High School Scholarships

To apply for any of the five scholarships:

Merveaux Academic Excellence Scholarship

Glidden Community Service Scholarship

Outstanding Student Leader Scholarship

College Opportunity Scholarship

Kalous Opportunity Scholarship


Students attending Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Marion, Prairie, Washington, Xavier:

  • Applications are available at your school’s Guidance Office
  • Submit completed applications to your school’s Guidance Office by 4:30 pm Friday, February 27, 2015

One of each of these five scholarships will be awarded at each of the following schools: Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Marion, Prairie, Washington, and Xavier.

Students attending other Linn County high schools:

  • Use the General Scholarship Application
  • Submit completed hard copy application to:Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
    324 Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
    by 4:30 pm Friday, February 27, 2015

Two of each of these five scholarships will be awarded from the applications received at the Community Foundation.

Scholarships Available to Linn County Students

MERVEAUX ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP

The Nina E. and Victor D. Merveaux Scholarship Fund
Established in 2003 by Mrs. Merveaux to assist graduating Linn County high school seniors in their future education
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from a Linn County high school
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school

Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • Academic achievement (GPA & class rank along with depth & variety of classes completed)

Apply:
Students attending Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Marion, Prairie, Washington, Xavier: apply at your high school guidance office.
Other Linn County students: use the General Scholarship Application

GLIDDEN COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP

The Charles and Edith Glidden Scholarship Fund
Established in 2003 to commemorate Mr. and Mrs. Glidden’s interest in young people, their belief that education is a key component of responsible citizenship, and their desire to provide opportunities for students of all social and economic groups
Eligibility requirements:

  • Graduating from a Linn County high school or a resident of Linn County who has attained a GED
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school

Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • Community involvement
  • Demonstrated respect and consideration for others

Apply:
Students attending Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Marion, Prairie, Washington, Xavier: apply at your high school guidance office.
Other Linn County students: use the General Scholarship Application

OUTSTANDING STUDENT LEADER SCHOLARSHIP

The Outstanding Student Leader Scholarship Fund
Established in 2008 to carry forward the spirit of the annual Outstanding Student Leader and Special Teacher Recognition
Eligibility requirements:

  • Graduating from a Linn County high school
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university

Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • Exemplary leadership skills both in and outside the school environment
  • Academic achievement: top 1/3 of graduating class with GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Demonstration of outstanding character and judgment, dependability, and teamwork

Apply:
Students attending Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Marion, Prairie, Washington, Xavier: apply at your high school guidance office.
Other Linn County students: use the General Scholarship Application

COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP

Supported by the College Club of Cedar Rapids Scholarship Fund
Established in 2012 to support deserving Linn County students
Eligibility requirements:

  • Graduating from a Linn County high school
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university

Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • Financial need (EFC required for other Linn County students using the General Scholarship Application)
  • Demonstrated career goals

Apply:
Students attending Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Marion, Prairie, Washington, Xavier: apply at your high school guidance office.
Other Linn County students: use the General Scholarship Application

KALOUS OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP

The George A. and Louise M. Kalous Endowed Scholarship Fund
Established in 2013 by Mrs. Kalous to assist graduating Linn County high school seniors in their future education
Eligibility requirements:

  • Graduating from a Linn County high school
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university

Award amount: $1,000; renewable for three additional years
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • Financial need
  • Demonstrated strong ethics and high moral character

Preferred but not required:

  • Planning to pursue study in Government, Political Science, Engineering, or Music
  • Planning to attend a college or university in the state of Iowa

Apply:
Students attending Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Marion, Prairie, Washington, Xavier: apply at your high school guidance office.
Other Linn County students: use the General Scholarship Application

KOMENSKY SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP

For Linn County students of Czech, Slovak, or Moravian heritage
Established in 2001 by the Komensky Society, a group begun in 1909 by a group of students at Coe College. The group was named after Jan Komensky (1592-1670), a renowned Czech educator, scholar, and philosopher who was instrumental in the introduction of educational methods and textbooks throughout Europe during his lifetime.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Czech, Slovak, or Moravian heritage
  • Graduating from a Linn County high school
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university vocational, or technical school in the state of Iowa

Award amount: $500 – $1,000
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • Demonstrated importance of Czech, Slovak or Moravian heritage in student’s life
  • Financial need (EFC required)
  • Academic achievement
  • Good character

Apply:
Use the General Scholarship Application

GLENN AND MARY WENDLER SCHOLARSHIP(also in “Other Scholarships”)

For students from Linn or Iowa County planning for careers in engineering, architecture, or construction
Established in 2001 by the Wendler family
Eligibility requirements:

  • Graduating from a Linn or Iowa County high school.
  • Planning to attend a fully- accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school in the state of Iowa.
  • Planning to pursue a career in engineering, architecture, or construction

Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • First: financial need (EFC required)
  • Second: volunteerism
  • Third: academic achievement

Apply:
Use the General Scholarship Application

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO METRO AREA STUDENTS

KLEIMAN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

The Kleiman Family Scholarship Fund

Established in 1998 by Clara and Thomas Kleiman and members of the Kleiman family

Eligibility requirements:

  • Graduating from Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Marion, Prairie, Washington, Xavier
  • Planning to attend Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, or the University of Northern Iowa

Award amount: $5,000, renewable for three additional years based on academic performance

Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • First: leadership and good character
  • Second: academic achievement
  • Third: financial need

Apply:

Apply for nomination at your high school guidance office.

