UIU awards over $122,000 in merit-based scholarships
Annual Honors & Awards Banquet held on Fayette campus
FAYETTE, IOWA (March 22, 2007) – Upper Iowa University’s annual Honors and Awards Banquet was held Saturday, March 24 in Garbee Hall on the Fayette campus.
Over 80 merit-based scholarships were granted to Upper Iowa undergraduate students who either applied or were nominated according to the criteria of that scholarship. Awardees included students from both UIU’s residential campus and extended university.
“Several years ago, Upper Iowa University recommitted itself to strengthening its internal scholarship program for students; scholarships that would recognize academic excellence and continue to make high quality education affordable,” said Upper Iowa University President Dr. Alan Walker. “Towards this end, in the last two years we have doubled the amount of money awarded through these scholarships. Our goal is to eventually award a quarter of a million dollars each year to deserving students. Through the generosity of our great alums, friends of the University, and special events such as Team Peacock on RAGBRAI, we will soon reach this goal.”
This year, the total amount awarded was over $122,000, which is a $35,000 increase over the 2006 total. This increase is due in large part to Upper Iowa’s newest, progressive fundraising effort for scholarships. For the past two years, UIU’s Team Peacock has participated in RAGBRAI to raise money for student scholarships--raising $17,000 the first year and doubling that figure last year—to help UIU students graduate with less debt. Upper Iowa is among the top ten in graduating students with less debt, when compared to other public and private, four-year colleges in Iowa. Source: 2005-06 Iowa College Aid
The $35,000 increase in funds allowed seven new scholarships to be added to the list. Two were named in honor of long-time university benefactors William and Betty Andres and were awarded by the Divisions of Business and Education, respectively. The Belknap/Baker and the President’s Challenge scholarship were awarded in the Interdisciplinary Honors and Awards category. The last three scholarships--Outstanding Marketing Student, Outstanding Management Student, and Outstanding MIS Student—were given out by the Division of Business.
Senior Lauranda Hook, recipient of the President’s Challenge scholarship, said. “I was excited to get the President’s Challenge scholarship. I plan to use it to pay for my final semester at Upper Iowa.” Hook is an Elementary Education major.
Walker gave special recognition to the past and present members of Team Peacock, awarding Cliff Ozmun, Waterloo center coordinator, with the honorary “blue blazer” for raising the most funds in 2006--$7,776. Walker also told the audience that this year Team Peacock’s goal is to raise $70,000, which will be added entirely to the student scholarship fund.
For a complete list of the individual scholarship winners and photos and more information about Upper Iowa’s Team Peacock, go to www.uiu.edu.