Anderson Scholarship
Background
In 1997, I established a permanent endowment to fund a
scholarship at the Sioux Central Community School
in Sioux Rapids, Iowa to honor my mother, Herdis Anderson Parrish. Since my
mother was the salutatorian of the 1932 senior class of Sioux Rapids High School, the
scholarship is awarded to the senior with the second
highest GPA. This means
that the scholarship is self-selected by students.
Each year Sioux Central determines the senior with the second highest GPA in May, and then in the summer issues a check to that senior.
Artistic Tribute from Global Venus
The artist Global Venus, born in
Kosovo, was captivated by the emotion in the
above photo of my mother, called Andy during her adult life. Venus was so inspired that she
worked all night on the first painting.
Sadly Global Venus' website no longer exists. And the web page that explains the artists approach, the techniques used on this painting and the poem she wrote to my mother have been lost. I think Venus did a remarkable job of expressing my mother's quiet determination and showing the power of art over photography.
Class of 1932
There were 28 students in the 1932 Class of Sioux Rapids High School. All students are well dressed
even though it is in the middle of the depression. They are all thin, serious, and proud to be a high school graduate.
Click thumbnail to see a large version.
Click here
to see a smaller version with their names.
20th Anniversary of Anderson Scholarship
The 20th anniversary of the Anderson Scholarship was recognized on May 20, 2017 during the inspiring and smoothly run graduation ceremony held indoors at Sioux Central. I made my first visit to Sioux Central with some of my cousins who have deep roots there. My mother's brother Warren Anderson lived most of his life in nearby Rembrandt.
His daughters, Linda and Patricia, graduated from Sioux Central in 1965 and 1968. Patricia Anderson attended the graduation ceremony and some of her sister Linda's family attended, namely one of Linda's children, Elisabet DeRoin and two of her daughters, Alivia and Lorelai.
It was nice to finally meet the Principal, Jeff Scharn, to thank him. I spoke to him on the phone over 20 years ago about the idea for the Anderson Scholarship and set it up in a few days. I was also very happy to meet Holly Lockrem, who I have worked with over the phone for years. She has many assignments helping the students at Sioux Central.
Patricia greeted the Mosbo's, old friends from Rembrandt. Their son, Justin (aka JK) was the first Scholarship winner.
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Anderson Scholarship Winners
The names of the winners of the Anderson
Scholarship are engraved each year on a permanent plaque
prominently displayed in the lobby of the Sioux Central Community School near the athletic
trophies and lunchroom.
Nice to see academic achievement publicly celebrated like athletic achievement.
Click thumbnail to read plaque. Below is a list of the winners and brief sketches of their high school activities and college plans.
Justin Mosbo - Winner in 1998
Justin Mosbo from Rembrandt, Iowa was
the first recipient of the Anderson Scholarship. In high school, in addition
to his academic achievements, JK, as he prefers to be called, was all-state
in both basketball and baseball. At Luther College, he majored in
mathematics and statistics with a minor in computer science. At Luther
College, JK earned 10 letters in baseball and basketball. He was the senior
captain of the baseball team. He was three-time Northwest all-conference
selection, second team all-district and honorable mention all-state as
a senior. In addition, JK was academic all-state in both baseball and
basketball. JK is already well on his way to his chosen career as an actuary.
He passed the first of four grueling Actuarial Exams in January 2002.
JK started his career as an Actuarial
Analyst for American Express Financial Advisors in June 2002.
Luke Struve - Winner in 1999
At Iowa State, Luke Struve majored in horticulture
with an emphasis in greenhouse management and a minor in agricultural entrepreneurship. While at Iowa State,
he participated in the symphonic band and traveled to Ireland. Luke spent much of his college career working
at Reiman Gardens. After graduation from Iowa State in June 2003,
Luke is taking a six-month internship at Swift Greenhouses, Inc. in Gilman, Iowa. Luke has recently gotten engaged
and he and Megan will be married June 5, 2004 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Amanda McClatchey - Winner in 2000
Amanda McClatchey graduated with distinction from Iowa State in just three and a
half years and majored in sociology. While at Iowa State she worked at Beloit,
a residential treatment center for kids as a residential counselor. After
graduation from Iowa State in December 2003, Amanda got a job working
with Youth and Shelter Services
in Ames as a residential counselor. One of her next career goals is to
become a probation/parole officer for adults.
