Rhonda Lee Peil Hoffmann (November 10, 1957 – June 15, 2020) had a passion for art and for helping those in need. This scholarship was established to honor Rhonda’s legacy by supporting students with demonstrated artistic ability who are pursuing postsecondary education in creative fields.  

Rhonda’s career as an artist was not traditional. While studying fine arts at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, she honed her skills in drawing, painting, pottery, and other media. For much of the 1990s, she was Art Director at Interior Systems Incorporated (ISI), a Wisconsin-based commercial interior design and manufacturing company. In that position, she was instrumental in establishing ISI’s art department and making ISI the destination for clients seeking unique custom interiors, particularly those developing themed restaurants and entertainment complexes. One of her most notable projects was the “Solid Gold” McDonald’s, a rock and roll themed McDonald’s that opened in Greenfield, Wisconsin in 1991.

                Rhonda’s post-ISI ventures fused her creative instincts with her interests in business and education. She was a conceptual designer at an architectural firm, a marketing leader at a commercial playground manufacturer, and, for many years, the principal of her own creative marketing and design firm, EnVision. With EnVision, Rhonda made the technological leap from traditional media to computer-based graphic design, spending many years working with clients to develop brand identities and marketing strategies. Rhonda was fearless, a connector, the kind of person who would not hesitate to call a complete stranger to ask for help or collaboration. Because she gave more than she asked in return, this worked more often than not. It was fitting that her final professional role was Director for Strategic Development at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she worked to ensure the college was positioned to grow and educate future generations.

                Rhonda’s life and career evidence the simple truth that defining an “artist” is itself more art than science. For Rhonda, “artist” was not about the job title, but about the creativity brought to the job. This scholarship celebrates Rhonda’s life by supporting students in creative disciplines, broadly defined. To see more of Rhonda’s work, please visit our website.