One female and one male candidate from each high school will be nominated for final selection by the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee for the scholarship.

REEDER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Vern W. Reeder Memorial Scholarship Fund

Established in 1996 by Jeanne F. Reeder in memory of her husband.  Mr. Reeder’s statement, “There are no yesterdays, only tomorrows!” exemplified his attitude toward life and his desire to help others.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Graduating from Jefferson, Kennedy, Metro, or Washington
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school

Award amount: $1,000, renewable for one additional year

Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • Financial need
  • Demonstrated strong ethics and high moral character

Apply:

Apply at your high school guidance office.

Scholarships Available at Specific High Schools

LAVENZ MEMORIAL INCOURAGE SCHOLARSHIP

At Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School
Established in 2006 by the Lavenz family to assist high school students who have demonstrated courage, perseverance, and resilience in the face of serious or life-threatening medical adversity affecting themselves or their immediate family during their high school career.
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School (or a recent Kennedy graduate forced to postpone additional education due to medical hardship)
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university in the state of Iowa
Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:
  • First: medical (or other significant) hardship
  • Second: personal commitment to education goals
  • Third: use of personal experience to impact other young adults affected by similar hardships
  • Fourth: financial need
Apply:
Apply at the Kennedy guidance office.

DREW WALL SCHOLARSHIP

At Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School
Established in 2013 by Doug and Robin Wall in memory of their son, Drew, with the support of the 2012 Kennedy men’s golf team and their families and the entire Kennedy community.
Eligibility requirements:
  • The applicant must be a graduating senior at Kennedy High School who is a member of the school’s men’s golf team.
  • The applicant must plan to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university as a full-time student.
Award amount: $1,000
Criteria:
  • strong character
  • academic achievement
  • service to the community

BESONG FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

At Cedar Rapids Washington High School
Established in 2013 by Phyllis and Jean Paul Besong to assist deserving students graduating from Washington.
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Cedar Rapids Washington High School
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university
Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:
  • Academic achievement (GPA over 3.0)
  • Preference given to minority applicants
  • Preference given to student athletes
Apply:
Apply at the Washington guidance office.

DEBOOM MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Sandra Sieperda DeBoom Memorial Scholarship Fund
At Cedar Rapids Washington High School
Established in 2013 by Mr. Tom DeBoom and Dr. Todd DeBoom in memory of their mother, Sandra Sieperda DeBoom.
Eligibility requirements:
  • A graduating senior at Cedar Rapids Washington High School who is eligible for and receiving special education services for learning disabilities.
  • The applicant must plan to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university as a full-time student.

Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • Financial need
  • High moral character

Apply:
Apply at the Washington guidance office.

FRANCIS McMANN SCHOLARSHIP

At Cedar Rapids Washington High School
Established in 2011 by Dyan and John Smith to honor teacher Francis McMann and to assist deserving students graduating from Washington High School
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Cedar Rapids Washington High School
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public four-year college or university

Award amount: $1,000; renewable for one additional year based on academic performance (minimum 3.0 GPA)

Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • Academic achievement (GPA over 3.2)
  • High moral character
  • Financial need (achievement, character, and need weighed equally)
  • Preference given to applicants planning to major in economics/business
Apply:
Apply at the Washington guidance office.

NORMA WENZEL SCHOLARSHIP

At Cedar Rapids Washington High School
Established in 2011 by Dyan and John Smith to honor teacher Norma Wenzel and assist deserving students graduating from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Cedar Rapids Washington High School
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public four-year college or university
Award amount: $1,000; renewable for one additional year based on academic performance (minimum 3.0 GPA)
Criteria for scholarship selection:
  • Academic achievement (GPA over 3.2)
  • High moral character
  • Financial need (achievement, character, and need weighed equally)
  • Preference given to applicants planning to major in English or education
Apply:
Apply at the Washington guidance office.

KELLEY SCHOLARSHIPfor students at Lisbon High School

At Lisbon High School
Established in 2013 by the estate of Robert E. and Merry J. Kelley to assist deserving students graduating from Lisbon High School in Lisbon, Iowa.
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Lisbon High School, Lisbon, Iowa
  • The applicant must plan to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university as a full-time student

Award amount: $1,000; renewable for three additional years
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • academic achievement
  • outstanding leadership
  • exemplary citizenship
  • service to the school and community

Apply:
Apply at the Lisbon High School guidance office.

