Brooke Larsen
Khadidra Washington is dreaming of pursuing a career in rehabilitation counseling so she can help those living with HIV/AIDS.
This is made possible thanks to scholarship support she has received to not only pursue her studies, but to study abroad twice to build her cultural competency skills.
Washington was one of three students and alumni speakers featured during the 2019 University of Iowa College of Education Scholarship Brunch Saturday, April 27th.
The event honored and recognized student scholarship recipients and their generous donors.
“In my work as Dean of the College of Education, I often speak to alumni and friends about the importance of giving to the university, and I count this event among my very favorites— because gifts for scholarships are life-changing for those who receive them,” says Dean Dan Clay.
Students, donors, faculty, staff, family members, and friends gathered in celebration of exceptional students in areas of research, academic performance, community service, leadership and contributions to all areas of education.
This year, the UI College of Education awarded 127 individual scholarships to a total of 125 students with awards totaling nearly $388,560.
Two students and one alumna were invited to share their experience in the University of Iowa College of Education and how it led them in the direction of discovery and success.
Khadidra Washington, a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision, shared that her love for helping others started at a very young age. Her father died of AIDS when she was 14 and her mother is a 25-year survivor, living with HIV.
These experience propelled her to pursue more knowledge to holistically support those living with AIDS and those who are HIV positive to live their best lives possible.
Washington says with the scholarships she has received, she had the opportunity to stay and successfully progress through the Rehabilitation and Counselor Education Department and to build relationship with the individuals who make receiving scholarships possible.
“Because of scholarships provided by the College of Education, I have truly gained the knowledge and skill set needed as an educator, researcher, and practitioner,” Washington says. “These experiences have laid the foundation of being a skilled and competent scholar within the field of rehabilitation counseling, and this knowledge is so necessary because the core of rehabilitation is working with persons of diverse backgrounds.”
Alumna Amira Nash shared how the scholarships she was awarded gave her the opportunity to study abroad in Cuba and India.
Nash, who is from Cedar Rapids, received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2017 with a minor in Spanish, and she completed the Teacher Education Program with endorsements to teach secondary school American history, psychology, and K-12 English as a Second Language (ESL). She currently teaches at West High School in Iowa City.
She says that her international experiences are what developed her sense of compassion for her students today.
“Studying abroad lit a fire within me that led me to teaching English learners and has afforded me opportunities to connect with my immigrant students on a level beyond the surface,” Nash says.
Henry Cardenas, an elementary education major, shared that his journey thus far has not been typical and has presented trials and tribulations, but numerous opportunities for enrichment and growth.
“I have amassed great insight and invaluable knowledge from my professors and peers at the College of Education,” Cardenas says. “I have been pushed to analyze and practice methodologies through a critical lens and have had the honor of being part of a program that takes great strides at remaining at the forefront of current and progressive educational research.”
The College of Education recognized the following students and the generous donors who make the scholarships possible:
Duane D. Anderson Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to a transfer student from an Iowa community college and established through gifts given in memory of Duane Anderson.
Recipient: Emily Resendiz
Jack Bagford Elementary Education Scholarship
Awarded to an elementary education student from Iowa and established in honor of Jack Bagford by W. Christine Rauscher (72MA, 78PhD).
Recipient: Rebekah Stelzle
David and Connie Belin Honors Award
Awarded to graduating seniors who completed all requirements for the Honors Opportunity Program and established through gifts given in honor of David and Connie Belin.
Recipients: Jessica Hipnar, Sydney Roper, and Jennifer St. John
Blommers/Hieronymus/Feldt Fellowship
Awarded to doctoral students in educational measurement and statistics and established through gifts given in honor of professors Paul Blommers, Albert Hieronymus, and Leonard Feldt.
Recipients: Tianpeng Ye and Murat Kilinc
Lowell Brandt Rehabilitation Counseling Award
Awarded to a graduate student in the rehabilitation counseling program and established through gifts in memory of Lowell Brandt (72BA, 79MA).
Recipient: Chelsey McCarthy
Barry Bratton Memorial Award
Awarded to a graduate student with a commitment to the systematic design and improvement of instructional processes and materials and established in memory of Barry Bratton by Marlys Dunphy (79MA, 87EdS).
Recipient: Yeajin Ham
Robert L. Brennan Graduate Student Award
Awarded for the research of a graduate student in the educational measurement and statistics program. Established by Robert Brennan.
Recipient: Shumin Jing
Dr. Bettye M. Caldwell and Dr. Fred T. Caldwell Scholarship
Awarded to an undergraduate student interested in pursuing a career in early-childhood development and established by Bettye Caldwell (46MA) and Fred Caldwell Jr., MD.