Matt Jacobson - Winner in 2001
In high school, Matt Jacobson was a member of the
National Honor Society and ran cross country on
the track team. After high school, Matt enlisted in the Navy and trained to be a nuclear qualified electrician
at the U.S. Navy Submarine School
and the Navy Nuclear Power School. The Navy
sent Matt to Iowa State University for a degree in
Mechanical Engineering as part of a Navy
commissioning program. Matt is completing his degree in at an accelerated pace, yet he makes time
to tutor students in physics and math. He is also on the Dean's list. Matt's goal after graduation in December 2006 is to serve
on surface ships.
Nathan Wittmaack - Winner in 2002
At Sioux Central, Nate Wittmaack was class president for 3 years. He was all state in
baseball and football, and academic all state in
basketball. Nate was awarded the prestigious
Presidential
Scholarship at UNI.
At UNI, he double-majored in economics and business
administration, and was awarded the Glasener scholarship. He graduated Summa Cum Laude,
and was selected to speak at graduation by the business administration faculty. Nathan received the
Purple and Old Gold award
as the top student in Management.
In July 2004,
Nate married Jennifer Brees,
who also graduated with him from UNI.
Alison Sickelka - Winner in 2003
At Sioux Central, Alison Sickelka was very active in clubs and organizations.
In college, Alison majored in Journalism & Mass Communication,
and worked as the photo editor at Iowa State Daily.
She has a website.
She was a member, and later an advisor, of the
President's Leadership Class
meeting weekly with President Geoffroy. Alison was on the committee
that planned VEISHEA,
and was an intern at
N'West Iowa REVIEW.
Kyle Rehnstrom - Winner in 2004
In 2004,
Kyle Rehnstrom received the Iowa Coaches Association's
Lanny Peterson Award as Captain of the All-Academic baseball team in Iowa.
In his freshman year at the University of Northern Iowa, he was awarded the
Freely Scholar-Athlete Award.
At UNI he earned the Missouri Valley Conference Honor roll listing and was named to the Dean's list. Due to a knee injury and surgery,
he transferred to North Iowa Area Community College continuing to pursue his
baseball career and business/finance degree.
In the fall of 2006, Kyle transferred to the University of Arkansas
in Little Rock on a baseball scholarship.
Cody Wittmaack - Winner in 2005
Cody Wittmaack was on the Student Council for three years,
serving as student council president his senior year. He was also
class president. Cody received numerous athletic honors in football,
basketball,
track, and baseball.
He was on the Elite Honor Roll, the
National Honor Society, received several academic honors and was a
Wendy's High School Heisman
finalist. After graduating from Sioux Central, he attended the
University of Northern Iowa where he just finished his freshman year and was
on the Dean's List both semesters. Cody has stayed active in athletics
as a member of the UNI club baseball team
and several intramural athletic
teams.
Grant Middendorff - Winner in 2006
At Sioux Central, Grant Middendorff was active in the Talented and Gifted Program, student government, the
stock market team, school plays, student mentoring and tutoring, golf and basketball.
Grant was a member of the National Honor Society and was listed in
Who's Who Among American
High School Students. He won a National Mathematicians Award, participated at the state
level in the Physics Olympics and was a member of the All-Academic Team 2006. Grant won
a first place award in the Space Settlement Design Competition in Houston.
Grant will attend the University of Iowa as a pre-med major.
Steven Postolka - Winner in 2007
At Sioux Central, Steven Postolka was a member of the National Honor Society
and attended the National Young Leaders Conference.
Steven was an all state speech contestant and the Quiz Bowl Team captain for 2006-2007.
He was also the American Legion Oratory Champion for Iowa.
Steven is interested in music: he plays the guitar, piano, saxophone (Sioux Central band as well as the Community Band),
and also sings in the Sioux Central choir.
In his spare time, he enjoys model railroading and golf. Steven will attend Morningside College
where he will major in politics or journalism.
Jessica Skelton - Winner in 2008
Jessica Skelton, who is from Rembrandt, played in the high school band and sang in the choir for all four
years at Sioux Central and won the
John Philip Sousa award
and the National Choral award.
She loves to play sports for fun and she was the leader for 3 years of the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Jessica was President of the National Honor Society
her senior year and 4-H for 3 years.
She won the DAR Good Citizenship Award. Jessica was a class
officer (VP, Treasurer or Secretary) all of her high school career. She won an astonishing 14 college scholarships.
