Dollars for Scholars presents fine dining for higher education

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

More than 130 people enjoyed some fine dining at the Elks Lodge Friday evening, all the while generating funds for higher education.

“We had a great turnout,” said Kim Wendel of Charles City Area Dollars for Scholars. “We had a full house — it sold out.”

This is the third year Dollars for Scholars has put on the dinner event to raise funds for the scholarships and increase awareness of opportunities for financial benevolence.

“We’ve grown a little bit every year,” Wendel said. “I think we’ve generated seven new scholarships just from this evening.”

Scholarship amounts will range from $500 to $3,000 this year and will go to students participating in any post-secondary educational endeavor — four-year colleges, community colleges, beautician schools, mechanic schools, online courses, etc. The money is distributed in the second semester post-high school.

Charles City High School seniors as well as local area seniors who are home-schooled or who attend the Floyd Gospel Lighthouse Academy are eligible to fill out an application for a scholarship. Wendel said up to 60 students usually apply.

The meal Friday featured homemade cavatelli with marinara and/or homemade garlic sausage, arranged by Shawn Benningsdorf, head chef at the Aposto restaurant in Des Moines. The culinary skills of Charles City alumni Cory Wendel, Kim Wendel’s son, also contributed in the kitchen.

Cady Mead worked alongside the two chefs with Comet Cafe students from Charles City High School, who helped prepare, provided table service and helped clean up. Mead is the family consumer science teacher at the high school.

After the meal, entertainment was provided by the Charles City High School Speech Department. Erik Hoefer emceed the event.

“This is the first time Erik has been the emcee,” Wendel said. “He’s been fantastic.”

An auction was led by auctioneer Jared Hegtvedt.

“Our auction has surpassed what we had last year — it probably doubled last year, so that’s been awesome,” Wendel said.

Charles City Area Dollars for Scholars is an affiliate of Scholarship America, a national organization that aims to increase the number of students receiving scholarships and the amount of scholarship monies awarded to local students.

Since the program’s inception, Charles City’s local chapter has awarded $263,765 to nearly 623 graduates of the Charles City Community High School and the Carrie Lane Alternative High School.

“The community support has been great,” Wendel said.