Recipient: Talia Buss
Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines Award
Awarded to UI REACH (Realizing Educational and Career Hopes) students through gifts given in honor of Sally Pederson.
Recipients: Addisen Hynd, Carter Fridly, Zach Konrad, Henry Holly, Courtnie Bruns, Blake Austin, Christian Hooper, Robert Axline, Athena Andersen, and Emmie Tiemeier
Jake and Kimberly Chung Scholarship
Awarded to a student teacher and established by Jhoon Jake Chung (96BA) and Kimberly Dierks Chung (98BA).
Recipient: Olivia Harmon
T. Anne Cleary Psychological Research Scholarship
Awarded to students in the Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations and established in memory of T. Anne Cleary by her brothers Frank, Michael, and Paul.
Recipients: Jeremy Dietmeier and Sungeun Kang
Laurie Jane Croft Scholarship in Gifted Education
Awarded to a deserving undergraduate or graduate student in the UI College of Education who is pursuing an endorsement in gifted education; established by Laurie Croft.
Recipient: Haley Roudabush
Beulah A. and Robert L. Darrow Scholarship
Awarded to deserving students in the UI College of Education and established by the estate of Beulah A. Darrow (62MA) and Robert Darrow.
Recipients: Lindsay Jarratt and Lashelle Morrison
John Leonard Davies Scholarship
Awarded to K–12 education students and established by Elva Davies (72MA) in memory of her husband, John Leonard Davies (43MA, 49PhD).
Recipients: Siwei Luo and Grace Schebler
Harvey H. Davis Memorial Scholarship
Awarded with preference to an educational leadership or higher education student interested in education finance; established through gifts given in memory of Harvey Davis (22BA, 23MA, 28PhD).
Recipient: Brian Suiter
Dale Grabinski Education Scholarship
Established by Dale Grabinski (70PhD), who served as superintendent of West Des Moines Schools for more than 30 years. Awarded to a deserving UI College of Education student.
Recipient: Peter DeLaFuente
Mary Agnella Gunn Memorial Scholarship
Established by the trust of Marion Anderson (24BA, 26MA, 34PhD) in memory of her long-time friend, Mary Agnella Gunn (23BA, 27MA, 33PhD).
Recipient: Tania Lefevre
John H. Haefner Scholarship
Awarded with preference to a UI College of Education student from Iowa and established by Scott Van Beck (84BA) and Sarah Van Beck (84BBA) in memory of John Haefner (35BA, 39MA, 42PhD).
Recipient: Allison Stutting
Hemphill/Jones Higher Education Masters Student Award
Awarded to a historically underrepresented student of color pursuing a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs. Established by Brian Hemphill (98PhD) and Marisela Hemphill (10PhD) and John Jones (94MA, 97PhD) and Holly Holliday-Jones (94BA, 97MA).
Recipient: Celine Fender
Jo Hendrickson Award
Awarded to UI REACH students in honor of Jo Hendrickson for her years of service as UI REACH director.
Recipients: Carter Fridly, Zach Konrad, Henry Holly, Robert Axline, Sam Rame, Andrea Watkins, and Alexander Senanou
Albert Hieronymus and Family Scholarship
Awarded to deserving graduate students in the UI College of Education who have classroom experience and an interest in improving the field of education through research or innovation.
Recipient: Newly established
Emma E. Holmes Education Scholarship
Awarded to students who are U.S. citizens and established by gifts from Emma Holmes (61PhD).
Recipients: Olivia Kriener, Alex Lange, Andrea Merello, Steven Shanley, and Alison Vavra
Albert Hood Promising Scholar Award
Awarded to a graduate student in the Department of Rehabilitation and Counselor Education and to a graduate student in the higher education and student affairs program; established by Jean M. Hood on the occasion of the retirement of her husband, Albert Hood.
Recipients: DaVida Anderson and Haley Wikoff
H.D. Hoover Excellence Scholarship
Awarded to a graduate student working on mathematics achievement testing in the elementary grades and established through gifts given in honor of H.D. Hoover (67MA, 69PhD).
Recipient: Ismail Dilek
Howard K. and Mathilda Ihrke Scholarship
Awarded to first generation students in the teacher education program and established by Linda Baker (68BA) and Dale Baker (68BBA) in memory of Linda’s parents, Howard and Mathilda Ihrke.
