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Stefanie Madsen, Traci Lerch, Joe Buttweiler, Jeff Loats and Spencer Stensrude spoke at the event.

A number of thank you’s and details of future plans were exchanged as North Iowa Area Community College honored 2007-08 scholarship donors and student recipients at a recognition luncheon on Friday.  

 “We want to celebrate the success of our student scholarship recipients and deeply thank our scholarship donors,” Dr. Michael Morrison (retired 2008), NIACC president, said.  “Their kindness will significantly impact the lives of students in North Iowa. We are very fortunate to have such great friends of the College.”

The recognition program featured comments from Joe Buttweiler, member of the Will F. Muse Scholarship Committee and editor of the Globe Gazette.

 "We care deeply about the communities we serve and want the best for them and the people who live in them. Giving money to help defray students’ cost of higher education is an investment in our community,” Joe said.  “There are countless worthy causes, but I can't think of a better one than investing in the education of young people who have talents they want to develop.”

The Will F. Muse Scholarship Fund was established by the last will and testament of Mrs. Ralph (Elizabeth Muse) Norris in memory of her father.  This scholarship has touched the lives of hundreds of college students.  For the 2007-08 academic year alone, over 200 students, attending NIACC and other accredited institutions, were awarded a Will F. Muse Scholarship. 

Several student scholarship recipients also spoke at NIACC’s scholarship recognition luncheon.

Jeff Loats, an athletic training major from Belmond, was very grateful for his scholarship and the opportunities it provided him.  Jeff received the Mrs. John (Mildred) McMenimen Memorial Scholarship.

“Receiving this scholarship has made me really grateful toward scholarship donors.  It shows me that if you work hard and do things right that you will eventually be rewarded for it,” Jeff said.  "I believe it is important to provide scholarships for students because it gives students something to work toward.  Scholarships can also provide extra motivation for students to work harder at getting better grades or keeping their grades high."

Jeff is active in basketball at NIACC and plans to attend Iowa State University after graduating from NIACC.

Traci Lerch, an elementary education major from DeWitt, explained that attending NIACC has enabled her to experience the kindness of scholarship donors and make her college experience complete.  Traci received the NIACC Athletics Scholarship.

“Because I received a softball scholarship I am not forced to balance a job, school and the activities I am involved in. It allows me to spend more time concentrating on academics, athletics and activity involvement,” Traci said.  "A scholarship donor is not only donating to a student for a scholarship, but is donating to the community and economy, because scholarship recipients will one day be in the working world and returning the favor."

Traci plans to transfer to St. Ambrose University in Davenport and major in elementary special education.

Spencer Stensrude, a business finance major from Lake Mills, noted that the kindness of scholarship donors has allowed him to get an education and experience college life as well.  Spencer received the John and Mary Pappajohn Scholarship.

“I like to look at a scholarship as a bonus.  Scholarships are great to keep kids working toward academic excellence.  A scholarship donor is a very respected person.  It is such a selfless act to give money to a complete stranger to help them get ahead in their own life.  I also hope that someday I will be successful enough to be part of such a beneficial program,” Spencer said.

Spencer plans to attend Buena Vista University and pursue a career as an entrepreneur.

Stefanie Madsen, a counseling major from Rembrandt, felt that scholarships allowed her to avoid college debt.  Stefanie received the Kenneth A. Loeb Memorial Scholarship.

“By receiving a scholarship I feel that I have more time to focus on my academic success and to be a part of NIACC.  I’m involved in things such as student senate, student ambassadors and a resident assistant at the dorms. Without a scholarship it would be hard to be a part of these activities and try to work a full time job to earn some money,” Stefanie said.

Stefanie plans to transfer to Iowa State University and follow her dream of working in a school district as a counselor to help children who are at risk achieve great success.

As the cost of higher education continues to increase, so does the need for student financial assistance in the forms of loans, grants and scholarships.  Scholarship donations help students keep their borrowing to a minimum.  While the College experiences great support from groups such as the Muse Norris Foundation and other donors each year, the need remains for private support of the NIACC Foundation.

“Our donors have provided a great start in our effort to increase the Foundation endowment to provide financial aid to deserving students,” Jamie T. Zanios, NIACC Foundation director, said.  “As the cost of education has increased, the need for financial help to deserving students is even more critical.  These donors set an example to others on how they might support our youth.”

For more information on how to help the College acknowledge deserving students, please contact the NIACC Foundation at 641-422-4386.

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