ROBERT K. DENNIS SCHOLARSHIP

At Lone Tree High School
Established in 2001 by Eloise Dennis, in recognition of her husband, Robert K. Dennis, for his role in the creation of the Lone Tree School District chapter of the Future Farmers of America
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Lone Tree High School
  • Accepted as a full-time student at a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school
  • Pursuing an agricultural career
Award amount: $1,000
Criteria for scholarship selection:
  • Active participation in the Future Farmers of America
Apply:
Apply at the Lone Tree guidance office.

VIRGIL AND ELEANOR BOWSER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

At Springville High School
Established in 2014 by the family of Virgil and Eleanor Bowser to assist deserving students graduating from Springville.
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Springville High School, Springville, Iowa
  • Planning to attend a two-year or four-year fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university as a full-time student
Award amount: $500, payable at the beginning of the second (spring) semester of the first year of college
Criteria for scholarship selection:
  • Financial need
  • Minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average
  • Preference given to students who participate in volunteer service activities
  • Preference given to students who demonstrate high moral character
Apply:
Apply at the Springville guidance office.

STEPHEN BONFIG MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

At Wahlert High School, Dubuque
Established in 2007 by TrueNorth Companies, in memory of Stephen Bonfig, to provide scholarships for students planning to attend the University of Northern Iowa majoring in accounting or business finance
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Dubuque Wahlert High School
  • Planning to attend the University of Northern Iowa majoring in accounting or business finance
Award amount: $1,000
Criteria for scholarship selection:
  • Academic achievement (GPA over 3.0)
  • Demonstrated leadership and service through activities
Apply:
Apply at the Wahlert guidance office.

O.J. and VIOLA N. ELSENBAST SCHOLARSHIP

At Graettinger-Terril Community High School
Established in 1991 by O.J. Elsenbast to assist students in the Graettinger Community School District
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Graettinger-Terril High School residing in the geographic area originally served by the Graettinger Community School District
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school
Award amount: $1,000; renewable for one additional year based on academic performance
Criteria for scholarship selection:
  • Academic achievement
  • Financial need
  • Good character and citizenship
  • Career goals

Apply:
Apply at the Graettinger-Terril guidance office.

KELLEY SCHOLARSHIP for students at Central A & M High School

At Central A & M High School in Assumption, Illinois
Established in 2013 by the estate of Robert E. and Merry J. Kelley to assist deserving students graduating from Central A & M High School in Assumption, Illinois.
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from Central A & M High School, Assumption, Illinois
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university as a full-time student
Award amount: $1,000; renewable for three additional years
Criteria for scholarship selection
  • academic achievement
  • outstanding leadership
  • exemplary citizenship
  • service to the school and community
Apply:
Apply at the Central A & M guidance office.

Other Scholarships Available

JOE CORBIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Established in 2002 by Paul and Sara Corbin in memory of their son, Joe, to assist students who are children of attendees of the former Lincoln Community High School
Eligibility requirements:
  • Child of attendee(s) of the former Lincoln High School
  • Graduating from high school
  • Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, or vocational school

Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • See above requirements

Apply:
Use the General Scholarship Application

DAVE SHAY – KGAN-TV BROADCAST JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP

For students planning to pursue a career in broadcast journalism
For more information about this scholarship, contact scholarships@gcrcf.org

DELAWARE COUNTY FISH & GAME PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

For students in Delaware County
Established in 2004 to assist students in the West Delaware, Maquoketa Valley, or Edgewood-Colesburg School Districts, with priority given to applicants pursuing careers in land stewardship and/or conservation
Eligibility requirements
  • Graduating from West Delaware, Maquoketa Valley, or Edgewood-Colesburg High School
  • Planning to attend a fully-accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school in the state of Iowa
  • GPA of 2.5 or above
    Award amount: $800 (approximate)
    Criteria for scholarship selection:
  • Priority is given to students who wish to pursue a career in land stewardship and/ or conservation.

Apply:
Use the General Scholarship Application

GLENN AND MARY WENDLER SCHOLARSHIP(also in “Scholarships Available to Linn County Students”)

For students from Linn or Iowa County planning for careers in engineering, architecture, or construction
Established in 2001 by the Wendler family
Eligibility requirements:
  • Graduating from a Linn or Iowa County high school.
  • Planning to attend a fully- accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school in the state of Iowa.
  • Planning to pursue a career in engineering, architecture, or construction

Award amount: $500
Criteria for scholarship selection:

  • First: financial need (EFC required)
  • Second: volunteerism
  • Third: academic achievement

Apply:
Use the General Scholarship Application

To view a printable list of high school scholarships, click here.