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Congratulations 2024 Bright Scholars

Recipients of the Bright Scholars of Iowa, Lois Dale Bright Scholarship, and Bright Scholars Persistence awards.

About the Scholarships

The Bright Foundation funds renewable, last dollar college scholarships covering the full cost of attendance so that recipients have the financial means to graduate on-time, debt-free, prepared to launch careers and give back. Recipients are all high-achieving Iowa high school graduates attending one of the three state universities and must also meet income guidelines. For more information, learn about our scholarships here.

2024 Recipients

Abdisalan "Sudais" Ahmed

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

Iowa State University

Ella Bandy

Bright Scholars of Iowa

University of Iowa

Lexie Bingham

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Iowa

Jessica Burgett

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Iowa

Jennifer Cardenas-Hernandez

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Iowa

Clayton Davis

Bright Scholar of Iowa

Iowa State University

Grace Davis

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Northern Iowa

Lizbeth Gonzalez Jaramillo

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Northern Iowa

Joanna Guerrero

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Iowa

Natalia Guerra-Ceron

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

Iowa State University

Ella Gunn

Bright Scholar Persistence

University of Northern Iowa

Levi Hodge

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Northern Iowa

Melanie Ites

Bright Scholar of Iowa

Iowa State University

Amaal Jama

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Iowa

Kimberlin Karnga

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Iowa

Jazmin Maceda

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Iowa

Aleesha Mascarenas

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Northern Iowa

Aaron Marino-Moreno

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

Iowa State University

Kethia Mulonda

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Iowa

Fardowsa Mohamed

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Iowa

Penni Owings

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Northern Iowa

Shivam Patel

Bright Scholar of Iowa

Iowa State University

Carlos Perez

Bright Scholar Persistence

Iowa State University

Kevin Perez

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

Iowa State University

Abigail Pint

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Iowa

Tae'Shaun Presswood

Bright Scholars Persistence

University of Northern Iowa

Alyssa Stille

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Iowa

Gianna Schwartz

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Northern Iowa

Garrett Thompson

Bright Scholar of Iowa

Iowa State University

Evan Thul

Bright Scholar of Iowa

Iowa State University

Linda Van Sui Dim

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Iowa

MinhUyen Vo

Lois Dale Bright Scholar

University of Iowa

Isabelle Yoder

Bright Scholar of Iowa

University of Iowa

“This is a great community of scholarship recipients to be part of. The scholarship has improved my life in so many ways – not only by allowing me to graduate debt-free in just eight semesters, but also by providing a support system and a network of other Bright Scholars.”

“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.”

“With each passing semester I become even more thankful for this scholarship. My college experience has been phenomenal and this scholarship deserves all the credit. You have allowed to me the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy receiving my education at the University of Iowa. I am thankful to be a Bright Scholar of Iowa. Thank you so much for the college experience you have let me have through this scholarship.”

“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.”

“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.”

“I would like to thank you for your contribution. Without your help, it would be difficult to attend college and pursue my dream career of being a veterinarian. I am extremely honored and hope to give back to foundations like this one day.”