The Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2021 Scholarships. This award is given to outstanding high school and college students who have achieved a well-rounded high school and collegiate career and understand the value of volunteerism. These applicants were selected based upon their academic, school, and community involvement by an independent committee appointed by the Rock Island County Farm Bureau® Foundation Board of Directors.
This year, the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation awarded 3 – $1,500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors. The 2021 Foundation Scholarship winners are:
- Kaitlyn Curry, daughter of Daniel and Drue Curry, a 2021 graduate of Rockridge High School. She will study Visual and Performing Arts at Columbia College this fall.
- Colby Mueller, son of Jason and Sarah Mueller, a 2021 graduate of Rockridge High School. He will attend Kirkwood Community College this fall to study Agricultural Business Management.
- Ella Rursch, daughter of Darrin and Keri Rursch, a 2021 graduate of Rockridge High School. She will attend University of Wisconsin-Platteville to study Agribusiness Operations.
These scholarships have been made possible thanks to the financial gifts from several families. We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to the family of Myron and Helen Mueller who donated over $5,000 to the Foundation in support of funding one of the Foundation Scholarships each year beginning in 2009. Currently, because of their additional giving, the funds have grown and will help fund a Foundation Scholarship each year until the funds are exhausted.
The family of Glenn Mueller; the Lowell Johnson Charitable Foundation; and the Churchill Family Foundation have all contributed dollars towards the scholarships for the RICFB Foundation as well.
KEPPY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
This year, four Farm Bureau member dependents will receive a $3,000 scholarship for their continuing education courtesy of the Wilbert and Carol Keppy Charitable Foundation. The 2021 Keppy Scholarship winners are:
- Holly Jacobs, daughter of Lisa and James Geiger, a 2020 graduate of Sherrard High School. She attends Iowa State University and is pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering.
- Hunter Johnson, son of Scott and Jamie Johnson, a 2020 graduate of Rockridge High School. He attends Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, OK to study Animal Sciences.
- Ryan Parchert, son of Tom and Carol Parchert, a 2021 graduate of Rockridge High School. He will major in Agricultural Business & Management at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
- Emma Preston, daughter of Mark and Jamie Preston, a 2021 graduate of Rockridge High School. She will be studying Animal Science at Iowa State University this fall.
GEORGE AND IRENE STULZ FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
This year, one Farm Bureau member dependent will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward his post-secondary education courtesy of the George and Irene Stulz Family Scholarship. The 2021 Stulz Scholarship winner is:
- Nathan Flickinger, son of Elizabeth and Jason Flickinger, a 2018 graduate of Rockridge High School. Nathan will be a senior this fall at Iowa State University. He is studying Agricultural Engineering.
The Stulz Family Scholarship was established in 2018. The scholarship awards monies to post-secondary students enrolled as a Junior or Senior at a four-year university with a career focus in an agricultural field.
KENNETH BUSH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This year, one Farm Bureau member dependent will receive a $2,000 scholarship toward their post-secondary education courtesy of the Kenneth Bush Memorial Scholarship. The 2021 Bush Scholarship winner is:
- Katelyn Oleson, daughter of Eirik and Tara Oleson, a 2021 graduate of Riverdale High School. Katelyn plans to study Biology at the University of Kansas this fall.
The Kenneth Bush Memorial Scholarship was established in 2020 by the Kenny Bush Family. Kenny and Marilyn Bush have been long-time supporters of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau and its Foundation. Inducted into the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation in 2011, both served on the foundation board of directors for a number of years. Their belief of hard work, education, and the value of family and faith is of the utmost importance in life. Kenny was also served as the Vice-President of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau from 1968-1970 and President from 1970-1974. Kenny Bush passed away in April 2020 and his family dedicated a generous scholarship contribution to be awarded annually in his honor.
A reminder that scholarship applications are available from the Farm Bureau office around January 1st each year and are open to those Farm Bureau members who have been a current Rock Island County Farm Bureau member for two years or more. For more information regarding the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation and their scholarships, please contact the FB office at (309) 736-7432, or visit www.ricofarmbureau.org/foundation.