Two of these finalists won a
 FREE year of college at NIACC!
 

Justin Scott	2009-2010 Winners Justin and Amy will receive  full-tuition & fees at NIACC for the 2009-2010 academic year.	Amy Graven
Each of the three contestants below will receive a $1,000 scholarship at NIACC for the 2009-2010 academic year.
Krista O'Geary	Lesile Lensing	Marcy Bitner
[ Click a name or picture above to read the entries and learn more about the finalists. ]

 

Sponsored by:

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The five finalists and their entries:

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Amy Graven

Why I Deserve A College Makeover:

After graduating from high school, I attended NIACC and received my A.A. degree with plans to continue on to a university. However, personal life choices made me take a detour from my professional aspirations. Since then, I got married, had two children, and put my education on the back burner; however, I have continually demonstrated a love for lifelong learning while working as a receptionist in the medical field. I find myself swimming in boredom while I work and yearn to do more for the patients. Becoming a registered nurse would fulfill my desire to expand and utilize the knowledge that I have gained from my job.

I have always told myself that I would return to school later in life. Many enrollment dates have come and gone, and I found myself making excuses to avoid each one. Recently, I have found balance in my life and feel confident that it is time to continue my pursuit of a nursing degree, ultimately serving northern Iowa citizens in living healthier lives.

We have all been impacted by the current economy, so returning to school would be impossible without financial assistance. With the costs of raising a family and everyday living, my dreams of becoming a nurse and bettering myself academically have again been pushed aside. A NIACC extreme makeover would enable me to not only improve myself professionally, but also better my family and the community.

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Justin Scott

Why I Deserve A College Makeover:

Recently I realized how important education is. I dismissed high school, using childcare as an excuse. Ten years after working labor-intensive jobs, struggling, and stagnation I needed change. While completing my GED I found new things about myself, such as how I test and a love for reading and writing.

Formerly an education appeared more costly than just tuition. My son was born my senior year of high school and his mom was unfit. I was seventeen, working, and a dad. Stress caused my grades to suffer. Using parenthood as an excuse was the most selfish thing I did. I didn’t understand that lacking education would affect my kids as it has.

Parenthood, working, and falling short caused depression. I masked it with drugs, justifying it because I wasn’t losing my kids like others. Really, I was disappointed in what I became, an addict. Even worse was that my son saw everything.

Since high school I’ve had three kids, and overcame a serious drug problem. I’ve been sober for over two years without treatment. Since then I’ve completed my GED, got engaged, and most importantly my kids seem happier. These changes are part of my personal makeover. I never thought I would want or get the chance to go to college. After my GED I decided I want to work in accounting. Now there’s another step toward a complete makeover, continued education. Attending NIACC would show my children to value education and would open opportunities for me upon graduating.


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  Krista O'Geary

Why I Deserve A College Makeover:

I can't say that I am any more or less deserving than any other hard working applicant. Having an opportunity at furthering my education would benefit me and my young daughter greatly. I am a 37 year old woman that is in dire need of a change. Due to divorce, I had to give up a very promising career that would have provided myself and my daughter Jayden a decent chance at living a fairly comfortable life. With the unemployment rates so high, I find myself an underdog in the job market, due to not having a college degree. I have some college credits and it has been my dream to complete a degree in Accounting. I feel that being a recipient of this award would be just what I need to start a new and fulfilling career. A career that would allow me to provide a positive and comfortable future for myself and Jayden without having to rely on public assistance and child support. I want to be able to show my daughter that it is possible to rebuild your life. I want something for Jayden and myself to be proud of.


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 Lesile Lansing

Why I Deserve A College Makeover:

My name is Leslie Lensing, I am forty-one and ready to move onto a new journey in life. A NIACC extreme makeover would be wonderful to start this new experience. Raising my family has always been the first priority in my life. Now my children have grown and moved onto there own lives, as I will do the same.

