Storm Lake, Iowa – Buena Vista University’s Daniel Pearson (Spirit Lake, Iowa/Spirit Lake) has recently been awarded the Roy J. Carver Scholarship for the upcoming 2011-12 academic year.
This particular scholarship is given annually to a full-time student entering his/her junior year who is faced with having to overcome significant social and economic obstacles in the pursuit of his/her education or who may be living in circumstances that may not normally be taken into account by other financial aid programs.
Pearson, who is a member of the Beaver cross country and track and field teams, was diagnosed two years ago with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Following a year of medical leave, he returned to campus in the fall of 2010 and was back out competing on both the courses and the track for BVU, while also earning a spot on the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s All-Academic Team this spring for his efforts in the classroom.
“It feels great that I am being recognized for accomplishing what I did this year under such stressful circumstances,” says Pearson. “It relieves so much pressure from my family and me. I can now focus all my efforts on my academics and running. I don’t have to worry about whether or not we can pay the bills.”
In order to be eligible for this award, the individual must maintain at least a 2.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale, present evidence of his/her social and/or other barriers towards attending college full time and demonstrate the need of financial assistance.
Eligible applicants were then asked to fill out an online application form, as well as write a maximum 500-word essay presenting his/her evidence of the unusual social and/or other barriers. In addition, two essays of recommendation from professional individuals were required to support and verify the information.
The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust is one of the largest private philanthropic foundations in the state of Iowa. It was created through the will of Roy J. Carver, a Muscatine, Iowa, industrialist and philanthropist, who died in 1981. Since the scholarship began in 1988, the trust has handed out more than $15.9 million in awards to over 2,080 individuals.
While amounts of the scholarship may vary, average awards are presented in the amount of $5,200 for public universities and for $7,600 at the private colleges/universities.
Story courtesy of Buena Vista University.
