$100,000 Pledged to Establish Scholarships at Iowa Lakes Community College in Honor of Harry E. Coffie and Gladys (Graves) Coffie

Dana (Coffie) Rheinschmidt and Tim Coffie have pledged $100,000 in honor of their parents, Harry E. Coffie and Gladys (Graves) Coffie. Two aviation and two nursing scholarships of $2500 each will be awarded every year for 10 years.

The Harry E. Coffie Aviation Scholarship honors Harry Coffie (1906-1957) who graduated from Estherville High School in 1923. Coffie also received a Bachelor of Science in 1928 and a Doctor of Law degree in 1935 from the University of Iowa. Early in his career, Harry Coffie served in the U.S. Air Corps Reserve, worked as a barnstorming pilot and had a law practice including serving as County Attorney for Emmet County.

In 1940, as a qualified instructor in civil aeronautics, he operated the Estherville Junior College Civilian Flight Training Program and was director of the program throughout the war years. During that time barracks were built at the airport to house the students and 8 flight and 2 ground instructors were employed. It was the largest flight training program in Iowa with many of its students serving in WWII. For the remainder of his life, Coffie worked on his farm operation and also served as the manager of the Estherville airport. Harry died at age 50 after a short illness of acute leukemia.

The Gladys Coffie Nursing Scholarship honors Gladys Graves Coffie (1910-2005) who graduated from high school in Jackson, Minnesota, and Mercy Hospital in Iowa City with her Registered Nursing Degree. She served on the nursing staff at Coleman Hospital in Estherville until her marriage to Harry in 1939. Harry and Gladys had four children and she lived in Estherville for 30 years prior to relocating to California to be closer to her family.

“The Foundation is so grateful to be entrusted to help carry out the legacies of Harry and Gladys Coffie through the establishment of these four scholarships. The generosity shown to our students through this gift will make such a meaningful impact in their lives as they work to pursue their career passions and educational goals,” shared Iowa Lakes Community College’s Institutional Advancement Manger, Alison Mason.

Each scholarship will honor two recipients each from the Iowa Lakes Community College’s programs of Aviation and Nursing. The $2,500 annual award can be applied to tuition, books, fees and other required instructional materials. Priority for the awards will be given to students who have permanent residence within 60 miles of Estherville and have demonstrated a financial need.

The scholarship application is available at www.iowalakes.edu/scholarships. The Foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization. Your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

If you are interested in establishing a scholarship, please contact the Iowa Lakes Community College Institutional Advancement/ Foundations Office at 712-362-0491 or 800-242-5106 ext. 4491. To apply for scholarships visit  www.iowalakes.edu.

For More Information: Iowa Lakes Institutional Advancement Office at 712-362-0410 or 800-242-5106