Jessica is headed to the University of Northern Iowa where she will
pursue her interests in communications, education and art.
Christopher Sievers - Winner in 2009
Chris Sievers' activities at Sioux Central included 4H and FFA, concert & jazz bands, football, wrestling,
Physics Olympics,
Space Settlement Design Competition,
chess club, Buena Vista County (BVC) Promise Youth Council,
BVC 4H County Youth Council, and
BVC 4H Executive Council.
Chris received state academic recognition in football and
FFA. He was awarded the
IHSAA Bernie Saggau Award
and the 2009 Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award.
He placed second in Iowa in
4H livestock judging.
Chris also won first place at the
Iowa Beef Expo Livestock Judging Contest.
Chris is headed to Iowa State majoring in Animal Science with the goal of becoming a veterinarian.
Jessica Romo - Winner in 2010
Jessica Romo's extracurricular activities at Sioux Central included dance, cross country, basketball, volleyball, golf,
softball, band, jazz band, choir, large group speech, National Honor Society,
Fellowship of Christian Athletes,
and Family Career and Community Leaders of America.
Jessica was the dance team's captain and was awarded the Outstanding Member Award.
She was also received an award for Academic Excellence.
She was the President of the Student Council. Jessica has thought out career plans starting with 4 years studying counseling at
Nebraska Christian College followed by pursuing a MA at another college or university.
Maggie Patterson - Winner in 2011
Maggie Patterson's extracurricular activities at Sioux Central included concert and jazz band, concert and jazz choir,
FFA, speech, theater, quiz bowl, Talented & Gifted,
National Honor Society, and
Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Maggie served as the senior class secretary.
She received the National Choral Award.
She also received the Northwest Conference Academics/Activities award. Maggie was selected for the
Space Settlement Design Competition in Houston. Outside of school, she
participated in 4-H and her church's youth group and contemporary worship team.
Maggie will attend Augustana College in the honors program and participate in the choral music program.
Janae Smith - Winner in 2012
Janae Smith's extracurricular activities included volleyball, basketball, drill team, cross country, track, and softball.
She was also active with Speech and Drama, Choir and Band, Future Business Leaders of America,
School Improvement Advisory Council,
National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars,
BV Promise Youth Group,
and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Janae served as her senior class president. She was part of the Elite Honor Roll all four years of high school and received numerous academic honors.
She received the E. Wayne Cooley Award, and the
DAR Good Citizens Award.
Janae will study Pre-Med and Spanish at Iowa State University.
Austin Glawe - Winner in 2013
Austin Glawe lettered all four years in basketball, football and track as well as two years in baseball.
He was the team captain for basketball and football his senior year. For 3 years Austin made the all-district
team for football and all-conference for basketball. He was all-state in basketball his senior year.
See YouTube Mid-Season and
2nd Half Highlights. Austin
was in the school play, the Jazz Choir, the Concert Choir and the
National Honor Society. He won 3 other scholarships including the
Collegiate Scholarship for Northwestern. He also won the
National Scholar/Athlete Award.
Austin is attending Northwestern College,
playing for the basketball team, and
majoring in Athletic Training.
Gloria Jensen - Winner in 2014
Gloria Jensen's extracurricular activities included volleyball, softball, track, cross country, group speech, the fall musical, the spring play,
choir, band, jazz band, Future Business Leaders of America, and the National Honor Society. Gloria was on the honor roll for all four years and is
the President of the National Honor Society. She was selected for Iowa's High School Volleyball Academic All-State Team.
She was one of 435 high school seniors honored by Governor Branstad.
Gloria is VP of her senior class and will attend Iowa State University to major in both Interior Design and Accounting.
Paige Bennett - Winner in 2015
Paige Bennett competed at a varsity level in volleyball, softball, and track while in high school. She also participated in choir, musicals, plays,
and large group speech. She made it to All-State Speech both her junior and senior year as a Non-Performer. She was on the honor roll her entire
high school career, and was chosen as Best of Class.
She was also selected as a
Governor's Scholar.
Paige participated in student government all four years and won various academic and athletic
awards including the E. Wayne Cooley Award. She will attend Drake University to major
in Actuarial Science.
