3 Students Chosen for $5000 Scholarship - Herbert Hoover Library Association

Oct. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- William (Billy) Dyke, son of Susan and Clarence (Dean) Dyke of Sidney, attending Sidney Jr./Sr. High School was awarded one of the $5,000 scholarships. His project was entitled “The Power of Youth:  A Rain Garden Project” Billy says, “As the primary life source on this planet, water is our most valuable, and abused resource.  By establishing the rain garden/bioswale outside my high school, it will help reduce erosion and the amount of toxins that enter our ground water.  It is my hope that others will create similar gardens, healing our world one step at a time.

Another $5000 winner, Katherine (Katie) Short, Daughter of Sherry and Lynn Leksell and David Short, attends Webster City High School.  Her project was entitled, “A Children’s Theatre for a Cure (ACT for a Cure).”  ACT for a Cure is a children's theatre production of Zink the Zebra.  The three-fold goal of her project was to create a springboard for conversation about cancer with kids, to raise money for Children's Cancer Connection in order to send child cancer patients to camp, and to put forth a message about differences and tolerance.

The third scholarship recipient is Magdalene (Maggie) Van Roekel, Daughter of Martin & Marianne Van Roekel of Wellman, attending Mid-Prairie High School.  Her project was entitled, “Instilling the Love for Reading:  Increasing Books on CD for Local Library." Maggie says, “Reading is an essential part to early childhood, but some parents may not have time to read to their children. This is why I wanted to record books on CD for our public library, as we had a lack of children’s audio books. Books read by members of the community will encourage kids to love to read.”

Other students receiving $1000 awards are:  Rachel Bair, Daughter of Bob & Robin Bair of Hudson; Emily Bicknese, Daughter of Aaron & Karla Bicknese of Elgin; Sarah Day, Daughter of Mark Day & Marylee Kirsten-Day of Grundy Center; Austin Demers, Son of Jim and Patti Demers of Storm Lake; Joshua Dutler, Son of Gene and Nadine Dutler of Ida Grove; Taylor Geu, Son of Tom & Carol Geu of Vermillion, SD; Pavane Gorrepati, Daughter of Krishnarao & Pramila Gorrepati of Davenport; Woo Tack Hong of Iowa city, Son of Suk-Ho Hong & Jung-Hye Choi; Jay Kakade, Son of Gautam & Neeraja Kakade of Newton; Victor Wang, Son of Zhi Jian Wang & Xiaojie Qu; and Dana Wolthuizen, Daughter of Robert & Marlys Wolthuizen of Sheldon.

The Mariah Becker Volunteer Leadership Award went to Pavane Gorrepati, whose project was entitled, “Sending Seeds Overseas.”  The Mariah Becker Award goes to the student whose project embodies or promotes the spirit of volunteerism and leadership and lends itself to continuation after the student graduates from high school.  The award carries with it a $250 stipend to be given directly to the organization carrying on the project.

The Hoover Presidential Association is a nonprofit support group for the Hoover Presidential Library-Museum and the Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch.  The scholarship program is funded entirely by private donations.  For more information, contact Delene McConnaha at 800-828-0475, or at delene.mcconnaha@hooverassociation.org.

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The Association promotes education and appreciation for Herbert Hoover and the collection, interpretation and preservation of historical resources relating to the life, ideas, values, and times of the 31st President of the United States