Andrea Kirby Memorial Scholarship Fund

Supporting First-Year Students at Wahlert Catholic High School

Andrea Lee (Welsh) Kirby lived her life rooted in faith, family, and education. As a teacher, mentor, and most recently the Director of Catholic Mission for Holy Family Catholic Schools, Andrea dedicated her life to helping young people deepen their faith and grow into the people God created them to be.

After Andrea’s passing in February 2026 following a short but intense battle with cancer, our family wanted to honor the legacy she left behind. Few things mattered more to Andrea than Catholic education and the formation of young people in faith.

To carry that legacy forward, we are establishing the Andrea Kirby Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will provide an annual scholarship to a student entering their first year at Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque.

The goal of this fund is simple:

ensure that Andrea’s love for faith, family, and Catholic education continues to impact students for generations to come.

Once fully established, the fund will operate as a long-term endowment. Each year, a scholarship will be awarded to a student beginning their journey at Wahlert—helping families afford Catholic education while encouraging young people to grow in faith, leadership, and service.

Andrea spent her career helping others encounter Christ and live out their faith. Through this scholarship, her mission will continue to shape the lives of students she will never meet—but who will benefit from the path she helped create.

We invite friends, family, and members of the Dubuque community to join us in building this lasting legacy.

Every contribution—large or small—helps establish a scholarship that will serve Wahlert students year after year in Andrea’s memory.

All donations will go toward establishing the long-term scholarship fund.