The Simon Estes Foundation has announced the following students have been named a Simon Estes Scholar from Bremer County for 2013:
- Ashlen Damm graduated from Tripoli High School and will be attending the University of Northern Iowa, majoring in biology.
- Kayla Wiley graduated from Denver High School and will be attending Wartburg College, majoring in music education.
- Allison Wessel graduated from Waverly-Shell Rock High School and will be attending DePaul University, and majoring in communications.
- Jacob Epley graduated from Waverly-Shell Rock High School and will be attending North Central University, majoring in worship arts.
- Celina Young graduated from Waverly-Shell Rock High School and will be attending Iowa State University, majoring in agricultural business.
Estes, a world-renowned bass-baritone who serves as a distinguished professor and artist-in-residence at Wartburg College, embarked on a dream in 2010 to perform in all 99 Iowa counties to raise scholarship funds for Iowa high school students. He has now performed in 34 counties, raising more than $120,000 for 98 scholarships.
“Being able to help young people achieve a college education through the foundation is a very rewarding experience for me,” Estes said.
The “Roots and Wings” tour celebrates Estes’ Iowa heritage, helps students fulfill their educational aspirations by awarding college scholarships, and provides performance experiences to aspiring young vocal students. The Bremer County concert at Wartburg on Oct. 14, 2012 was made possible, in part, by State Bank and Trust Co. of Waverly.
High schools participating in a “Roots and Wings” concert are invited to nominate up to five students for a scholarship. Successful applicants must demonstrate financial need, scholastic excellence, and have high moral standards. Applications and essays are reviewed by the Foundation Scholarship Committee and finalists are contacted for a personal interview. Students may attend any college or university and have any course of study.
For more information about Roots and Wings and the Simon Estes Foundation, go to www.simonestesfoundation.org.