The Oswald and Sophia Bathalter Scholarship
$17,000 was awarded in 2008.   Mr. and Mrs. Bathalter were farmers in our area that left the bulk of their estate to this scholarship fund. Any Clinton County student may apply with preference being given to students from Central Clinton Community High School and of the Catholic Faith. The scholarship, leadership and service of the applicant are considered, as well as financial need.

George M. Cromer was a Clinton County farmer and Iowa State University graduate (class of ’17). Mr. Cromer established a scholarship that is for Central Clinton Community School District graduates, members of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, DeWitt and students who are planning to study for Christian religious work. Last year the Cromer Scholarship awarded $1,800.00 in scholarships. This fund is available to post graduate students and graduating seniors.

Lois Paarmann funded the Paarmann Family Scholarship to help graduating female students from Central Clinton Community High School. Awards of the Paarmann Family Scholarship are available to two women from Central who are post graduate students or high school seniors. The awards in 2007 were at $2,000.00 each for two recipients.  Applications for the Paarmann Scholarship are available through the Central Clinton Community School District website (http://ww.central-clinton.k12.ia.us)

Hans and Grace Olson of Calamus set up a trust to provide scholarship assistance to students of Waldorf and Luther Colleges here in Iowa. Special preference is given to students who are members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of rural Calamus. In 2006, approximately $4,000.00 each was given to Luther and Waldorf Colleges for student scholarships.  Applications are available through the colleges.

Orville Bates provided a fund to provide interest free loans to students for ten year periods as a memorial to his wife Mayme. The Mayme Bates Trust  has approximately $25,000.00 in outstanding interest free loans, and new loans are made each year of approximately $2,500.00.

A DeWitt native, Lillian Fell provided a scholarship fund through the DeWitt Area Foundation. This fund is for Central Clinton Community School District students. Last year, $1,600 was awarded to two Central Clinton Community School District Graduates with each receiving $800.00.  See your Central Clinton Community School District Guidance Counselor.

John and Wilma Anderson and Barbara Olson of DeWitt established the Anderson Family Trust to provide scholarships to Clinton county high school graduates.  This account is the largest of our scholarship trusts. Graduates of Central Clinton Community School students are given preference.  Over emphasis is not placed upon scholastic record when there is evidence of sickness or hardship. In 2008, $93,500.00 was awarded.

These eight funds provided over $120,000.00 in scholarship assistance to students in our area in 2006 alone. Dealing with this form of philanthropy is interesting and rewarding. Those who provided these benefits have saved taxes and their names live on through their good work. Take time to learn more about these scholarships. We surely owe a debt of gratitude to these folks who have provided for our future generations in this manner.