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2021 Lois Dale Bright Scholarship

Recipients Announced

The Bright Foundation would like to announce this years’ recipients for the Lois Dale Bright Scholarship, as well as congratulate them!

The Lois Dale Bright Scholarship is a need and merit-based grant designed to help ensure that a selected number of outstanding Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) high school seniors have the financial means to complete a college education without debt.

As Bright Scholars, these 2021 high school graduates are now on the path to graduate with a two or four-year degree, debt-free, prepared to launch a career and give back!

Tirmidi Mohamed — DMACC
Amber Hagler — ISU
Andy Montalvo-Martinez — ISU
Vital Nyabashi — ISU
Alexia Corwin — ISU
Diana Nguyen — ISU
Luz V. Flores-Maciel — ISU
Aeelyn Magallanes Tristan — ISU
Jefu Kashindi — ISU
David Cavan — ISU
Kaleb Nichols — ISU
Shandra Truong — ISU
Miguel Zelaya — ISU
Marion Butts — UIowa
Taffani Nguyen — UIowa
Abdulfatah Abdullahi — UIowa
Idriss Abdullahi — UIowa

Congratulations scholars!

“I cannot even begin to properly thank or even put into words how much this foundation has helped put me on an amazing path to reach and accomplish my dreams. Ever since I was seven years old, I have wanted to become a doctor. I wanted to be able to help people, to make sick people better, to be a healer, and to learn and grow to the fullest of my abilities. Because of the Bright scholarship, these dreams and goals are closer within reach. I am achieving success in ways I never thought were possible. My dreams may have been to help others and learn as much as I possibly can, but this foundation has helped me and given me the chance to do the things I love, to push myself, learn, and experience the joy of hard work and success. This scholarship inspired me to help others as well. Currently, I am pursuing a research opportunity with Dr. Mario Ascoli, Carver College of Medicine, to help with work on finding cures for infertility. I am also in the beginning stages of recruitment for alpha Kappa Delta Phi sorority! A lot of things have been going on for me, but none of this would be possible without the Bright Foundation. This foundation gave me the blessing of not having to be stressed, financial security, the ability to reach my goals, but most importantly, faith in myself to do what I love best, so again, thank you.”

“The most valuable part of being a Bright Scholar was experiencing college from a different perspective. I am so grateful for every opportunity and position I was able to hold because I had nothing to worry about and could truly enjoy every moment. Having the freedom to get involved allowed me to further my professional development and give back to the college and community, things I would not have been able to do if I didn’t have the scholarship.”

“During college, the Bright Scholarship allowed me to focus on school instead of working multiple jobs to stay afloat. In my three years since college, the same has been true – instead of being forced to worry about accepting any job just to pay my student loans, I’ve been able to chase (and land) my dream job!”

“I would like to take this time to thank you for your contribution towards the scholarship I have been granted through Indian Hills Community College. I will be attending Indian Hills with a major in psychology. I then plan to transfer to a four-year college and potentially graduate school after that to continue my education. Thank you again for your contribution and the endless possibilities you have given me!”

“As I finish my sophomore year, I am grateful that I have received the Bright Scholarship to help me achieve my goals. My grades have been good and I am proud that I’ve been making Dean’s List. I attended the Engineering job fair to target companies for a summer internship. After being offered two, I chose Nutra Flo, a liquid fertilizer manufacturer in South Dakota. I’m excited to see what I will learn and how much I know out in the real world of Mechanical Engineering. Thank you again for awarding me the Bright Scholarship. Thanks to the Bright Foundation, I have been able to attend ISU without the burden of deep financial indebtedness. It has allowed me to experience ISU but most importantly, I have been able to study in order to do well in my classes. It is because of the Brights — they had a vision to help young people in Iowa achieve higher education. I am excited to be a part of that vision.”

“I want to personally thank the Bright Foundation for this year. I would not be nearly as successful without their financial support. I come from an incredibly humble background and the financial stability they have given me in the form of this scholarship has allowed me to commit my highest potential to my classwork. They are the reason I am the student I am today. I have tried to carry the Bright Foundation’s values close to my heart this academic year. I worked extremely hard and devoted much of my outside time to volunteer work. I cannot put into works how grateful I am for the opportunities this foundation has given me. They have laid the groundwork for all of my current and future success. I plan to celebrate these values, and this foundation for the rest of my life.”