Fantastic day for seniors as thousands awarded in scholarships

By Lori Berglund — Daily Freeman-Journal Editor
Years of work by the students, support from parents, and the guidance of teachers was rewarded in full Thursday afternoon as the Webster City High School Class of 2008 collected untold thousands of dollars in scholarships to help them continue their education.

Market conditions actually produced a drop in the dollars available for one of Webster City’s best known scholarship programs, the Cessna, but even so, the Class of 2008 may share in an estimated $42,500 under the Cessna gift.

Some 125 graduates have applied for the Cessna, each to receive $250. That figure grows with a students grade point: $100 extra for 3.0 and above; $200 for 3.4 and above; and $400 for 3.75 and above.

In addition to the Cessna, slightly more than $36,000 was awarded in private scholarships during Thursday’s assembly. But an even greater amount, more than $150,000 has been awarded to class members in scholarships not included in the program.

In all, the WCHS Class of 2008 has so far earned more than $228,000 in scholarships.

Leading the class is Jessica Nilles, a gifted pianist and academic stand-out. Nilles received two scholarships at Thursday’s assembly, but has collected even more.

Wartburg College has awarded her two separate scholarships that provide $21,000 per year for four years. She has also received the Iowa First Lady’s Scholarship of $3,000 over two years.

Another standout in the Class of 2008 is Bettina Khanthongdy, who was awarded a full-ride four-year tuition to Iowa State University, plus an additional $1,000 per year for four years from the university.

Also of note is Bryce Vulgamott who received a Grandview Dean’s Scholarship, providing him with $7,000 per year for four years.

Here’s a look at the winners:

•Keith Maxon Scholarship, $200: Maria Maxon.

•American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship, two awards of $300 each: Barbara Boman and Jessica Hill.

•Conklin Family Scholarship, four-year schools, 11 awards of $275 each: Jaime Adams, Megan Dyer, Morgan Huntington, Alyssa Lenning, Hanna Pint, Matthew Reeves, Josh Schmidt, Reginald Steig, Jared Wilaby, Hillary Williams, and Kathryn Wollan.

•Conklin Family Scholarship, two-year schools, 10 awards of $200 each: Arrin Balsley, Sean Biggins, Samantha Christian, Whitney Koester, Nathan Parkhill, Matthew Pruismann, Mary Stribe, Melissa Stribe, Elizabeth Trepp, and Travis Westrum.

•National Council on Youth Leadership: two $100 awards:

•Hamilton Hospital Auxiliary: five awards of $500 each: Samantha Christian, Emily Helvick, Whitney Koester, Caity Johnson and Melissa Stribe.

•Howard Shepard/Electrolux Purchasing Scholarship, $500 per year for four years: Nathan Watne.

•Charmaine Withers Long Book Memorial, $500: Whitney Koester.

•Stanley Mark Withers Memorial, $500: Cameron Hunt.

•Mr. and Mrs. Frank Todd Withers Memorial, $250: Jordan Kane.

•Harry and Helen Mertz Family, $250: Kellie Pruismann.

•Cynthia Warland Eddy Scholarship, $100: Emily Helvick.

•Oliver Gore Scholarship, $500: Tanner Moen.

•Spencer Lane Scholarship, 14 awards of $200 each: Emily Baker, Bryce Bertran, Jordan Bjerke, Lauren Chalfant, Joshua Crouch, Jessie Fevold, Ben Hayes, Allyce Helton, Monica Japuntich, Bettina Khanthongdy, Alyssa Lenning, Shelby Robinson, Tyler Schutt and Jake Van Diest.

•Effie McCollum Jones Scholarship, five awards of $400 each: Megan Brandt, Alison Hayes, Matthew Reeves, Elizabeth Trepp, and Kathryn Wollan.

•Lynx Scholarship, five awards of $200 each: Megan Brandt, Alison Hayes, Morgan Huntington, Abby Shannon and Reginald Steig.

•Patricia Gatewood Memorial, $1,000: Megan Dyer.

•Judy Snetselaar Memorial, $300:

•Don and Esther Reimers Memorial, $800: Jessica Nilles.

•Gardner and Lela Naden Memorial, $500: Maria Maxon.

•A.J. Julian: $2,000 per year for two years: Nathan Watne.

•Peoples Credit Union, $500: Samantha Christian.

•Iowa State and Hamilton County Bar Association Citizenship Award, two awards of $100 each: Sean Biggins and Bettina Khanthongdy.

•DAR Citizenship Award, $50:

•Bruce Yungclas/WCCT Scholarship, two awards of $250 each: Jessica Nilles and Kathryn Wollan.

•Julie Eggers Memorial Scholarship, $500: Elizabeth Trepp.

•Darwin Hartnett Memorial Scholarship, $500: Ashley Iles.

•Chuck Hill Memorial Scholarship, $100: Kristen Peterson.

•Norman Greufe Memorial Scholarship: $200: Caityln Johnson.

•Daily Freeman-Journal Most Improved Senior Award, $100: Courtney Lindahl

•McFarland Clinic, Webster City, $300: Elizabeth Hoover.

•Webster City Education Association Scholarship, $300: Karissa Kennedy.

•Richard G. Abbott Scholarship, $125: Travis Westrum.

•Troy Youngdale Memorial, $250: Jesse Bakken.

•Hamilton County Farm Bureau, $1,000: Allison Trampel

•Jerry Oberender/Kenn Aldridge Memorial, $500: Keri Oberender.

•Patten Family, two awards of $300 each: Tanner Moen and Nathan Watne.

•Mary Spellmeyer Memorial Music Award, two awards of $100 each: Nikita Choate and Johnathan Frerichs.

