Scholarship Listings for Skilled Trades

Diana (Diane) De Pover-Nesseler Memorial Scholarship

For the story behind the Diana De Pover-Nessler Memorial Scholarship, click here.
This scholarship is awarded every four years, and will award a new scholarship in 2025.

Need-based: No.
Amount: Up to $700 a year.
Renewable: Yes, for up to four years total or until graduation, whichever comes first.
Renewal Conditions: Maintain satisfactory academic progress and continue to meet other scholarship criteria.

Requirements and selection criteria:

  • Applicant must be enrolled or enrolling at a community college in the Quad Cities area for purposes of pursuing a career in their chosen area of study.

  • Preference will be given to female students pursuing a career in Applied Technologies and/or Career Tech Programs.

  • Recipients should demonstrate the perseverance, tenacity, determination and love of life that Diana had during her lifetime, as demonstrated through work experience, community involvement, and school achievement.

 

Don E. & Charlotte Williams Scholarship

The purpose of this scholarship is to assist to individuals pursuing an education at colleges and other post-high school institutions, including trade and technical schools.

Need-based: Yes.
Amount: Up to $3,500 a year for full-time students and $75 per semester hour for part-time students. 
Renewable: Yes, for up to four years total or until graduation, whichever comes first.
Renewal Conditions: Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and continue to meet other scholarship criteria.

Requirements and selection criteria:

  • Applicant must reside in Scott County, Iowa or Rock Island County, IL, OR

  • If the applicant does not reside in the counties specified, the applicant must be a lineal descendant or dependent of a former employee (worldwide) of Don E. Williams Company.

  • Applicant may be a graduating high school senior or a non-traditional student.

  • Applicant must not yet have a bachelor’s degree.

  • Applicant should show evidence of leadership and character.

  • Applicant should submit an essay describing how their planned education will enable the applicant to achieve gainful employment in the applicant's chosen career.

  • Financial aid is a consideration, but not the determining factor.

  • Criteria include academic achievement, applicant’s determination to achieve his or her educational goals, and evidence of well-rounded interests and concern for others.

  • Preference will be given to applicants who are lineal descendants of a former employee of the Don E. Williams Company who was in good standing with the company during their employment.

 

Harry and Myrtle Nabstedt SCHOLARSHIP

Need-based: Yes. Scholarship Amount: Up to $8,000 per year. Renewable: Yes, for up to 5 years or until graduation from their current undergraduate or graduate degree, whichever comes first. Students who wish to subsequently be considered for a graduate scholarship after receiving an undergraduate scholarship would need to submit a new application. Renewable Conditions: Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Requirements and selection criteria: 

  • Applicants must be a graduate of a high school in Scott County, Iowa.

  • Scholarships may be given for either undergraduate or graduate study at any accredited community college, college, or university, or accredited trade/technical school.

  • Applicants would be evaluated according to:

    • Academics (Minimum GPA of 2.00 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent grade point average)

    • Demonstrated financial need

    • Merit shown by involvement in community, school, work, or personal activities

  • Scholarships may be used for the costs of tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

  • Scholarships may be renewed for a total of five years of scholarship support, or until graduation from their current undergraduate or graduate degree, whichever comes first. Recipients must demonstrate adequate academic progress (GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale) at their educational institution to receive the next year’s scholarship payment. Students who wish to subsequently be considered for a graduate scholarship after receiving an undergraduate scholarship would need to submit a new application.

 

Jerry and Martha Taylor MEmorial SCHOLARSHIP

Need-based: No.
Amount: Up to $1,000.
Renewable: No.

Requirements and selection criteria: 

  • Applicant must be a resident of Rock Island County.

  • Applicant must have at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 grade point scale (or equivalent average). 

  • A preference will be given to students who are majoring in journalism, theater arts, or special education; or students who are attending an accredited trade school.

 

Ligino Family Scholarship

Need-based: Yes.
Amount: Up to $500.
Renewable: No.

Requirements and selection criteria:

  • Applicant must be a graduating senior from United Township High School. 

  • Applicant must have at least a 3.0 grade point average.

  • Applicant must plan to be a full-time student at college, university or trade school.

  • Financial need will be the primary criteria for the scholarship.

  • Merit evaluated by school activities, community and personal activities, and work experience.

  • A rotating scholarship preference (not a requirement) in any single year is given to a student involved in or intending to pursue a career in the following:

    • 2025 – Vocational Education

    • 2026 - Business

    • 2027 - Basketball

    • 2028 - Track and Field

 

MIKE CONDON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 

For the story behind the Mike Condon Memorial Scholarship, click here.

Need-based: No.
Amount: Up to $1,500 a year.
Renewable: Yes, for two years total or until graduation, whichever comes first.
Renewal Conditions: Maintain at least a 2.25 GPA and continue to meet other scholarship criteria. 

Requirements and selection criteria: 

  • Applicant must reside in one of the following counties: Clinton, Scott, or Muscatine.

