Charles City Area Dollars for Scholars awards more than $50,000 to high school graduates

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

More than $50,000 was awarded to 50 students recently in a virtual scholarship ceremony by Charles City Area Dollars for Scholars.
The organization gave away $50,225 in 72 different scholarships divided among the students.

“This is $8,000 more than we have ever awarded a graduating class!” said Kathy Herrick, scholarship chairwoman and Dollars for Scholars board member.

Herrick said the board was disappointed it couldn’t hold its annual scholarship reception where the community and donors can gather to honor the recipients, but, “as the last few months have taught us, virtual can be the next best thing.”

The virtual award ceremony is posted on the organization’s website, charlescity.dollarsforscholars.org, and will remain there for several months for viewing, Herrick said.

This year’s Dollars for Scholars recipients and the scholarships they received are:

• Bradley Andrews – Anonymous, $500; Dollars for Scholars, $500 – total $1,000.
• Priscilla Arenas – Stephen Davidson Memorial, $500; Charles City Rotary Club, $500 – total $1,000.
• Tait Arndt – Vincent & Jennifer Huegel, $1,000.
• Phillip Bachman – Anonymous, $500; Dollars for Scholars Founders, $500 – total $1,000.
• Darian Cleveland – Dorie Schmarzo Music, $1,000; Dollars for Scholars, $500 – total $1,500.
• Lauren Connell – Renee Henja Memorial, $1,250; Ottos Oasis, $500 – total $1,750.
• Joslyn Cotton – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Marissa Daniels – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Makenna Davis – Family Community Credit Union, $550; Floyd Dollars for Scholars, $500 – total $1,050.
• Cassie DeBower – Fluhrer Family, $500; Anonymous, $500 – total $1,000.
• Maxwell Deeter – Trent Smith Memorial, $750; Zoetis, $750 – total $1,500.
• Kylie Effle – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Lisabeth Fiser – Dollars for Scholars, $750.
• Teneisha Fisher – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Abril Flores – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Bronson Forsyth – Luft Memorial, $1,000; L & J Industries Inc., $750; Lessin Supply Co., $300 – total $2,050.
• Cassandra Foxen – Anonymous, $500; Dollars for Scholars, $250 – total $750.
• Jacob Frein – Dollars for Scholars, $250; HyVee, $250 – total $500.
• Katie Garcia – Dollars for Scholars, $1,000.
• Kristin George – Dollars for Scholars, $750.
• Astrid Hernandez – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Ingrid Hernandez – Jadon Wulff Memorial, $1,000.
• Norma Hernandez – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Dawson Hinders – Cambrex Charles City Inc., $750; Dollars for Scholars, $250 – total $1,000.
• Dominic Hintgen – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Mason Holmen – Charles City Rotary, $500; First Citizens Bank, $500 – total $1,000.
• Anna Krumwiede – Central Park Dentistry, $500; Dollars for Scholars, $250 – total $750.
• Haley Larson – Jadon Wulff Memorial, $1,000.
• Madison Lincoln – Jadon Wulff Memorial, $1,000.
• Alexandria Litterer – Class of 1969, $750.
• Aaron Paul Montemayor – Kip & Judy Hauser, $750; Farm Bureau Financial Services, $250 – total $1,000.
• Jamie Olerich – Dollars for Scholars, $750.
• Mckenna Oleson – Jadon Wulff Memorial, $1,000.
• Selah Opp – Dollars for Scholars, $1,000.
• Hayden Pleggenkuhle – Rich Wielinski Memorial, $1,000; Trent Smith Memorial, $750 – total $1,750.
• Brahiam Rios-Castaneda – Jadon Wulff Memorial, $1,000.
• Mindi Sande – Floyd Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Makenna Schmiedel – Victor & Phyllis Meyer, $1,000; First Citizens Bank Staff, $825 – total $1,825.
• Nathan Schultz – Charles Theater, $1,750.
• Katherine Schwickerath – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Elliott Sinnwell – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Isaiah Tilton – Dollars for Scholars, $750.
• Lilprayer Toney – Hair Styling Center, $500.
• Leo Trebbien – Roland & Pat LaBarge Memorial, $1,000; Olson & Pump, CPAs, $500; Mike Molstead Motors, $250 – total $1,750.
• Brooklyn Tynan – Dollars for Scholars, $2,500.
• Tania Valle – Dollars for Scholars, $500.
• Alexis Vance – Dean Volkes Memorial, $1,500.
• Abigail Wedeking – Dollars for Scholars, $750.
• Jacie Wink – Charles Theatre, $1,750.
• Emily Woodard – Zoetis, $750; Class of 1979, $550; Charles City Press, $250 – total $1,550.

Herrick said the Charles City Area Dollars for Scholars chapter currently provides scholarships to students from the Charles City High School including the Carrie Lane program, Floyd Gospel Lighthouse Academy and home-schooled students.

“Our local chapter has been awarding scholarships for 24 years,” she said. “Since our inception in 1996, we have distributed approximately $591,250 to 1,160 graduating seniors.”

Scholarships range from $500 to $2,500 and are based on anonymous scoring of applications in the categories of academic achievement, scholastic aptitude, leadership, community service, work experience and need.