Education

The Allamakee County Farm Bureau scholarship program is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. Graduating high school students will be chosen to receive the awards with one selected for consideration of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) $2,500 state scholarship, renewable for four years (up to $10,000).

Eligibility is reserved for current Iowa Farm Bureau members or their children in good standing with the organization. To be considered, the graduating high school student must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average, be involved in extra-curricular activities, and accepted into an accredited higher education institution, which can include community colleges and technical schools.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon will celebrate World Read Aloud Day Wednesday, February 1 with events from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. During World Read Aloud Day, people from all around the world read aloud together to celebrate and advocate literacy.

Reading aloud is beneficial to all - from children to adults. “Reading aloud to children every day puts them almost a year ahead of children who do not receive daily read alouds, regardless of parental income, education level or cultural background.” (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research)

Celebrate World Read Aloud Day Wednesday, February 1 with Robey Memorial Library in the following ways:
• Sign up to read aloud during a 15-minute session - participants can choose their own book or select a title from the library’s special display;
• Listen to read alouds throughout the day.

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa’s (CFNEIA) 2023 scholarship application process is now open, and students may apply for scholarships available through CFNEIA at www.cfneia.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply for 2023 scholarships is 8 p.m. March 8.

CFNEIA will host a Scholarships 101 webinar January 31 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Students seeking scholarships as well as parents, school personnel or others interested in learning more about the 2023 scholarships process are encouraged to attend. Learn more and RSVP at www.cfneia.org/scholarships101 to obtain the virtual meeting link.

CFNEIA awarded $635,781 in scholarships to high school, college and adult students in 2022. A total of 277 scholarships were awarded to students pursuing higher education opportunities and the average amount awarded was $2,295.

The Iowa 4-H Foundation has announced applications are now available for its 4-H scholarship program. Over 130 scholarship opportunities valued at over $120,000 will be awarded.

Former and current Iowa 4-H members are eligible to apply for 4-H scholarships if they meet individual scholarship requirements, as determined by the scholarship donors. Applicants must enroll as a full-time student to receive scholarship awards.

The various scholarship awards range in amounts from $500 to $5,000. Some scholarships are open to students pursuing any field of study, while others are open to students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food and nutrition, ag business, animal science, and journalism, as well as veterinary medicine and more.

by Marcia Rogers,
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation board member

College bills for the next semester are looming, and students and families are looking for ways to pay for any amount not covered by financial aid, savings or earnings. Many turn to private education loans. Because most traditional-age students need cosigners to qualify or receive better rates or because you would like take out a loan in your name to help pay a child’s expenses, you as a parent may be investigating student loan options specifically for yourself.

Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation educates students and families on planning and paying for college, as well as providing education loans under the name ISL Education Lending. As an ISL board member, I want to help ensure that families understand the pros and cons of taking out student loans. I encourage you to remember the following tips for parents who want to help with education loans:

A program offering $1,000 scholarships is now open to Iowa high school seniors. Students not only have a chance at much-needed funds for college but can also learn ways to reduce college loan debt through the program.

Iowa high school seniors may register for the Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Know-How between now and March 31. Once registered, students will receive instructions via email on completing two online modules. Recipients will be determined by drawings among students who have completed the modules.

The two modules, Student Loan Game Plan and the Return on College Investment tool, are designed to help students and families determine maximum recommended levels of student loan debt and find ways to minimize debt to repay.

Registration is open for a special drawing of a $1,000 college savings deposit that 10 Iowa parents and guardians of students in eighth through 12th grades will be randomly selected to receive after February 28. The drawing is sponsored by Iowa Student Loan (ISL) Education Lending.

Current registrants and any parent or guardian registered for the information service SP3 - Student Planning Pointers for Parents - by February 28 will be entered into the special drawing. Additionally, registrants who read each month’s articles and answer brief survey questions are entered into quarterly drawings for 529 college savings plan deposits.

Each quarter, 40 random winners are chosen for the $250 deposits. The next quarterly drawing will take place April 1.

This is the 18th year for the alumni scholarship instituted by the Allamakee Scholarship Fund (ASF), Inc. Board of Directors. The award is made to a Waukon High School graduate who participated in ASF, Inc. while in high school and received an award as a graduating senior.  The scholarship is available to college sophomores through graduate level students.

The ASF, Inc. Board feels it is important to continue the encouragement to ACSD graduates as they continue their education, not just as they start their post-high school program. The group wishes to encourage participation in community service and college activities that are part of their educational growth and preparation for career and community life.

The Iowa 4-H Foundation has announced applications are now available for its 4-H scholarship program. Over 130 scholarship opportunities valued at over $120,000 will be awarded.

Former and current Iowa 4-H members are eligible to apply for 4-H scholarships if they meet individual scholarship requirements, as determined by the scholarship donors. Applicants must enroll as a full-time student to receive scholarship awards.

The various scholarship awards range in amounts from $500 to $5,000. Some scholarships are open to students pursuing any field of study, while others are open to students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food and nutrition, ag business, animal science, and journalism, as well as veterinary medicine and more.

Information and applications for the 4-H scholarships are now available through the Iowa 4-H Foundation atiowa4hfoundation.org.scholarships.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

At the regular monthly meeting of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors Monday, December 19,  Dr. Sarah Updegraff Murray was selected to replace current EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, who will be retiring at the end of this current school year. The board approved a Standard Superintendent Contract for a three-year term in the amount of $140,000 annually, effective July 1, 2023.

Dr. Murray is the current Kee High School/Middle School Principal and will also retain that position in addition to assuming Superintendent duties for the district. Dr. Crozier is a shared Superintendent with the MFL/MarMac Community School District, but Dr. Murray will not be assuming that shared role, instead remaining solely within the Eastern Allamakee Community School District as both Superintendent and in her current principal positions.