  • Applicant must have at least a 2.25 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale (or equivalent average). Trade related work experience will be prioritized over GPA.

  • Applicant must plan to or be enrolled full-time in a construction related course of study at a trade school, college, or university.  The student may be enrolled part time if they are also currently working a construction trade job.

  • A preference will be given to students who have completed construction-related curriculum or participated in school-sponsored construction-related activities.

  • This scholarship is also open to students already enrolled in trade schools and higher education, if they have at least a 2.25 GPA and meet the other criteria listed for this scholarship.

 

PAUL AND BEVERLY ECKERT SCHOLARSHIP 

Need-based: No.
Amount: Up to $2,000.
Renewable: Yes, for four years total or until graduation, whichever comes first.  

Requirements and selection criteria:

  • Applicant must be a graduating senior from Assumption High School, Davenport Central High School, Davenport West High School, or Davenport North High School.

  • Applicant must plan to pursue a degree from any accredited college, university, or trade school.

 

Quad City Regional Auto Show Automotive/Technical Trade School Scholarship

For the story behind the Quad City Regional Auto Show Scholarship, click here.

Need-based: No.
Amount: Multiple awards are made each year for up to $5,000 each.
Renewable: No.
Special Deadline: January 19, 2025 at 11:59pm.

All applicants must reside in one of the following counties:
Illinois Counties: Bureau, Carroll, Henderson, Henry, Jo Davies, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Warren, Whiteside
Iowa Counties: Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Henry, Jackson, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott

Requirements and selection criteria:

  • Applicant must attend or plan to attend Automotive Technical/Trade School.

  • Applicant must not have previously received an Auto Show Scholarship.

  • Main selection criteria is an essay that discusses the applicant’s interest in pursuing a career in the automotive industry. Other factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, the applicants' participation in community service, extracurricular activities, work experience and academics.

  • One letter of recommendation is required, from a reference of the applicant's choosing (cannot be a relative of the applicant). This letter should include the following information in order for the applicant to be considered for this award: How the writer knows the applicant; the applicant’s past experience with, and future interest in, the automotive trades.

 

Sergesketter family SCHOLARSHIP 

This scholarship is awarded every four years and will award a new scholarship in 2025.

Need-based: No.
Amount:  Up to $4,000 per year.
Renewable: Yes, for up to 4 years or graduation, whichever comes first.  Renewable Conditions: Maintain at least a 3.25 GPA as a major in a STEM field as a full-time student.

Requirements and selection criteria:

  • Awarded to full-time students residing in Scott County, IA who are US citizens and attending accredited 2-year or 4-year colleges or universities and accredited trade schools.

  • Awarded to students majoring in STEM fields, with a preference for engineering majors. 

  • Preference also for students attending Purdue University, Iowa State University, or University of Illinois.

  • Criteria includes demonstrated academic achievement with an overall GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale; demonstrated leadership and extracurricular activities, including leadership training opportunities like ROTC.

 

Stephanie Gorsh Memorial SCHOLARSHIP 

Need-based: Yes.
Amount:  Up to $800.
Renewable:  No.

Requirements and selection criteria:

  • Must be a graduate of a high school in Scott County, IA.

  • Must be attending a 2-year or 4-year accredited college or university, or accredited trade school.

  • Major criteria will be financial need and demonstrated community service.

  • Must have a GPA of at least 2.25 on a 4.0 scale.

  • Preference for a female student.

 

tana and gerry odean Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded every four years and will award a new scholarship in 2028.

Need-based: Yes.
Amount: Up to $500 a year.
Renewable: Yes, for up to four years total or until graduation, whichever comes first.
Renewal Conditions: Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and continue to meet other scholarship criteria. 

Requirements and selection criteria:

  • Applicant must have attended Assumption High School in Davenport, IA.

  • Applicant must live in Scott County, Iowa.

  • Applicant must plan to earn a degree or certification at any accredited 2-year or 4-year school, or trade/technical school.  Preference for education in the medical field.

  • Demonstrated financial need is the primary factor in evaluation.

  • Merit evaluated by church and school activities, community service, and personal activities.

  • Academic achievement evaluated by GPA, transcript, and if relevant, test scores.

 

Thomas R. Foley Memorial SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship is typically awarded every four years and will award a new scholarship in 2025.

Need-based: Yes.
Amount: Up to $1,000 a year.
Renewable: Yes, for up to four years total or until graduation, whichever comes first.
Renewal Conditions: Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and continue to meet other scholarship criteria. 

Requirements and selection criteria:

  • This need-based scholarship is open to students attending accredited 2-year or 4-year colleges and universities, and accredited trade schools.  Scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, books, and educational supplies.

  • Applicants must be residents of Scott County, IA.

  • Applicants must have a GPA of between 2.0 and 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

  • Preference given to applicants who have participated in athletics and/or creative arts, or who are majoring in environmental studies, environmental engineering, or gender studies.

  • This scholarship is intended for a student for which scholarships make the difference in being able to attain post-secondary education.