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From North Iowa Area Community College, www.niacc.edu Foundation News Ref. 3099 “Watching our student scholarship recipients greet and thank the scholarship donors that have made much of their college success possible is such a treat!” Dr. Debra Derr, NIACC president, said. “The pure generosity of scholarship donors is reflected in students at NIACC every day. As such great friends of the College, donors do more than just help students pay for school; they help students shape their lives.” The recognition program featured comments from Doug Opheim, RSM McGladrey chief U.S. operations officer, who founded the Opheim Family Scholarship. "NIACC was a great experience for me…it was a great first couple of years of college, one that I look back at very fondly,” Opheim said. “I set a goal many years ago to give back to the school and provide opportunities for Mason City High School students to also attend NIACC. It is difficult and expensive for students to attend college. NIACC is a great school and it is important to provide opportunities. I believe it is important to remember your roots and to give back to the organizations who helped you succeed. That is a very rewarding feeling individually and I would encourage anyone contemplating being a scholarship donor to consider that.” Several student scholarship recipients also spoke at NIACC’s scholarship recognition luncheon. Ashley Alonzo, a secondary education major from Osage, explained that attending NIACC has enabled her to experience the kindness of scholarship donors and continue to provide for her family. Alonzo received the Delta Kappa Gamma XI Chapter Scholarship. “One of my greatest fears when I started back to school was how am I going to pay for this while still helping to support a family? Scholarships were my answer and are the answer for many students just like me,” Alonzo said. “Without the generosity of scholarship donors, many students would find themselves deep in student loan debt. Every scholarship that is made available goes to a student that is not only deserving but also deeply appreciative of the donor’s kindness.” When Alonzo graduates from NIACC, she plans to enroll in the secondary education program at Buena Vista University and pursue a career as a high school teacher in North Iowa. Alex Ausenhus, a liberal arts major from Nora Springs, was very grateful for his scholarship and the opportunities it provided him. Ausenhus received an Athletic Scholarship and the Betty Geer Scholarship. “These scholarships have opened many doors for me at NIACC. I have been able to continue my education beyond high school. It has also allowed me to live on campus and play baseball,” Ausenhus said. “In these tough economic times, scholarship donors allow students the opportunity to fulfill their dreams without burying themselves in debt. Education is a necessity, and without these scholarships, some students may not have the opportunity to achieve their goals.” After graduating from NIACC, Ausenhus plans to attend Iowa State University to major in Architecture. Nora Benjamin, a social work major from Oakdale, Minn., noted that the kindness of scholarship donors has allowed her to get an education and experience college life as well. Benjamin received the 75th Anniversary Scholarship. “Having received a scholarship for music has helped because that amount of money that is going toward my education is just a little less that I have to stress about,” Benjamin said. “In the past many kids have had help from their parents in paying for college and had jobs that might make a dent in paying for college; however, now a huge number of my friends have parents that are out of work, and when it comes to them getting a job to help pay for their college even that can be challenging. When people give money for one of these students to go to college, it means all the less debt that the student will need to go into.” After graduating from NIACC, Benjamin plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa for a Bachelor’s degree in social work and then earn her Master’s degree from Mankato State University in rehabilitation counseling. Scott Byers, a secondary education major from Forest City, felt that scholarships allowed him to avoid college debt and focus on his studies. Byers received an Area 2 High School Scholarship, a Robert and Lois Bergland Scholarship, a John and Mary Pappajohn Scholarship and a NIACC LINK Scholarship. “The scholarships I’ve received have had a huge impact on my success at NIACC. I have been able to cut back on my hours at work without the added financial pressure. This has allowed me to concentrate fully on my classes and focus on completing my coursework,” Byers said. “For many, scholarships are a huge determining factor of attending college at all. Scholarships give people the opportunity to better themselves and reach their fullest potential through continuing their education.” After Byers graduates from NIACC, he plans to transfer to the University of Northern Iowa to earn his Bachelor’s degree followed by a Master’s degree in education administration. Byers plans to teach high school social studies and then pursue a career in high school administration. 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 and individuals 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 assistance resulting in access and affordability for our students,” Jamie T. Zanios, vice president of institutional advancement and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, said. “We continue to watch the cost of education rise, and the need for financial help to students is more critical than ever. Our scholarship donors set an example to others on how they might support our youth in pursuing their dreams.” For more information on how to help the College acknowledge deserving students, please contact the NIACC Foundation at 641-422-4386. ##### © Copyright North Iowa Area Community College Marketing and Community Relations 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401 641-422-4295 or 1-888 GO NIACC ext.4295, www.niacc.edu
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