Education

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 Nancy Dunkel
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation board member

Chances are, you and your student will rely on multiple sources of funding for a college education. Common funding sources are your own savings and earnings, your student’s savings and earnings, scholarships and loans.

Make a resolution to reduce the amount of future student loans with these tips:

Beekeepers can make a beneficial impact on the environment, and a Beginning Beekeeping course at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) will teach newcomers how to get started. Students in the six-session course will meet every Thursday starting February 23 at the Wilder Business Center on the NICC Calmar campus. Participants will learn about the industry through demonstrations with basic equipment while practicing the methods used in beekeeping.

Honey bees pollinate approximately 30 percent of the nation’s crops that are relied on for food, explained Mary Rose Williams, Ph.D., an avid beekeeper, master gardener and environmental advocate. Bringing new beekeepers into this important industry makes an impact on the well-being of plants and animals.

by Mallory Berns, Chapter Reporter

The 95th National FFA Convention and Expo was held in Indianapolis, IN October 26-29 of this past year. During this convention more than 69,500 FFA members from all over the country descended upon the city to attend the time-honored tradition. A total of 12 students from the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High School traveled to be a part of this annual event.

The Little Switzerland FFA Chapter’s Winter Clothing Drive took place from November 22 to December 21 this past year. The goal of the drive was to collect new or used winter clothing that would be donated to the Waukon elementary schools and middle school for students who are in need of warm clothing throughout the year.

A total of 36 coats, 100 hats, 57 pairs of gloves, 17 pairs of boots, 16 scarves and 10 snow pants were collected throughout the duration of the drive. Community members were also supportive of the drive through their contribution of funds that were used to purchase warm clothing for the drive.

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: