Pleasant Valley high school is full of academically inclined students, and on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 79 of these students were recognized for their accomplishments with a scholarship.
Every year, PV holds a “scholarship night” in the spring, in order for the scholarship providers to give the scholarships to the recipients. Senior students complete applications and essays for the scholarships and can apply for as many as they would like. In order to give every student an equal opportunity, each person is only allowed to receive one scholarship. The recipients of these scholarships are chosen by the scholarship providers. Each scholarship is either worth $500, $1000, or $2000, depending on the type of scholarship. The descriptions of the scholarships are all different and range from athletic success to community involvement.
Pleasant Valley offers these scholarships in order to support and encourage students to continue their academic careers in college. For some students at PV, finances are a struggle, which makes these scholarship even better for them to receive. “I was honored to receive a scholarship on scholarship night. I would encourage everyone to apply because it’s a super easy process and will be very helpful in paying for college,” said senior Emily Bruinsma.
On the night of the event, Pleasant Valley Superintendent, Jim Spelhaug, began by telling of the importance of the scholarships and the legacy that is held within them. Spelhaug then announced and presented the first handful of scholarships. After Spelhaug presented, representatives from each scholarship stood up and presented the scholarship to each individual recipient.
After each scholarship was awarded, Spelhaug returned to the stage and gave a final message to the seniors, encouraging them to finish the semester strong and use their scholarships to the best of their abilities. “It is amazing that PV was able to give out 79 scholarships this year and even more amazing that lots of them had moving background stories to go with them. Scholarships are helpful since college loans are a nightmare to most students and they definitely help to alleviate some of that stress. I am extremely grateful to Ladonna Czachowski for my scholarship,” said senior Keeli Richards.
Below is the full list of the scholarships and recipients:
Arconic Science Achievement Scholarship: Emily Suen
Ann & Rainsford Brown, Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Jerry Pendleton
Bettendorf Hy-Vee Citizenship Scholarship: Kelsey Borbeck
Bettendorf Rotary: Chuck Mooney/William Stradt/Rich & Dee James Scholarship:
Lillian Jones
Bettendorf Rotary: Chuck Mooney/William Stradt/Rich & Dee James Scholarship: Elizabeth Zupancic
PV/Bettendorf Baseball Participation Scholarship: Michael Tappa
Bill & Ellen Stradt Family Scholarship: Alexis Cordts
Brett Greenwood “Total Effort” Scholarship: Addie Swanson
Bridgeview Elementary Achievement Scholarship: Danielle Henricksen
Carl D. Schillig Memorial Scholarship: Kaitlyn Evans
Carolyn & Joseph Martin Family Scholarship: Reagan Putnam
Christine Harvey True Blue Scholarship: Sally Walker
Chuck Murphy Spartan Spirit Scholarship: Rachel Tebbe
Cody Elementary Achievement Scholarship: Dylan Hartford
Coe Noack Memorial Scholarship: Abigail Reese
Crystal Neuhaus Memorial Scholarship: Claire Park
Cyndy Behrer Leadership Scholarship: Vincent Gnad
Dale Barber “True Grit” Scholarship: Michael Showers
David J. Ramnath Memorial Scholarship: Emily Nutt
Deborah R. Menke Leadership Scholarship: Jarrin Flores
Dr. Vijay Rajendran Family Scholarship: Emily Bruinsma
English Department Achievement Scholarship: Julia Said
Evelyn Lehman iHope Scholarship: Teleah Thomas
Family & Consumer Sciences Achievement Scholarship: Emma Hartman
Hashmat Siddiqui & Manazir Family Scholarship: Austin Stickel
Andrew Green Memorial Scholarship: Ellie Kurth
Fred & Maxine Green Family Scholarship: Andrew Wendel
James D. Morrison Memorial Scholarship: Patrick McMonagle
Jana S. Witte Memorial Band Scholarship: Ian Aplington
Jana S. Witte Memorial Orchestra Scholarship: Harrison Qu Jana S. Witte Memorial Vocal Music Scholarship: Megan Maloney
Janet E. Keady Memorial Scholarship: Mark Conway
Jeffrey J. Donahue Memorial Scholarship: Damandeep Riat
Jeffrey J. Donahue Memorial Scholarship: Terry Saul
Jeremy “Red” Scannell Memorial Scholarship: Austin Kress
Jon Allbee Memorial Scholarship: Sarah Meyers
John P. Bowe Memorial Scholarship: Millenama Prasai
Joe & Sue Kaesbauer Memorial Scholarship: Cameron Trentz
Joshua D. Fullmer Memorial Scholarship: Zachary Pilger
Kathryn Ludwig Humanitarian Scholarship: Anna Grace Molinari
LeClaire Lions Club Service Scholarship: Rachel Rector
LeClaire Manufacturing Achievement Scholarship: McClain Acri
Lindsay Suhl Memorial Scholarship: Cecily Clark
Marilyn M. & Burton C. Gearhart Family Scholarship: Ryan Thompson
Math Department Achievement Scholarship: Samuel Lederman
Merrit Parsons Memorial Scholarship: Matthew Nelson Merrit & Dorothy Parsons Family Scholarship: Ebteehal Ismail
ORA Orthopedics Musculoskeletal Health Scholarship: Jared Allbee
Paul N. Lensmeyer Memorial Scholarship: Carrie Peterson
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Scholarship: Rachel Barber
Performing and Visual Arts Achievement Scholarship: Catherine Byrne
Philip A. Czachowski Memorial Scholarship: Keeli Richards
Pleasant View Elementary Achievement Scholarship: Alexander Wong
PTA Character Counts Scholarship: Marie DeLessio
Pleasant Valley Education Association Scholarship: Grace Wilson
Quad City Telugu Sangham Scholarship: Aditya Subramaniam
R Hovey Tinsman, Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Christian Jones
Ralph & Marjorie VenHorst Family Scholarship: Megan Hackney
Rao Chitneni Memorial Scholarship: Laura Butler
Riverdale Heights Elementary Achievement Scholarship: Lauren Carroll
Snow Masonic Lodge #44 Scholarship: Isaac Sears
Social Studies Department Achievement Scholarship: Samuel Lundry
Spartan Nation Band Scholarship: Mallory Obenauf
Spartan Nation Boys’ Cross Country Scholarship: Christian Simmons
Spartan Nation Determination Scholarship: Hannah Depover
Spartan Nation Extra Mile Scholarship: Samina Abdullah
Spartan Nation Girls’ Cross Country Scholarship: Lillie Klauer
Spartan Nation iHope Scholarship: Alexander Leonard
Spartan Nation iHope Scholarship: Andrew Van Nattan
Spartan Nation iHope Scholarship: Andrew Gratton
Spartan Nation Perseverance Scholarship: Sarah Yoerger
Spartan STEM Scholarship: Cole Edwards
Steven J. Vander Horn Memorial Scholarship: Ryan Brohm
Ted & Carole Minnick Family Scholarship: Ariel Rivera
Tinsman Family Education Scholarship: Olivia Heckel Tom & Martha Shaff Licea Family Scholarship: Mackinsey Paulson Tom St. Clair Memorial Scholarship: Hannah Humes
William “Bill” Stickel Memorial Scholarship: Jonathan Crouse
World Language Department Achievement Scholarship: Abigail Schaller
