More than half a million dollars in scholarships awarded to local students
Bailey Nelson always knew she was going to be a teacher. What was unclear to her throughout high school though was how she was going to pay for college to get there.
Nelson credits the Quad Cities Community Foundation and its donors with landing just where she wanted to be—in the classroom. She just wrapped up her first year of teaching as a third-grade teacher in the Davenport Community School District. She said it was scholarship money and support that helped her achieve her dream.
Through the Community Foundation, Nelson received the Davenport Central High School Teacher Scholarship, providing her the resources and momentum to graduate with her associate’s degree in just one year. Two years after that, she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Western Illinois University.
“The scholarship from the Community Foundation allowed me to focus on additional opportunities, like working for AmeriCorps, where I was able to work in a bilingual daycare for a year,” Nelson said. Those connections led her to volunteer with local food pantries, and help with community literacy activities. Nelson will teach middle school science next year and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education from Western Illinois University with a graduate certificate in education policy.
“I will be forever grateful for the opportunities that this scholarship provided me and allowed me to pursue,” she said.
She’s not alone. There is a long line of success stories born from the opportunities afforded to students who receive scholarships through the foundation each year, said Kelly Thompson, vice president of grantmaking and community initiatives at the Community Foundation. “We are so inspired when we see what doors these scholarships open for students. We wouldn’t be able to make these contributions to our community if it weren’t for our generous donors, who see the potential and act to make a difference.
This year, the Community Foundation awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarship dollars to students, including more than $367,000 in new one-time and renewable scholarships awarded to 43 Quad Cities-area students. Six students received multiple awards. “The wonderful thing is about scholarships is that they have a way of creating perpetual giving,” Thompson said. “These students will never forget this generosity, and they in turn will become givers to their communities in both big ways and small.”
The following students received 2020 scholarships:
Amelia Balk, Davenport Central High School—Mariah Becker Memorial Scholarship
Madison Boyer, Sherrard High School—Clifford and Louise King Scholarship
Harrison Brown, Rivermont Collegiate High School—Dr. & Mrs. Yang Ho Rhee Scholarship; Jane & Clem Werner Scholarship
Kathleen Byrne, Bettendorf High School—Elise Brett Scholarship
Layken Bytnar, Bettendorf High School—Corky Kress Golf Scholarship
Steven Christensen, Moline High School—Richard J. Collins Scholarship
Man Dim, Moline High School—Richard J. Collins Scholarship
Lillian Duffield, Davenport Central High School—Jane & Clem Werner Scholarship
Galena Fessler, Rock Island High School—Paul & Barbara Yamber Memorial Stem Scholarship
Stephanie Garcia, United Township High School—Quad Cities Mexican American Organization Scholarship
Taylor Garvin, Wilton High School—2020 Helen Maurer Simmons Scholarship
Sophia Gluba, Assumption High School—James W. Victor Scholarship; Sophia N. Hapke Scholarship
Sheridan Hank, Mercer County High School—Bryant-Holmes Scholarship for Mercer County High School
Delanee Hansen, Davenport West High School—Kelly Marie McQuate Memorial Scholarship
Jacob Hansen, Davenport North High School—Jane & Clem Werner Scholarship; Verna Kaucher Scholarship
Shyisha Hodges, Davenport Central High School—Donna Jean Arzberger Memorial Scholarship; Sophia N. Hapke Scholarship
Seth Hoffman, Muscatine High School—Mike Condon Memorial Scholarship
Peter Hurd, Bettendorf High School—Jane & Clem Werner Scholarship
Ashley Johnson, Rock Island High School—August & Edna Zahatko Scholarship
Jonathan Johnson, Bettendorf High School—Dr. G. O. & Arlene Schmiedel Scholarship
Makenzie Jones, Riverdale High School—Edwin R. Adland & Ruth H. Adland Scholarship; Louis F. Bulechek Memorial Scholarship
Renata Lara, Moline High School—Richard J. Collins Scholarship
Jenya Loughney, Pleasant Valley High School—Gustav A. & Gerda H.C. Anderson Scholarship
Doaa Maanaoui, United Township High School—Ligino Family Scholarship
Jennifer Mahl, Davenport Central High School—Central High School Scholarship for Teacher Education
Debora Mbombo, Moline High School—William H. Kleinschmidt Scholarship
Laura Millage, West Liberty High School—Great River Bend Cyclone Award Scholarship
Alexia Moore, Davenport Central High School—Morency Family Scholarship
Meghan Nahnybida, Davenport West High School—Verna Kaucher Scholarship
Prakruti Pancholi, Pleasant Valley High School—Jayne Lee Andreesen Memorial Scholarship
Adam Parcel, Davenport West High School—Jane & Clem Werner Scholarship
Roger Pavey, Pleasant Valley High School—Dearrel Bates Memorial Scholarship
Larissa Pothoven, Rock Island High School—Rock Island High School Class of 1956 Scholarship
Evelyn Quiroz, United Township High School—Morency Family Scholarship
Teanna Randolph, Moline High School—Morency Family Scholarship
Emma Rapp, Sterling High School—Morency Family Scholarship
Amalia Sandoval, United Township High School—Gene S. Duke Scholarship
Sarah Schwien, Davenport West High School—Bill & Hilda Macomber; Alta Kahl Scholarship; Sophia N. Hapke Scholarship
Ella Scrutchfield, Moline High School—Richard J. Collins Scholarship
Caitlin Steimle, Assumption High School—John R. Kiley Memorial Scholarship; Morency Family Scholarship
Gwendalyn Waggoner, Rock Island High School—Herman & Sarah Segal Scholarship
Kaylee Wise, Moline High School— Richard J. Collins Scholarship
Roban Worrick, Central High School—Morency Family Scholarship
The Quad Cities Community Foundation is home to hundreds of endowment funds—started by individuals and organizations—that create a financial foundation for nonprofits and support the Quad Cities region today, and far into the future. For more information, visit www.QCCommunityFoundation.org.