Scholarships
DeWitt Bank & Trust Co. has assisted many people over the years to set up trusts that provide scholarship assistance to many local students. By establishing these trusts, the individuals were able to save Federal Estate taxes and our local community will benefit for years to come. These accounts are funded with almost $3,000,000.00 in land and investments to provide the income for the annual scholarships.
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.
Guidelines established for the Oswald and Sophia Bathalter Scholarship Trust:
- The character of the individual.
- Other financial assistance available to the individual(s) in pursuit of higher education.
- The Decedent's desire first priority be given to individuals who are graduating seniors of Central Community School District, in the county of Clinton, State of Iowa, and that graduating students of other high schools in Clinton County, Iowa, be given second priority.
- The Decedent's desire that special consideration is given prospective recipients who are of the Roman Catholic Faith.
- The scholastic record of the individual.
- DOWNLOAD APPLICATION
The application must be completed, signed and submitted no later than March 1, of each calendar year. Applications are to be mailed or delivered to the Trust Department of DeWitt Bank & Trust Co., PO Box 260, 815 6th Ave., DeWitt, Iowa 52742-0260.
Click here to open the application. You may complete the application online and then print it out and mail it with all of the required attachments.
George M. Cromer Scholarship
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.
Guidelines for the George M. Cromer scholarship fund
Recipients of the George M. Cromer scholarship fund shall be required to be residents of Clinton County, Iowa at the time of their selection to receive such benefits. Further consideration will be made as to:
- The character of the individual
- The intelligence of the individual, which shall be above average
- The scholastic record of the individual
- DOWNLOAD APPLICATION
Special consideration will be given to deserving graduating students of Central Community High School, DeWitt, Iowa, who rank in the upper one-half of their graduating class, or any student who has previously graduated there from in the upper one-half of their class and who is, or plans to enroll in a college, university, religious school or seminary for the study of philosophy of religion or theology qualifying such student for the ministry, priesthood or other church related professions as social workers, counseling service, missionaries, or any other profession in the general religious endeavors in assisting mankind and spreading the word of God. Members of the United Church of Christ of DeWitt, Iowa will be given special consideration, however the scholarship fund shall not be limited to members of this church, but also members of other churches in DeWitt.
The application must be completed, signed and submitted no later than March 1, of each calendar year. Applications are to be mailed or delivered to the Trust Department of DeWitt Bank & Trust Co., PO Box 260, 815 6th Ave., DeWitt, Iowa 52742-0260.
Click here to open the application. You may complete the application on line and then print it out and mail it with all of the required attachments.
Paarmann Family Scholarship
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 2008 were at $2,000.00 each for two recipients. Applications for the Paarmann Scholarship are available through the Central Clinton Community School District website.
Hans and Grace Olson Scholarship
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 2008, approximately $4,000.00 each was given to Luther and Waldorf Colleges for student scholarships. Applications are available through the colleges.
Mayme Bates Trust
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 $3,500.00.
Guidelines for the Mayme E. Bates Trust Application for Education Assistance Ten Year Interest Free Loan
- Applicants must reside within a five mile radius of the corporate limits of the City of DeWitt, Iowa.
- Applicants may receive loans from the Trust for no more than four years.
- Applicants are required to execute a promissory note or notes for the amount or amounts paid to such beneficiary, payable ten years from the date thereof, without interest.
- DOWNLOAD APPLICATION
The application must be completed, signed and submitted no later than March 1, of each calendar year. Applications are to be mailed or delivered to the Trust Department of DeWitt Bank & Trust Co., PO Box 260, 815 6th Ave., DeWitt, Iowa 52742-0260.
Lillian Fell Scholarship
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.
Anderson Family Trust
John and Wilma Andersonand 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.
Guidelines for the Anderson Family Scholarship Trust
The application must be completed, signed and submitted no later than March 1, of each calendar year. Applications are to be mailed or delivered to the Trust Department of DeWitt Bank & Trust Co., PO Box 260, 815 6th Ave., DeWitt, Iowa 52742-0260.
Click here to open the application. You may complete the application on line and then print it out and mail it with all of the required attachments.
Florence M. Schrader Scholarship
Florence M. Schrader created a trust under her will that provided $10,000.00 in scholarships in 2008. Central Clinton Community School District graduating seniors are given first priority and graduating seniors of other Clinton County high schools are given second priority. Consideration is given to the student's character and scholastic record, as well as other available financial assistance.
These funds provided over $125,400.00 in scholarship assistance to students in our area in 2008 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.