About Our Scholarships

Home Scholarships

Our Scholarships

The Bright Foundation is focused on providing education for a brighter future through scholarships with the goal of helping more Iowa students go to college and graduate debt-free.

The Bright Scholar Award

Helping Students Across Iowa

Funded by the Bright Foundation, The Bright Scholars of Iowa Award is a need- and merit-based grant designed to help ensure that a selected number of outstanding Iowa high school seniors have the financial means to complete a two-year or four-year college education without debt. Initiated in 2012, the award was made to three students, one each attending Iowa State University, University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa.

By 2016, over 150 Bright Scholars of Iowa had been awarded at the three state universities and designated community colleges.

The amount of the scholarship is equal to the resident cost of attendance, less other gift aid (including Pell Grants, institutional grants and scholarships, and private scholarships). This award is renewable for up to three additional years, providing the student maintains a 2.50 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment. The amount of the award each subsequent year is based on the same formula as the initial reward. Renewals are not guaranteed.

Learn more about the award and how to apply

As of 2020, over 300 Iowa high school graduates have received a Bright Foundation funded scholarship, designed to help them to graduate on-time, debt-free, prepared to launch their career and give back in some way.

The Lois Dale Bright Scholarship

Helping Students from Des Moines Public Schools

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.

In 2015, the Bright Foundation funded five scholarships to graduates of East High School in Des Moines. Additional scholarships were awarded at East High School in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, the program expanded to award scholarships at all 5 comprehensive high schools in DMPS, bringing the total number of Lois Dale Bright Scholarship recipients to over 35.

The amount of the scholarship is equal to the resident cost of attendance, less other gift aid (including Pell Grants, institutional grants and scholarships, and private scholarships). This award is renewable for up to three additional years, providing the student maintains a 2.50 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment. The amount of the award each subsequent year is based on the same formula as the initial reward. Renewals are not guaranteed.

Learn more about the Scholarship and How to Apply

“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’m a student at DMACC and this award is extremely helpful and appreciated. All this past semester, I’ve been working and going to school while barely making it by. This award will give me the chance to focus on school more. I am so honored to receive it and I am so thankful there are people like you to help college students, like myself, out. I plan on finishing up school and becoming an elementary teacher. The scholarship will help me get one step closer to that goal!”

“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.”

“Being a Bright Scholar means being part of a family that is selfless and giving, and which strives to provide a better future for today’s youth who, in turn, will contribute to society.”

“I am and always will be eternally grateful for what you have done for me and what you’ve done for others. It’s truly amazing how two special people, Lois and Dale Bright, could be so generous in helping others out. I truly aspire to be like them, giving out of generosity and expecting nothing in return. As college rolls on, I get more and more excited to become a teacher of mathematics, not just to teach young adults math, but also to challenge and aspire them to be better people. Without your help though, I am not sure any of that would be possible. For that, I am truly thankful. For now though, I will continue on in college, doing the best I possibly can do and doing my best to represent the Bright Foundation well. Thank you for all you do again, and God Bless.”

“My first year in college has been amazing. I was able to get involved with intramural sports, Iowa Wishmakers and Dance Marathon because you took the financial burden off my back and allowed for me to get the most out of my college experience. I’ve been able to focus on school and not worry about working which has allowed me to get the most out of my education. I was also able to fulfill one of my dreams before going to college; I was able to pay for a child’s Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World with my graduation money because of your generosity and covering the expenses of my education. This first year has been great and I cannot wait for the next three years. Thank you Bright Scholars of Iowa!”