Each year Central College hosts Scholar Days, where students interview with faculty and complete a group discussion, to select the new full-tuition scholarship recipients.
Central College is proud to announce this year’s recipients of full-tuition Kuyper/Farver Family Scholarships, Pella Corporation Engineering Scholarship, Rolscreen Foundation Scholarships and the Thomas Ross Smith Scholarship — the most prestigious awards granted at the college. The most recent named full-tuition scholarship is the Shirley and Dirk Van Zante Scholarship, established earlier this year.
Top scholars are selected from students who participate in Central’s Scholar Day events held in the fall and winter of each year. The admission team reviews the students’ transcripts, academic rigor, involvement in the community and school, and their Scholar Day interview.
“Scholar Days attracts high achieving students who will excel at Central. These students represent the curious, inquisitive minds who will make our communities and world better,” says Chevy Freiburger, vice president for enrollment management and dean of admission. “Historically, the full-tuition scholarship recipients successfully earn internships, often advance to graduate schools and make meaningful careers. We’re proud to welcome these scholars.”
Full-tuition recipients this year averaged a 3.967 GPA. As long as these students maintain their academic excellence, they will continue to receive the scholarship for four years.
The recipients for Fall 2024 include:
- Boaz Clark, Story City, Iowa, pursuing an elementary education major, who attended Roland-Story High School, recipient of the H.S. Kuyper Scholarship.
- Brie FitzGerald, Dallas Center, Iowa, pursuing an occupational therapy (pre-professional) major, who attended Dallas Center Grimes High School, recipient of the Joan Kuyper Farver Scholarship.
- Delaney Hefke, Aurora, Illinois, pursuing an elementary education major, who attended Rosary High School, recipient of the P.H. Kuyper Scholarship.
- Tate Jirovsky, Grundy Center, Iowa, pursuing a law (pre-professional) major, who attended Grundy Center High School, recipient of the Pella Rolscreen Scholarship.
- Ella Jumper, Ankeny, Iowa, pursuing a strength and conditioning major, who attended Ankeny High School, recipient of the Pella Rolscreen Scholarship.
- Cody Klein, Newton, Iowa, pursuing a kinesiology major, who attended Newton High School, recipient of the Thomas Ross Smith scholarship.
- Crew Klingner, Williamsburg, Iowa, exploring major options, who attended Williamsburg High School, recipient of the Pella Rolscreen Scholarship.
- Teagen Peiffer, Ankeny, Iowa, pursuing a business management major, who attended Ankeny High School, recipient of the new Shirley and Dirk Van Zante Scholarship.
- Eli Rouse, Madrid, Iowa, pursuing an engineering major, who attended Ballard High School, recipient of the Pella Corporation Engineering Scholarship.
- Amber Timmer, San Diego, California, pursuing an accounting major, who attended Mount Carmel High School, recipient of the Pella Rolscreen Scholarship.
“We are so grateful to our alumni and friends who fund full-tuition scholarships. Their commitment and investment make a Central education attainable,” Freiburger says.
Peter H. Kuyper founded Rolscreen Company, known today as Pella Corporation, in 1925. Pella Corporation, the Rolscreen Foundation and the shareholder family have been providing Central students with financial assistance through scholarships since 1952, supporting eight different scholarships for new incoming students this year. The scholarships include four Pella Rolscreen Scholarships, the Joan Kuyper Farver Scholarship, the P.H. Kuyper Scholarship, the H.S. Kuyper Scholarship and the Pella Corporation Engineering Scholarship.
Fred Maytag founded Maytag Company in Newton, Iowa. In 2021, the Fred Maytag Family Foundation established the Thomas Ross Smith Scholarship for students from Iowa pursuing a career in a STEM-related field. The scholarship honors an inspirational friend of the Maytag family, who also worked at the Maytag Company for decades as an electrical engineer.
The estate of Shirley and Dirk Van Zante ’52 funded this scholarship for students with a tie to Iowa. Dirk grew up in Pella, where his father, Dick Van Zante, was a lawyer. After graduating from Central, Van Zante earned a law degree in 1955 and practiced law at Van Zante and Klyn with his father. While working in Pella, Van Zante served as the Pella city attorney.