67 graduating CCHS seniors share Dollars for Scholars scholarships

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Charles City Area Dollars for Scholars distributed more than $50,000 to Charles City students at its Scholarship Award Presentation on Wednesday, May 1.

The program began with a welcome from board Vice-President Melanie Johanningmeier, who told a brief history about Dollars for Scholars and introduced the featured guest speakers of the night, Charles City graduates Marlowe and Jay Jung.

Each of the Jungs shared the story of their life and careers as they left and returned to their hometown and offered insights about their experiences as the soon-to-be graduates prepare for their own journeys.

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you,” said Marlowe Jung, who emphasized the importance of hard work and risk taking. “What you get out is a direct result of what you put in.”

Jay Jung, who noted that he did not receive a scholarship when he graduated in 1999, said he was happy to see how the program has grown and that he is now able to offer a scholarship for students who dedicate their time to volunteering.

“At the end of the day, nobody asks me about my GPA, but they do remember what people do for their community,” said Jay Jung.

Scholarship awards were presented by Julie DeBower, representing the Dollars For Scholars board, or by persons representing specific scholarships.

• Receiving $500 Charles City Dollars for Scholars Scholarships this year were Jordan Young, Jordan Foster, Kayden Kasemeier, Shayne Groesbeck, Keenen Wiley, Christopher Stock, Gabriel Rogstad, Allen David, Makenna Baker-Neve, Ivan Gopei, Jayden Poyner, and Kristen Bachman.

• Receiving a $500 Floyd Endowment Scholarship were Mason Miller and Emma Miller. Emma was also the lucky winner of a drawing for a $100 Charles City Dollars for Scholars Scholarship.

• Keegan Bollman received a $750 Floyd Endowment Scholarship.

• Christopher Barritt received a $500 Lessin Supply Co. Scholarship.

• Isaiah Montuya received a $500 HyVee Food Store Scholarship.

• Clayton Wright received a $500 L&J Industries Scholarship.

• Dylan LaPolice received a $500 Diversified Fastening Systems Scholarship.

• Evan Salinas received a $500 Dorothy Hook Memorial Scholarship.

• Ariana Estrada received a $500 Ben Lynch Law Scholarship.

• Kaden Buseman received a $500 CCHS Class of 1971 Scholarship.

• Rex Spieker received a $500 Steve Shankland Memorial Scholarship.

• Shea Bell received a $500 Farm Bureau Financial Services Leadership Award Scholarship.

• Nicholas Bormann received a $500 First Citizens Bank Scholarship.

• Micah Hillhouse received a $600 First Citizens Bank Staff Scholarship.

• Receiving $750 Charles City Dollars for Scholars Scholarships were Lillian Egan, Alexis VerMeer, Destiny Vargas, Rylee DeBoest, and Keegan Bollman.

• Colton Anderegg received a $500 Floyd Endowment Scholarship and a $250 Otto’s Oasis Scholarship.

• Ameleah McKenna received a $500 Gene Hall Journalism Scholarship along with a $250 Charles City Dollars for Scholars Scholarships.

• Wyatt Schradle received a $500 Stewart Realty Scholarship and a $300 Family Community Credit Union Scholarship.

• Carter Burkhardt received a $500 Sisson and Associates Scholarship.

• Madison Lensing received a $500 Sisson and Associates Scholarship and a $500 Zoetis Scholarship.

• Adrian Ibarra received a $500 Zoetis Scholarship and a $500 Class of 1969 Scholarship.

• Emily Jones and Avery Schoeck each received a $1,000 Charles Theatre Scholarship.

• Jack Hanson received a $750 Cambrex Scholarship and a $250 Charles City Dollars for Scholars Scholarship.

• Alexandra Wohlers received a $750 Cambrex Scholarship and a $250 Stephen Davidson Memorial Scholarship.

• Morgan Bettesworth received the first ever $500 Ron Hoffman Memorial Scholarship and a $500 State Farm Insurance Scholarship.

• Lauren Staudt receved a $500 Central Park Dentistry Scholarship and a $500 Lions Club Scholarship.

• Zadie Pttman received a $500 Charles City Elks Lodge #418 Scholarship and a $500 Charles City Dollars for Scholars Scholarship.

• David Wandro received a $500 Kayla LaBarge Memorial Scholarship.

• Claire Girkin was named the recipient of a $1,000 Roland and Patricia LaBarge Memorial Scholarship.

• Hannah Hoffman, Isaac Thompson, and Josiah Cunnings each received a $1,000 Floyd County Community Foundation Scholarship.

• Olivia Kreger and Lukas Vance each received a $1,000 Floyd Endowment Scholarship.

• Ava Thompson received a $1,000 Logan Luft Memorial Scholarship.

• Taylor Myhre received a $1,000 Dorie Schmarzo Memorial Scholarship.

• Shelby Effle received a $1,000 Vincent and Jennifer Huegel Scholarship.

• Keyona Flowers received a $1,000 Rich Wielinski Memorial Scholarship.

• Jada Litterer and Keely Collins each received a Victor and Phyllis Meyer Scholarship.

• Mackenzie Zweibohmer received a $1,000 Kip and Judy Hauser Scholarship.

• Anton Dittmer and Jacob Diers each received a $1,000 Freund For The Arts Scholarship.

• Margaret Boss, Madison Haus, Hayden Heyer, Alexander Haus, and Elayna Hemesath each received a $1,000 NextEra Energy Resources Scholarship.

• James Mayhew received a $1,500 Dean Volkes Memorial Scholarship.

• Josette Benning was named the recipient of a $1,500 Charles City Dollars for Scholars Scholarship.

• Taylor Quade received a $2,000 Charles City Dollars for Scholars Scholarship.

In total, $53,750 was given to 67 applicants this year. Charles City Area Dollars for Scholars has awarded $785,050 in scholarships to $1,384 students since 1996.

Johanningmeier thanked the board members and community for contributing to the organization’s growth over the years.

“We would not be able to do this without our community support,” said Johanningmeier.

Dollars For Scholars 2024 Scholarship Donors List 2024:

• NextEra Energy Resources – $5,000.
• Phyllis Meyer – $2,000.
• Bob Freund – $2,000.
• Charles Theatre – $2,000.
• Cambrex Charles City Inc – $1,500.
• Zoetis – $1,000.
• Sisson and Associates, Inc. – $1,000.
• Wendy and Lenny Luft – $1,000.
• Vincent & Jennifer Huegel – $1,000.
• Kay Wielinski – $1,000.
• Kip & Judy Hauser – $1,000.
• Roland & Patricia “Pat” LaBarge Family – $1,000.
• Kayla LaBarge Family – $500.
• Ben Lynch Law – $500.
• Lions Club – $500.
• Dorothy Hook Family (Bruce Eldridge) – $500.
• Farm Bureau Financial Services – $500.
• Central Park Dentistry – $500.
• State Farm Insurance – $500.
• L & J Industries, Inc – $500.
• Lessin Supply Company – $500.
• Class of 1969 – $500.
• Steve Shankland Family – $500.
• Class of 1971 – $500.
• Ron Hoffman Memorials – $500.
• Diversified Fastening Systems – $500.
• Stewart Realty – $500.
• First Citizens Bank Staff – $600.
• First Citizens Bank – $500.
• Charles City Press – $500.
• Family Community Credit Union – $300.
• Ottos Oasis – $250.
• Stephen Davidson Memorial (Kim Weber) – $250.