Editor:

The Mid-Prairie Community School District Foundation would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the community and area businesses for their generosity and support of our 2019 educational scholarships.

We are proud of our involvement in awarding educational scholarships. This year more than 60 scholarships were distributed through our local Dollars for Scholars Chapter totaling more than $80,000.

It is our goal to have adequate resources so that all Mid-Prairie graduates wishing to continue their education after high school receive some support from the Mid-Prairie Dollars for Scholars. 

The foundation is extremely grateful for the commitment from the 35 generous local businesses listed below who have made our gold scholarships possible this year. The gold scholarships are available to all Mid-Prairie graduating seniors.

In order to qualify, students must attend and receive a Renaissance award at the spring Renaissance program. Students must also be present at class night and continue their education at a higher learning institution.

Our goal is to provide a $250 scholarship to qualified students. This year of those that qualified and received $1,000 or less in other scholarships from the Mid-Prairie Foundation, the foundation awarded a gold scholarship in the amount of $650 to attend the college they have chosen.

Because of these generous donors we were able to exceed our $250 goal this year, we thank you for your support.

The contributing donors were:

$250 donors: AW Welt Ambrisco Insurance; Beatty and Peterseim Funeral Homes; BT Farms Inc., Brent and Tara Yoder; Century Insurance; Charles Capper Auto Center; Duwa’s Quality Walls, Jason and Andrea Duwa; Edward and Sally Whetstine; Freeman Foods, Clint and Nicole Miller; Gary and Teresa Gostynski; Gent Ag, Greg, Georgia, Joseph and Hannah Gent; Gingerich Well and Pump Service; Iowa Collision and Paint; JB Repair; Kalona Brewing Company; Kalona Oil, dba Petroleum Services Company; Kalona Realty; Kalona Sales Barn, Devin and LeVaughn Mullet; Kalona Tire; Kevin and Linda Gent; Mark and Maureen Schneider; Mechanical Service; Prairie Pork, John and Cathy Gent; Precision Structures, Chris and Nicole Harmsen; Residential Mortgage Network, Jessica Greving; Shive Hattery; Statler Construction; United Animal Health; Wellman Cooperative. Telephone Association.

$500 donors: Iowa Pond Guy, Brandon Harland; Kalona Cooperative Technology Company.

Endowed donors: Duwa’s Auction Service, Dwight Duwa; Foundations Unlimited, Ben and Sonja Hawbaker; Junell Duwa, Coldwell Banker Real Estate agent.

Are you interested in making a donation to the Mid-Prairie Foundation?

The Mid-Prairie Foundation qualifies with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, all gifts to and through the foundation are tax deductible.

Your interest in and willingness to contribute to the Mid-Prairie Community Schools can enrich the schools and our communities. Private contributions are needed to maintain and improve the level of educational excellence. Residents, alumni and other interested individuals of the Mid-Prairie Community School District can ensure that our schools remain places that reflect “Excellence Together.”

The foundation will manage and ensure that your contribution will be used as intended. You may designate a specific area for an endowment gift out or you may give for an undesignated purpose.

Endowment gifts, which allow the principal to grow, while using only the interest, are encouraged. Please contact Mitch Billups, 319-330-8433; Jeremiah Gingerich, 319-325-3918; or Hayley Hershberger, 319-430-4346, if you have interest or questions about contributing. 

To the Class of 2019, we say congratulations and good luck in your future endeavors.

Hayley Hershberger

Mid-Prairie Community School District Foundation