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 the First State Bank in Sioux Rapids issues them a check in September.

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.

Anderson Scholarship Winners

The names of the winners of the Anderson Scholarship are engraved on a permanent plaque prominently displayed in the lobby of the Sioux Central Community School near the athletic trophies. Click to enlarge photo.

The photos (below) of Anderson Scholarship winners were taken at different points in time. Photos of the earliest winners were typically taken as they graduated from college (as digital cameras became common). In 2006 after a catch-up effort on missing photos, a new standard approach was introduced: digital photos from the high school yearbook will be used for winners.

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 Suma 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.