My education ended when I was fifteen and the journey of motherhood started. At such a young age it was too difficult to continue school with the struggles of keeping a roof over our heads and food on the table. My first husband and I were married when I was eighteen. After the birth of my second daughter I was unable to have children at the young age of twenty-one. I was blessed becoming a mother so young and good at it. Unfortunly I was too young to understand the true meaning of a marriage and it did not survive.

I remarried fifteen years ago and once again blessed to still have my marriage. Ten years ago I got a phone call saying my husband was in a bad explosion. When arriving at the hospital I was told that they were flying him to Mayo. They told me that I should say my good byes because he was very critical. I never said good bye…. He was left with a arm amputated, spent three years in a wheel chair, five years in surgeries and now living his life to the fullest. As torn and broken as he was, many times his eyes saw clearer than mine did. He is an inspiration to me.

Now it is time for me to live my life to the fullest. I will start NIACC this fall, working toward a career that I will have passion for. I want to help better not only my life but lives of others by working in the human services field. My husband and I are financially struggling and a year paid at NIACC would be... Once again, a blessing.


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Marcy Bitner

Why I Deserve A College Makeover:

I have spent the past ten years as a military wife, sacrificing my own career dreams in order to support my husband's job as a soldier.  During three deployments, our children always knew that I would be at home, doing my best to be both "mom" and "dad" for them.  My days were spent volunteering at church, school, and for the Army.  I wasn't paid in money, but was rewarded by learning many life lessons, most importantly, that you can't put a price tag on the gift of helping others.

In late May, I will be moving back to North Iowa as a single mom.  I must now return to school so that I can provide for my children.  I have always wanted to be a nurse and will now pursue this dream.  I am anxious to return to America and specifically, North Iowa.  I don't believe I truly appreciated what it means to be an American until living in Europe.  In my mid-30s, I also now really appreciate my rural upbringing.  I am so proud to be a farmer's daughter.  I know that the values that I learned at home as a child will be the things I need to lean on the most, now more than ever: hard work, persistence, family, and faith.  I look forward to using these ideals at NIACC; the place where I will start my next chapter.

Thank you for taking the time to read my application. 

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Read the Official Rules
The deadline to enter was May 30, 2009.

What is EXtreme Makeover: College Edition?

EXtreme Makeover: College Edition is an easy way to makeover your life with a new education! Contestants wrote a 250 word essay telling us why their life needs or deserves an educational makeover. Then, a panel of judges selected five finalists. The final step is for the public to vote on who is in need of the Extreme Makeover: College Edition. That’s it – all five finalists will receive something!

When should I enter?

Entry essays for EXtreme Makeover: College Edition were accepted through May 28, 2009.

Who can enter Extreme Makeover: College Edition?

If you’re at least 23 years-old and haven’t taken a NIACC credit class in the past three years, you’re eligible.

How do I enter EXtreme Makeover: College Edition?

The deadline to enter was Wednesday, May 27, 2009. 

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Who can I contact for financial aid information?

NIACC Financial Management Advisor
500 College Drive
Mason City, Iowa 50401
641-422-4417 or toll-free 1-888-466-4222, ext. 4417
www.niacc.edu/admission/finaid.html
Title IV School Code: 001877

Other Financial Aid Web Sites

• FAFSA on the web – www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Fastweb nationwide scholarship search – www.fastweb.com
• Financial Aid information page – www.finaid.org
• Iowa College Student Aid Commission – www.state.ia.us/collegeaid

Going Back To School @ NIACC

If you think going back to school sounds good, but you don’t know where to start, just call our

• Admissions Office at 641-422-4245 or toll-free at 1-888-466-4222, ext. 4245.

One of our Admissions Representatives will walk you through the steps you can take to an educated future.

Choose NIACC First to makeover your life!

EXtreme Makeover: College Edition Official Rules

The deadline to vote is Friday, June 19 at 12:00 Noon

NIACC…Where You Want To Go

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