Claire Blomberg - Winner in 2016
In high school, Claire Blomberg participated in Student Council as Vice President,
dance team, football cheerleading as Captain, basketball cheerleading, band, choir, jazz band, Large Group Speech,
Future Business Leaders of America as Vice President,
volleyball, and Talented and Gifted Program. She was selected to be a member of the 2016 All Iowa Dance Team,
the 2015 Honor Cheer Squad, and the 2015 All Academic Cheer Squad.
She was on the Elite Honor Roll and a class officer every year. Outside of school, she was the captain of a
Relay For Life team. She will attend the
University of Missouri in the honors college
and major in Business Administration.
Jennifer Sievers - Winner in 2017
Jennifer Sievers served as Class President for 3 consecutive years. See was on the Honor Roll for all 4 years of high school.
Jennifer participated in an amazing range of activities: basketball, softball, volleyball, track, band, jazz band, choir,
theater, large group and individual speech, FFA, and
Students Inspiring Future Teachers (SIFT) Club. Outside of school, Jennifer
participated in 4-H and her church youth group. She will attend South Dakota State University
majoring in Agronomy.
Melissa Lansink - Winner in 2018
Melissa Lansink participated in cross country, golf, theater, choir, band, jazz band, large group speech, individual speech, the Talented and Gifted program,
and National Honors Society. Also Melissa was co-captain of wrestling cheerleading for 3 years and served as a reporter for
Future Business Leaders of America.
She was on the honor roll for her four years of high school. Melissa volunteered at her church teaching kindergarten and first grade catechism. She also worked throughout high school at the
Sioux Rapids nursing home. She will attend
Northwestern College in Orange City, IA to study psychology and education.
Grace Berberich - Winner in 2019
Grace Berberich participated in volleyball, basketball, track, softball, and golf throughout her high school years. She was a National Honor Society member, and a reporter for Family Career and Community Leaders of America.
Outside of school in 4-H, she showed cattle. Grace was on the Elite Honor Roll all four years of high school, and received the Academic All State award for golf her senior year.
She participated in the Space Settlement Design Competition in Houston, Texas.
She has received several academic awards through the University of Iowa, including the
Old Gold Scholarship, the
Academic Success Scholarship,
and the University of Iowa Forevermore Scholarship.
At the University of Iowa, Grace will be in the honors program studying Biology and Pre-Med.
Shelby Johnson - Winner in 2020
Shelby Johnson was on the honor roll all four years of high school. She participated in track her first year.
Then she started her first job as a life guard, which she continued to do each summer.
Her days after school were consumed with working.
Shelby participated in the art club all 4 years, and helped on the haunted house for 3 years.
She entered several art shows, and placed in a couple of them.
Shelby did an internship at Okoboji Graphics.
She plans to attend Iowa Lakes Community College
and then transfer to the University of South Dakota.
Shelby's goal is to get a degree in either animation or software engineering.
Emma Ahrendsen - Winner in 2021
Emma Ahrendsen served as class president for her last two years of high school.
She participated in basketball & football cheer, track & field, dance team,
FCA,
band, choir, large group & individual speech, jazz band, theater productions,
FFA as Vice President, and NHS.
Emma was on the honor roll all 4 years of high school and was chosen as her class's
Governor Scholar's.
Outside of school Emma was involved in 4-H, the
Junior Red Angus Association of America, and the
Clay County Fair Youth Ambassador Program.
Emma is attending Iowa State University and majoring in Agriculture Business.
Brooklyn Cavannaugh - Winner in 2022
Brooklyn Cavanaugh participated in dance team, football cheer, basketball cheer, wrestling cheer,
FCCLA,
dance team, and large group speech throughout high school. She was a National Honor Society member,
was class president all four years of high school, and vice president of FCCLA her senior year.
Some of FCCLA community services helped Blanks Children’s Hospital, the local fire department and the local police department.
Brooklyn received the Academic All State award
along with being on the elite honor roll throughout high school.
She will be attending Iowa State University and plans on going into the health-care field.
Halle Laursen - Winner in 2023
Halle Laursen was the vice president of her senior class as well as the vice president of the National Honor Society at Sioux Central. She was involved with volleyball, basketball, track, golf, softball, theater, large group speech, individual speech, choir, band, FCA, and FFA during her high school career. Outside of school, Halle helped in her church's nursery and was an active member in the youth group. Halle was nominated as the class's Governor's Scholar and also received the Bernie Saggau award. She plans to attend Wayne State College where she will be in the honors program and study Pre-Med.
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