students in just eight years, adding nearly 600 new students for the
2024-25 school year. Aug Prep plans to serve 2,350 students in 2025-26.
Meanwhile, construction of Aug Prep’s upcoming North Campus is well underway, transforming the
former Cardinal Stritch University campus into a second school: Aug Prep North. On track to open for the
2026-27 school year, Aug Prep North will emulate the success and extend the impact of Aug Prep’s
founding South Campus. The Ramirez Family and Husco, a lead benefactor for Aug Prep, have committed$77 million toward the total $102 million investment to create Aug Prep North, with fundraising efforts continuing toward the goal of raising the remaining $25 million. Opening in fall 2026 with just over 300 students in grades K4-6th and 9th, the North Campus will grow to serve 1,000-plus students in grades K4-12. To learn more about how you can support the vision for Aug Prep and the new North Campus, please visit augprep.org/comingsoon or reach out to [email protected].
About Aug Prep
St. Augustine Preparatory Academy (Aug Prep) was founded in 2017 with a vision to develop its students
to be leaders of tomorrow known by their strength of character, courage, intellect, impactful
contributions and their faith. Through its four pillars – faith, family, academics and arts/athletics – an Aug
Prep education focuses on equipping the mind, body and soul of each child with excellence.
Aug Prep is proud to be the #1 rated K4-12 school in Milwaukee and the #2 K4-12 school statewide.
Every year since inception, Aug Prep exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations on the State of
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) report card, with student academic growth in the top
5% statewide.
Its 130-person class of 2025 has already surpassed $23.5 million in scholarships-to-date. Of those
students, over 90% will be first-generation college students. 100% of the Aug Prep class of 2025 was
accepted into 2- or 4-year colleges or the military.
Today, the school’s founding South Campus serves just under 2,200 students, with 99% of students
qualifying for the Milwaukee or Wisconsin Parental Choice Program and approximately 8 percent
participating in the Special Needs Scholarship Program.
More information can be found at augprep.org or augprep.org/annualreports.