•Hamilton County ISU Alumni, two scholarships of $250 each: Todd Carlson and Nicholas Oberender.

•Harry and Helen Mertz Family Scholarship, $250: Kellie Pruismann.

•Cooperative Telephone Exchange serving Kamrar and Stanhope, two awards of $500 each: Jordan Crouch and Allison Trampel.

•CDS Global Community Contribution Committee's Donald F. Ross Community Directed Scholarship, $850: Ashley Iles.

•National Council on Youth Leadership, two awards of $100 each: Samanta Kantak and Caitlyn Johnson.

•Lucy Standish/Newcastle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award, $50: Kathryn Wollan.







Cessna Department Awards, $250 each: art, Allyce Helton; business education, Jessica Thongsouk, co-op education, Kasie Tudor; English/foreign language, Tanner Moen; life management, Courtney Lindahl; music, Brandon Hicok; P.E./athletics, Alyssa Lenning; science/math, Jared Willaby; social studies: Maria Maxon; technical education, Jesse Bakken.



President's Award for Educational Excellence: Jaimie Adams, Emily Baker, Gregory Benda, Sean Biggins, Megan Brandt, Lauren Corrow, Megan Dwyer, Allison Hayes, Elizabeth Hoover, Monica Japuntich, Caitlyn Johnson, Samantha Kantak, Bettina Khanthongdy, Malia Koontz, Cara McNiel, Tanner Moen, Christine Monson, Jessica Nilles, Keri Oberender, Nicholas Oberender, Kristen Peterson, Hanna Pint, Matthew Reeves, Abby Shannon, Carly Tindall, Allison Trampel, Elizabeth Trepp, Jake Van Diest, Bryce Vulgamot, Nathan Watne, and Kathryn Wollan.



President's Award for Education Improvement: Mancy Buakham, Samantha Christian, Johnathan Frerichs, Jessica Hill, Morgan Huntington, Karissa Kennedy, Kellie Pruismann, Mary Stribe, Melissa Stribe, Souphan Thongsouk, Jocelyn Warwick and Hilary Williams.





Northcentral Conference Academic Awards: Gregory Benda, Megan Dyer, Elizabeth Hoover, Samantha Kantak, Jessica Nilles, Nicholas Oberender, Matthew Reeves, Allison Trampel and Kathryn Wollan.



State of Iowa Scholars: Elizabeth Hoover and Jessica Nilles.



•Academic All-State Team Nominee: Jessica Nilles.

•IHSAA Governors Scholar Recognition Program Nominee: Jessica Nilles.

•Wendy's High School Heisman Citizenship Award: Jordan Kane and Matthew Reeves.

•Bernie Saggau Award: Sean Biggins.

•Layton Wells Sports Grant, $300: Tyler Raygor.

•E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship Nominee: Chrstine Monson.



Quill and Scroll Society: newpaper, two years, Megan Brandt; yearbook, one year, Arrin Balsley and Monica Japuntich; yearbook, two years, Keri Oberender and Elizabeth Trepp; yearbook, three years, Hanna Pint.



•Club Life Scholarship, $200: Jaimie Adams.





Awards not presented at assembly

•Iowa Central Community College Diesel Technology Scholarship, $400: Jesse Bakken.

•AIB College of Business Honors Scholarship, $1,750: Mancy Buakham.

•Iowa Central Community College Art Department Scholarship, $450: Jessie Fevold.

•Iowa Central Community College Art Show, $250: Jessie Fevold.

•Iowa Central Community College Basketball scholarship, $2,000, plus books: Jessie Fevold.

•Iowa Central Community College Spring Track scholarship, $500, Jessie Fevold.

•Federated Music Scholarship, $500 Elizabeth Hoover.

•NAMTA Scholarship, $250: Elizabeth Hoover.

•University of Northern Iowa Distinguished Scholar scholarship, $3,000 over two years: Monica Japuntich.

•University of Northern Iowa Music Department scholarship, $2,500 for four years: Samantha Kantak.

•Iowa State University Multicultural Vision Program Scholarship, tuition for four years: Bettina Khanthongdy.

•Iowa State University Recognition Award, $1,000 per year for four years: Bettina Khanthongdy.

•Ellsworth Community College Fire Science Scholarship, $500: Adam Klein.

•Ellsworth Community College Vocational Scholarship, $300: Adam Klein.

•Wartburg College Regent's Scholarship, $16,000 per year for four years: Jessica Nilles.

•Wartburg College Meistersinger Scholarship, $5,000 per year for four years: Jessica Nilles.

•First Lady of Iowa Scholarship, $3,000 over two years: Jessica Nilles.

•Iowa Central Community College Automotive Technology Scholarship, $200: Nathan Parkhill.

•Iowa Central Community College Automotive Collision, $100: Nathan Parkhill.

•Iowa Central Community College Automotive Technology, $150: Nathan Parkhill.

•Iowa Central Community College Academic Scholarship, $400: Nathan Parkhill.

•Univeristy of Northern Iowa Distinguished Scholar Scholarship, $3,000 over two years: Hanna Pint.

Iowa Central Community College Art Scholarship, $400: Matthew Pruismann,

•Faith Baptist Bible College Scholarship, $2,000: Matthew Reeves.

•University of Northern Iowa Distinguished Scholar Scholarship, $3,000 over two years: Abby Shannon.

•NIACC - Helen Perkins Thompson Scholarship, $1,000: Mary Stribe.

•NIACC - Helen Perkins Thompson Scholarship, $1,000: Melissa Stribe.

•Grandview College Dean's Scholarship, $7,000 for four years: Bryce Vulgamott.