Recipients: Ann Conklin, Annie Duncan, Kaleb Farnham, Justin Le, Emily Much, Jasmine Oseguera, Casey Oztel, Karalee Smith, Jennifer St. John, and Breanna Ward
Iowa Student Loan Scholarship Fund
Awarded to UI REACH students with financial need.
Recipients: Blake Austin and Athena Andersen
Kyle C. and Eula B. Jones Scholarship
Awarded to students in elementary and secondary education and administration and established through the bequest of Michael D. Jones (75MD) in honor of his parents, Kyle and Eula Jones.
Recipients: Phillip Hansen, Thomas Hartley, Jessica Hipnar, and Aaron Holm
Charlotte and Ruby Junge Scholarship
Awarded to an elementary or secondary education student and established by Charlotte Junge (39MA, 44PhD) in memory of her sister, Ruby Junge (46PhD).
Recipient: Haley Cox-Benson
Paul Larson Military/Veteran Student Scholarship
Awarded to a veteran and/or actively enlisted military service member and established by Paul D. Larson (77PhD) in honor of his parents’ military service.
Recipient: Elias Varon
Perry Eugene McClenahan Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to educational leadership graduate students and established by Don Guthrie (24BSC) and Dorothy Guthrie (24BA, 26MA) in honor of Perry Eugene McClenahan (1905BPH, 1906MA).
Recipients: Joseph Carter and Patricia Toben
Sheila E. McFarland Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to an elementary education undergraduate student from Iowa and established by Joseph McFarland (52BA) and Rosalie McFarland (52BA) in memory of their daughter, Sheila Eileen McFarland (73BA).
Recipient: Elizabeth Boksa
Leonard A. Miller Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to a first-year rehabilitation counseling MA student and established through gifts in memory of Leonard Miller (59MA, 63PhD).
Recipient: Emily Kuhlmann
Jananne F. Nelson Elementary Education Scholarship
Awarded to students pursuing a degree in elementary education and specializing in literacy. Scholarship is named in honor of Jananne Nelson (69BA).
Recipient: Newly established
Helen Mackin Nichol Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to a secondary education student from Iowa who plans to teach and work with students with cognitive and emotional disabilities; established through the estate of Helen Mackin Nichol (23BA).
Recipients: Taylor Perrott and Michael Sabers
Melvin R. Novick Award in Educational Measurement and Statistics
Awarded to an educational measurement and statistics doctoral student and established through gifts given in memory of Melvin Novick.
Recipient: Kuo-Feng Chang
Paul Opstad Scholarship
Awarded to a graduate student and established in memory of Paul Opstad (51BA, 54MA, 58PhD) by his children David, Laura, and Carol.
Recipient: Gomee Park
Margaret P. Park Scholarship
Awarded to deserving students in the UI College of Education and established through the estate of Margaret P. Park (45BA) and Frank A. Park.
Recipients: Rory Brady and Brianne Holtkamp
Sally Pederson UI REACH Scholarship
Awarded to UI REACH students with financial need from Iowa. Established by Barbara Stennes (67BBA) and Clarence Stennes (66MA) in honor of former Lt. Gov. Sally J. Pederson and her contributions to UI REACH.
Recipients: Newly established
Guy and Gladys Peterson Scholarship
Awarded to a teacher education student and established by Jessica Ann Vogel (58BA) in memory of her parents, Guy and Gladys Peterson.
Recipient: Jared Peterson
Betty Piercy Scholarship
Awarded annually to deserving students who are specializing in reading.
Recipient: Hazel Ward
Ann Ramsey and Richard E. Posey Scholarship
Awarded to a junior pursuing a career in teaching or education and established by Ann Ramsey Posey (69BA).
Recipient: Brooke Steele
Kathleen M. Ramsay and Family Scholarship
Awarded to a UI College of Education student in his/her third-year or higher, with a focus on elementary or secondary education. Established by Kathleen Ramsay (76BA, 77MA).
Recipient: Katelyn Moore
Rolland Ray Award
Awarded to a doctoral student concerned with measurement in mathematics, science, social studies, or English education and established through the estate of Gleynafa Ray (37MA) in memory of her husband, Rolland Ray (41MA, 51PhD).
Recipients: Lida Chen and Ye Ma
REACH Scholarship for Excellence
Awarded to students in UI REACH who would otherwise not be able to attend the program.
Recipients: Courtnie Bruns and Emmie Tiemeier
Mary Maxine Redmond Scholarship
Awarded to an undergraduate student from Iowa and established through the estate of Mary Maxine Redmond (37BA, 42MA).
Recipient: Kedibona Ochs
Albert and Martha Ruffalo First Generation Education Scholarship
Awarded to first-generation undergraduate or graduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and established by Albert Ruffalo (75MA) and Martha Ruffalo.
