Iowa West Foundation Scholars
The Iowa West Foundation, headquartered in Council Bluffs, announced the recipients of 25 scholarships valued at $20,000 each to distinguished area high school students in May 2008.
This is the 11th year the foundation has awarded college scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Each student will receive a $20,000 scholarship to be used over four years at the college or university of his or her choice for tuition and fees.
The scholarship award program is administered by the Southwest Iowa Education Foundation. Students meeting certain requirements and attending high schools in Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties in Iowa, as well as Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties in Nebraska were eligible to apply.
To date, the Iowa West Foundation has funded its educational scholarship program with $5.6 million.
Funding for the foundation comes from investment earnings and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contracted fees from casino operators - Ameristar Casino-Hotel and Harrah’s Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel. IWRA distributes funds to the foundation, which is an independent 501 (c)(3) organization that makes grants in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska.
The Iowa West Foundation is one of the largest community-based private foundations in the Midwest. Its grants have improved the lives of thousands of citizens in more than 100 communities. Much of that has been to education, including scholarships.
Iowa West Foundation’s 2008 scholarship recipients are:
- Brittani Avery, Omaha Central High School, daughter of Lisa and Kelley Avery, University of Nebraska-Omaha, (Technology)
- Brady Blankenship, Glenwood Community High School, son of Kelly Blankenship, and Mike Blankenship, Graceland University, (Business/marketing)
- Brianne Duncan, Thomas Jefferson High School, daughter of Eileen Duncan and Patrick Duncan, University of Iowa, (Nursing)
- Shannon Finken, Tri-Center High School, daughter of LouAnn Finken, University of Nebraska-Omaha, (Pre-business)
- Eric Fjare, Abraham Lincoln High School, son of Mark Fjare and Julie Fjare, Central College, (Undecided)
- Kyle Graham, St. Albert High School, son of Jim Graham and Sheila Graham, University of Kansas, (Chemistry)
- Emily Gutschenritter, Red Oak Community High School, daughter of Jim and Karen Gutschenritter, Buena Vista University, (Science/math)
- Benjamin Hardy, Treynor High School, son of Alan Hardy and Ruth Hardy, University of Iowa, (Biomedical Engineering)
- Steven Hartman, Bryan High School, son of Pam Hartman, University of Nebraska-Omaha, (Theatre)
- Abigail Haugaard, Tri-Center High School, daughter of Tonya Mayer and Thomas Haugaard, Northwest Missouri State University, (Elementary education)
- Hannah Hopson, Lewis Central High School, daughter of Vickie Hopson and Dale Hopson, Nebraska Wesleyan University, (Special education)
- Nicholas Kempton, Lewis Central High School, son of Dee and Mark Kempton, University of Northern Iowa, (Computer science)
- Rebecca Kobs, Walnut Community High School, daughter of Matthew and Sherri Kobs, University of Iowa, (Pharmacy)
- Lisa Minahan, Tri-Center High School, daughter of David and Linda Minahan, Buena Vista University, (Pre-medicine)
- Taylor Neumann, Thomas Jefferson High School, son of Danette Neumann and Steve Neumann, University of Northern Iowa, (Social and behavioral sciences/education)
- Mark Novotny, Riverside High School, son of Tom and Marlene Novotny, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, (Civil engineering)
- Daniel Pattee, AHST High School, son of John Pattee and Connie VonEschen, Iowa State University, (Engineering)
- Stefan Petersen, Audubon High School, son of Dean and Mary Petersen, Buena Vista University, (Math)
- Isaac Schmidt, Treynor High School, son of Robert and Deborah Schmidt, Iowa State University, (Engineering)
- Erin Schreiber, St. Albert High School, daughter of Ken and Pat Schreiber, University of Iowa, (Nursing)
- Emily Sheldon, Sidney High School, daughter of Patrick and Angela Sheldon, Bryan LGH College of Health Sciences, (Nursing)
- Christopher Straka, Abraham Lincoln High School, son of James Straka and Marcie Straka, University of Nebraska-Omaha, (Business)
- Kyle Strohbehn, Treynor High School, son of Ken and Julie Strohbehn, (Undecided)
- Russell Willett, AHST High School, son of Andy and Lisa Willett, Iowa State University, (Engineering)
- Paul Wilson, Clarinda High School, son of Keith and Kristen Wilson, Northwest Missouri State University (Political science/pre-law)