Ritzinger scholarships awarded

By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger

Ten students in the Diocese of Davenport each were awarded $1,000 scholarships through the Marguerite Ritzinger Scholarship.
Grace Edwards, Darcie Farrell, Kari Horesowsky, Anastasia Nykoluk, Alexander Ockenfels, Ryan O’Malley, Lauren Pothitakis, Ben Snyder, Christopher Thorpe and Elizabeth Van Mersbergen received scholarships for the upcoming fall semester.

The award is named for the late Marguerite Ritziner, a Sigourney native, who left money to the diocese to help with scholarships for seminarians and students attending colleges or universities, said CFO Char Maaske. The scholarship program was launched in 2009.

Fifty-seven students applied for this year’s scholarships. A committee reviewed essays, high school or college transcripts and reference letters in addition to the application form, Maaske noted.

Erma Wiszmann, a diocesan volunteer, was new to the committee this year. She said the quality of candidates was very good. “Everyone certainly was qualified for these scholarships,” she said.

Wiszmann was impressed with the involvement of the scholarship candidates in the church, school and community and noted that many also held jobs while attending school. “This was a great experience.”

Maaske said the scholarships are good for one year. In the past, the committee has awarded more scholarships per year. But to make the scholarship fund last longer, the committee chose to grant slightly fewer scholarships this year. “Marguerite was generous and we want to keep this going.”