Upper Iowa University awards full-tuition scholarships to 8 "Students of Excellence"
Future UIU freshmen and their parents crowd into the Student Center Ballroom for an academic and activity fair during the recent "Students of Excellence Scholarship" competition day. The students were invited to participate based on their ACT score and high school GPA and competed for the full-tuition scholarships through a timed essay and interview. The University has selected eight recipients for its top scholarship.
FAYETTE, Iowa (March 12, 2011) - Upper Iowa University (UIU) has announced eight winners of the "Students of Excellence Scholarship," who were selected after competing for the University's top scholarship last month. All eight students will be incoming freshmen at the Fayette campus in Fall 2012.
Students were invited to compete for the scholarship if they had earned a 3.5 grade point average in high school and scored a minimum of 26 on the ACT. Recipients were evaluated based on completion of a timed essay and an interview by a panel of students, faculty and staff. The full-tuition scholarships can be renewed for up to four years if the student remains in good academic standing at UIU.
"The Students of Excellence Scholarship competition was created to recognize the best students among the members of each year's incoming freshman class at the Fayette campus," said UIU President Alan G. Walker. "This prestigious scholarship for outstanding students is part of the ongoing transformation of Upper Iowa University as an ascending institution of higher education. UIU is not only transforming itself to better serve students, it is also aggressively pursuing ways to provide affordable, high quality educational programs and to bring in students who are focused on achieving academic and personal success."
Chief Academic Officer David Chown noted that recipients of the scholarship are among the most academically qualified members of the incoming class next fall. "Upper Iowa is in a unique position to provide excellent learning experiences to these students. Having a global university allows us to offer travel and cultural experiences that few institutions can match," he added. "As we complete development of our Honors Program, I am confident that these students will benefit from unique academic challenges at UIU." A gift from alumna Barbara (Rankin) Csomay is helping to fund creation of the Honors Program.
"I enjoyed meeting students and their families, especially witnessing the high energy and capability of each candidate," added Summer Zwanziger Elsinger, assistant professor of management and marketing. "It was inspiring to hear their goals and aspirations in pursuing their next level of education. We look forward to having these high caliber students contributing to our University culture."
Jobyna Johnston, UIU vice president for admission and financial aid, added that the competition will become an annual event. "We are very pleased by the results of this year's competition and by the quality of these students who will be UIU freshmen next fall," she added. "We expect future scholarship competitions to grow and be even more competitive, and we know we will watch these 'Students of Excellence' become leaders in the classroom and on campus."
The winners of the 2012 UIU "Students of Excellence Scholarship" are:
- Cody Booker is the son of William and Manuela Booker, LaSalle. Ill. Booker will graduate from LaSalle-Peru High School and intends to major in Biology.
- Lucas Braun is the son of Manuel and Michelle Braun of Arkansas and Jean and Tom Youngblut of Jesup, Iowa. Braun will graduate from Don Bosco High School and plans to major in psychology.
- Elizabeth Deeney is the daughter of David and Cathy Deeney, Marion, Iowa. Deeney will graduate from Marion High School and plans to be an Information Technology major.
- William Kenney is the son of David and Regina Kenney, Coon Rapids, Minn. Kenney will graduate from Totino Grace High School and plans to major in biology.
- Brad Kuboushek is the son of Tom and Marjorie Kuboushek, Calmar, Iowa. Kuboushek will graduate from South Winn High School and intends to major in accounting.
- Tara Larson is the daughter of Tony and Tracy Larson, Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Larson will graduate from Tremper High School and is planning to major in marketing.
- Eric Selchow is the son of Gary and Cindy Selchow, Buffalo, Minn. Selchow will graduate from Buffalo High School and intends to major in math.
- Madison Wilkin is the daughter of W. Ward Wilikin and Jane Oglesby of Center Point, Iowa. Wilkin will graduate from Center Point-Urbana High School and plans to major in math.
About Upper Iowa University
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to over 6,800 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study.
Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu