Van Meter Announces 7 Electrical Scholarship Winners
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – (5/6/2024) –Van Meter announced the 2024 scholarship winners today for the Spark Your Success Scholarship, the Barry and Gilda Boyer Power Your Future Scholarship and the Van Meter Kirkwood Scholarship. The three unique scholarship programs award students who plan to pursue a career in the electrical trade industry. This year, seven individuals will receive financial support for their training and education.
Van Meter has made it a priority to support easier access to careers in the electrical industry. Danielle Monthei, Van Meter’s Community Impact Manager, said, “Our industry is a place where people can learn, grow and be their personal best. Careers in the trades are in high demand, offer a fast transition to employment, earn competitive wages and benefits, as well as opportunities for specialization and advancement.”
Spark Your Success Scholarship: New this year, Van Meter’s $2,500 Spark Your Success Scholarships are awarded to up to four individuals who have completed a high school degree or GED and are pursuing a field related to the electrical trades. This year’s four recipients are Carter Kuehl of Anamosa, Iowa, Noah Erickson of Elkader, Iowa, Parker Burdorf of Arlington, Minnesota, and Neal Valant of Dubuque, Iowa. Kuehl, Erickson, Burdorf, and Valant are pursuing different areas within the trades, including powerline technology, apprenticeships (x2) and engineering, respectively.
Barry and Gilda Boyer Power Your Future Scholarship: The $1,000 Power Your Future Scholarship, established in recognition of Barry Boyer’s more than 25 years of leadership at Van Meter, supports Cedar Rapids high school seniors pursuing a career in the electrical trade. The 2024 recipients of the Power Your Future Scholarship are Landin Flores from Jefferson High School and Ben Knipfer from Kennedy High School. Both students participated in a Student Build Program, which confirmed their decision to pursue electrical trade programs after graduation.
Van Meter Kirkwood Scholarship: Each year, Van Meter supports a student at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids with a $2,000 scholarship, as Kirkwood’s trades programs benefit Van Meter and many of its customers and supplier-partners in the area. This year’s winner is Jacob Loehr from Anamosa, Iowa. In addition to majoring industrial maintenance, he is passionate about playing in the band.
Van Meter awards each of these scholarships annually. The next opportunity to apply will be early 2025.