CFNEIA Awards $635,781 in Scholarships, Largest Amount in its History

November 1, 2022

Students pursuing higher education opportunities across Iowa have received financial assistance this fall thanks to scholarships from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA). The 2022 scholarships total comes to $635,781 which is the largest total scholarship award amount in CFNEIA’s 66-year history. This year, CFNEIA awarded 277 scholarships with an average award amount of $2,295.

“Congratulations to these students on their accomplishments and all the best as they continue their educational journey to follow their dreams and path for a successful future,” said Amy Wiles, CFNEIA scholarship and grant manager.

Scholarships are increasingly important for students seeking higher education. According to a 2021 National Student Clearinghouse survey, nearly 42% of adults aged 20-34 dropped out of college due to financial reasons.

“We know the cost of higher education continues to be a barrier, making scholarships a critical support for many students’ continued success,” said Wiles. “CFNEIA is committed to continuing to increase this scholarship support for students with a particular emphasis on financial need, and we know our work would not be possible without the generous fundholders who are passionate about education and our next generation of leaders.”

CFNEIA scholarships are offered annually for high school seniors and college students, as well as adults, and are awarded based on various criteria, including, but not limited to, academic excellence, financial need, pursuit of certain careers or majors, past experiences and location or high school attended. The 2023 scholarship process will begin on January 10. CFNEIA is the largest independent scholarship provider in Iowa outside of colleges and universities.

For more information on CFNEIA’s scholarship program, visit www.cfneia.org/scholarships. Questions may be directed to Amy Wiles at awiles@cfneia.org or (319) 243-1359.