Scholarships
The chapter has been awarding scholarships since 1993. In the last six years, the Chapter has awarded $115,000 in scholarships to outstanding students – both academically and in the community. This year we awarded six $2000 NDIA scholarships, two $2000 SGT Paul Fisher scholarships and a $2000 STEM scholarship. (Click here for award ceremony information)
NDIA Scholarship Recipients
Academic Year 2015 - 2016
Recipients of the academic year 2015-2016 NDIA scholarships are:
 |
Hanna Coene – Hanna is the daughter of Chad and Maria Cleu Coene. The family resides in Moline. She graduated from Alleman Catholic High School and will enroll at Marquette University in Milwaukee this fall. Hanna plans to pursue a degree in biomedical sciences. |
|
 |
Jill Freeland – Jill is the daughter of Joe and Julie Freeland. The family resides in Central City, IA. She graduated from Aburnett High School, Alburnett, IA and will enroll at the University of Iowa this fall. Jill plans to pursue a major in therapeutic recreation. |
|
 |
Michaela Hird - Michaela is the daughter of Kevin and Leslie Hird. The family resides in Rock Island. She graduated from Alleman Catholic High School and will enroll at the University of Missouri this fall. Michaela plans to pursue a major in health sciences. | |
 |
William Johnson – Bill is the son of Scot and Adrienne Johnson. The family resides in Moline. He graduated from Moline High School and will enroll at Northwestern University this fall. Bill plans to major in engineering. |
|
 |
Rylie Kalb – Rylie is the daughter of Rob and Andrea Kalb. The family resides in Wataga, IL. She graduated from ROWVA High School in Oneida, IL and will enroll at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln this fall. Rylie plans to major in public relations. |
|
 |
Nathan VanDeCasteele – Nate is the son of Gary and Rhonda VanDeCasteele. The family resides in Coal Valley. He graduated from Moline High School and will enroll at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana this fall. Nate plans to major in accounting. |
|
SGT Paul Fisher Scholarship Recipients
Academic Year 2015 – 2016
In 2005, the Iowa Illinois Chapter established two scholarships in memory of Sergeant Paul Fisher from Cedar Rapids, IA. SGT Fisher, a flight engineer with Company F, 106th Aviation, deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The CH-47 Chinook helicopter that he was aboard was shot down by a missile west of Baghdad. He sustained multiple injuries and later died.
SGT Fisher was a quiet man that believed action spoke louder than words. He was a man who lived with truth, honor, and respect. He knew hard work was the key to your own success. May we always remember the sacrifice he made so that our journey in life can be paved with freedom.
 |
Katelyn Dempkowski – Katelyn is the daughter of William Dempkowski and Melissa Judkins. The family resides on Rock Island Arsenal. She graduated from Moline High School will enroll at Louisiana State University this fall. Katelyn plans to major in physical therapy. |
|
 |
Tanner Rusk – Tanner is the son of Steven and Denise Rusk, Bettendorf, and Troy and Valerie McDonald, Geneseo. Tanner resides in Geneseo. He graduated from Geneseo High School and will enroll at Iowa State University this fall. Tanner plans to major in aerospace engineering. |
NDIA Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarship Academic Year 2015 – 2016
Beginning in the 2010-2011 Academic Year, the IA-IL Chapter teamed with the Quad Cities Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) to leverage QCESC’s existing scholarship selection/award process for STEM type students. This allowed the Chapter to maintain its existing broad non-curriculum specific scholarship award process while being able to sponsor through QCESC, a scholarship directly targeted to a student pursuing a STEM career. Promotion and strengthening STEM in the workforce is considered a National Security issue and a focus area of NDIA.
The recipient this year of the NDIA sponsored STEM scholarship is Carina Grady, pictured on the left. She is the daughter of Michael and Linda Grady. Carina plans to attend Iowa State University in the fall to major in mechanical engineering and minor in industrial engineering.
More information
2016-2017 Scholarship Application Form (word doc)
2014-2015 Scholarship Recipients
2013-2014 Scholarship Recipients
2012-2013 Scholarship Recipients