Bettendorf Education Association Scholarship

This scholarship is open to Bettendorf High School graduating seniors. This scholarship is offered by the Bettendorf Education Association (BEA) to applicants who are definitely planning a career in education. The BEA Scholarship may be used at any post-secondary institution as long as a career in education is pursued.

Essay: Write a thoughtful well-written essay discussing why you wish a career in education.

References: Provide the name, address and phone of three adults (other than teachers) who would recommend you as a quality candidate for this scholarship.

Scholarship Value: $500, non-renewable.

Denny Thiessen Memorial Scholarship

A scholarship in the amount of $1,000 will be given annually to a Bettendorf High School senior student-athlete in honor of the late Denny Thiessen. The award will be given directly to the student at the Senior Awards Assembly who best exemplifies the characteristics of the former Bettendorf teacher and coach.

Denny Thiessen was a teacher, coach and good friend for 18 years in the Bettendorf School District from 1970-1988. During his tenure at Bettendorf High School and Bettendorf Middle School, Mr. Thiessen taught speech and social studies and coached baseball and basketball, coaching the Bettendorf varsity boys basketball team to its first ever state championship in 1986. He touched the lives of hundreds of students with his passion for life, commitment to excellence, and a sense of humor that everyone appreciated. Mr. Thiessen always found time to go out of his way to talk to students and make them feel welcomed. Mr. Thiessen died of a stroke in 2001.

Essay: Applicants must write a minimum 2-page (double spaced) essay as to why they feel they best exemplify the characteristics exhibited by Mr. Thiessen throughout his lifetime.

Selection criteria will include the following:

1. Academic achievement equal to or greater than 3.0 GPA (cumulative through first semester of senior year).
2. Exemplary sportsmanship.
3. Responsible behavior in everyday life.
4. Leadership, commitment to excellence.
5. Sense of humor, good friend to all.

Martin Samuel Eason was born in Texarkana, Texas. He and his family moved to Bettendorf Iowa in 2003 where he attended middle and high school. He graduated with the "class of 2006" and was loved by all his peers. He then went on to Scott Community College to pursue his passion in art. Sadly, we lost Martin in Sept. 2012, he was 23 years old. He was fun, energetic, outgoing, and a caring young man, not to mention intelligent and artistic. He began sketching when he was in the first grade and advanced to painting, watercolors, and scratchboard sketching by middle school. Martin’s vivid imagination of wildlife can be seen throughout some of his best work. He especially loved lions and tigers, and was very passionate about capturing those images in his work. Once he began a project, he was very committed to finishing his final projects, sometimes staying late after school. Martin was very proud of his work, and we are just as proud to share it, as it will be displayed here at the school for viewing.

Criteria:

• Bettendorf High School Senior
• Minimum GPA 2.5
• Student has taken at least 5 art courses

Recommendation Letter: 1 recommendation letter from a teacher outside of the art department or an employer that speaks to his/her character

Essay: How has art made an impact in your life so far and how has it shaped your plans for the future?

This scholarship, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bettendorf, is intended to provide tuition and/or textbook assistance for one graduating senior from each of the following schools: Bettendorf High School, Pleasant Valley High School and Rivermont Collegiate. In addition, a Non-Traditional Student enrolling at Scott Community College will also be selected to receive a Scholarship. (A Non-Traditional student is defined as an individual who has been out of high school for several years and who has later enrolled in a college degree or certificate program.)

Rotarians believe that they can make a difference – around the block, and around the world. In addition, we’ve funded several international projects that have helped improve the living conditions and quality of life for people in Nicaragua, Russia and Bulgaria to name just a few. Since 1985, Rotary International has been at the forefront of eradicating the poliovirus from the planet – we now have only four countries to go.

We also believe in our students – our next generation of leaders. Our commitment to education has been demonstrated in the creation of our own Bettendorf Rotary Foundation, funded solely by members of our club, with the singular purpose of providing ongoing scholarship opportunities for local students. Although all Bettendorf Rotarians contribute to our Foundation, some have made significant gifts to assure the perpetuity of our commitment to scholarships. Major Donor Rotarians to our Foundation include:

● Charles J. Mooney ● William J. Stradt ● Rich & Dee James

The Rotary will award two $1,000 one-time, non-recurring awards, disbursed directly to their college; award funds are not disbursed to the students.

Criteria: Award recipients are required to attend at least one Rotary meeting during the award year.

The Rotary Club is pleased to offer a scholarship opportunity to students who have demonstrated:

• A Spirit Of Willing Service To Others
• Leadership
• Academic Success

Essay: Provide a short essay less than one page in length – “How I have demonstrated Service Above Self”

The Carl D. Schillig Memorial Scholarship

Objective of the Scholarship: The primary objective of this scholarship is to memorialize the life of Carl D. Schillig by annually providing a scholarship to a Pleasant Valley and Bettendorf High School senior who has plans to continue his/her education beyond high school.

Amount of Scholarship: The scholarship provides the student selected $4,000.00. This sum will be granted over a four-year period in the amount of $1,000.00 per year. To receive the following years’ money, the recipient must provide the same information as listed above, a short narrative that summarizes future plans and how the previous year went, and a record of grades. To retain eligibility for the scholarship, the recipient will maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 (4.0 scale).

Enrollment in a two-year community college is acceptable. Recipients attending a community college are limited to a $2,000.00 scholarship ($1,000.00 per year). If the student graduates from the two-year program and transfers to a four-year college the next year, the remaining $2,000.00 is available in $1,000.00 increments. Students pursuing degree/certification programs that are less than two-year programs are not eligible for this scholarship.

Eligibility: The purpose of this scholarship is to assist students who have the ability to succeed in college but have academically achieved in the approximate middle one-third of their graduating class and may be less likely to receive financial assistance in the form of scholarships.

Within this general purpose, the Schillig Family requests the following guidelines be considered in awarding this scholarship:

1. The recipient must be a graduating senior at Pleasant Valley Community High School or Bettendorf High School
2. The recipient must have a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.3 after seven semesters of high school.
3. The recipient will exemplify Carl Schillig’s spirit and interests. The activities Carl was involved include:

• School: Class officer, Peer Helper
• Athletics: swimming, cross country, track
• Community: 16^th Iowa Infantry (Civil War Re-enactors), Cornbelt Running Club, Newspaper carrier, Whitey’s Ice Cream employee
• Church: Altar server, lector, and youth ministry

It is the family’s intention to have the scholarship awarded to a well-rounded individual who is involved with school, community, and church activities.