Recipients: Shamire Rothmiller
Richard L. Sanner Graduate Scholarship Fund
Awarded to deserving graduate students in the UI College of Education and established by Richard Sanner (53MA).
Recipients: Sara Heshmati and Jackson Kennedy
Judith Young Saunders Scholarship
Awarded with preference to teacher education students with visual impairments and established by James H. Burke (49BA)—in memory of his niece—and Richard J. Young (71BBA) in memory of his sister, Judith Saunders (68BA).
Recipients: Bailey Petersen and Emily Yeomans
Nani Shreck UI REACH Scholarship
Awarded to UI REACH student(s) with financial need and established by Robert and Cherie Shreck in honor of their niece, Nani Shreck, who completed the UI REACH program.
Recipient: Newly established
Judy Skalsky Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to students majoring in art education and established by Rose E. Skalsky in memory of her daughter, Judy Skalsky (65BA). Additional gifts have been given through the estate of Judy’s sister, Jeanne Skalsky Carter (67BA).
Recipients: Andrea Campbell, Kate Edwards, Karli Killian, Ann Peters, Lauren Sutkus, Thessaly Sutton, and Colleen Verdi
Margaret A. Sloan Scholarship
Awarded to deserving UI College of Education students and established by Margaret A. Sloan (55BA, 61MA).
Recipients: Henry Cardenas and Christina Koethe
Maureen Medberry Snell Education Award
Awarded to outstanding students in the UI College of Education and established through the estate of Maureen Medberry Snell (44BA).
Recipients: Taylor Baldwin, Khadidra Washington, and Elizabeth Watters
Carol M. and Ed Stenson Scholarship in Education
Awarded to undergraduate students pursuing a special education certification or degree in general teacher education.
Recipients: Mary Deiss, Elizabeth Gavin, Ella McDonald-Gravert, Mason McGee, Dorise Nagel, Megan Pfeiffer, Hayleigh Sharp, and Claire White
Drs. Andrew and Jeanne Stevenson Scholarship
Awarded to a student who plans to teach science education; established by Andrew and Jeanne Stevenson.
Recipients: Sarah Marie Dawson and Alexandria Tenley
Franklin D. and Louise P. Stone International Student Scholarship
Awarded to a doctoral international student and established by Louise Stone in memory of her husband, Franklin Stone (42MA, 63PhD).
Recipient: Yu Chak Sunny Ho
James and Coretta Stroud Fellowship
Awarded to educational psychology doctoral students and established by James and Coretta Stroud.
Recipients: Casey Gamboni and Yunkyoung Garrison
Grace Phelps Stucker Scholarship
Awarded to a teacher education student and established by Carolyn Stucker (73BA, 80MA) in memory of her mother, Grace Phelps Stucker (72BA).
Recipient: Cassidy Conlan
Student Teaching Abroad Scholarship
Awarded to students who are doing their student teaching in a foreign country and established by Linda R. Baker (68BA).
Recipients: Taylor Elvin, Timothy Bawden, Katharine Gerdes, Michaela Just, Kyle Kerger, Akash Kesari, Nicholas Lodi, Alexis Madsen, Morgan Mankle, and Emily Young
Sukup Family Award
Awarded to UI REACH students in honor of Andrew Sukup, a graduate of the UI REACH program.
Recipients: Courtnie Bruns and Emmie Tiemeier
Edgar M. and Evelyn Benzler Tanruther Scholarship
Awarded to elementary education students and established through the estate of Edgar Tanruther (29MA, 37PhD).
Recipients: Emily Frisk, Clarice Kelling, and Cassandra Williams
University High School Innovative Developments in Education Award
Awarded to student teachers and established through gifts from U-High alumni and faculty.
Recipient: Joel Knipe
Emily C. Wagner Scholarship
Awarded to English education undergraduate students from Iowa and established by Richard and Sandy Wagner in memory of their daughter, Emily (02BA).
Recipients: Rex Connor and Skyler Lawson
Erwin and Louise Wasta International Scholarship
Awarded to a full-time international student and established by Stephanie Wasta (89MA, 93PhD) in honor of her grandparents.
Recipient: Shinji Katsumoto
Women in Secondary Science/Math Education Support Fund
Awarded to a female student from a rural area studying secondary science or math education.
Recipient: Newly established
Ernest L. and Janet M. Yeakey Education Scholarship
Awarded to a UI College of Education student pursuing math education. Established by Ernest Yeakey (60PhD) and Janet Yeakey (61BA).
Recipient: Zachary Mohr