November 16, 2001

LARGE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANT
TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS AT IOWA LAKES

An additional $90,000 – annually – in scholarships will soon be available to Iowa Lakes students.  The National Science Foundation recently notified Iowa Lakes Community College that their Infinity Scholars grant proposal will be recommended for funding beginning January 2002. 

The grant is designed to increase enrollment and retention of academically talented, financially needy students in programs that prepare graduates for careers in mathematics, computer science or engineering-related fields.  These are areas that have a critical shortage of workers nationwide.

Iowa Lakes Community College will receive $100,000 per year for four years to implement the Infinity Scholars project, which will provide 32 full-time enrolled students with financial and academic support.  In return for an annual scholarship award of $2,800, scholarship recipients will complete a one-credit course each year that includes opportunities for tutoring, service learning, transfer college visits, and research projects.

Students enrolled in the Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Computer Specialist, Geographic Information Systems, or Information Technology degree programs or Associate in Arts college transfer students majoring in computer science, engineering or mathematics, and students transferring into Iowa Lakes are eligible to apply for the Infinity Scholars scholarships.

The application deadline for freshmen student scholarships to be awarded for the spring 2002 semester is due December 1, 2001.  For a scholarship application, call Iowa Lakes Community College at 712-362-0410 or 1-800-252-5664, extension 410; or apply online at www.iowalakes.edu.