Bishop DiNardo scholars named

Posted May 1, 2003

Two high school seniors in the Diocese of Sioux City have been awarded Bishop DiNardo Scholarships to attend Briar Cliff University in Sioux City.

This year's recipients are Logan Eliason, a parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Salix; and Jackie Sporrer, a parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Dedham.

There were 12 applicants from several parishes in the Diocese of Sioux City.

These selective awards target students with high academic performance, require an ACT of 24 or higher (equivalent SAT of 1100 or higher) and rank in the top 25 percent of their class. They must be members of a parish within the Diocese of Sioux City.

Logan Eliason, a senior at Westwood High School, has a 3.63 grade point average. In his parish Eliason is active as a server, lector, greeter, usher and kitchen helper. He has also coordinated children's games at the yearly bazaar.

He has volunteered for his community to raise and lower the flag at the cemetery and has volunteered for the American Heart Walk. At school he is a member of the National Honor Society and has been involved in the Goodfellow fundraiser to help less fortunate families at Christmas. In addition, he is a member of the People-to-People Student Ambassador Program and will be representing the country in a program in the British Isles this summer.

"I feel that I not only step up when a need arises, but I try to see where help might be appreciated and address that before there is a need," he wrote in his application.

Eliason's social studies teacher and golf coach, Steven Tower, described him as an excellent student and a team leader, who has the ability to get along with other students and adults.

Eliason said that when he attends college, he wants "to continue to broaden my knowledge of the Catholic faith."

Jackie Sporrer, a senior at Kuemper High School in Carroll, has a 3.91 grade point average. In her parish, she is an altar server, lector, student representative on finance council, member of the junior choir and provides musical accompaniment. She also volunteers at church dinners and helps to clean the church.

In a letter of recommendation, her pastor, Father Anthony Pick, wrote, "Jackie Sporrer is an academic success at Kuemper High School, an asset to our Dedham community, and an asset to our church community. She is a mature young woman, who sets high goals and works hard to achieve them."

As a 4-Her, she has been involved in a number of community service projects such as raking leaves, working at craft fairs, highway cleanup and more. She is a Legion Auxiliary Junior Member and has volunteered for various community projects such as the Knights of Columbus Phon-a-thon and a tree planting project for Pheasants Forever.

In her essay as to why she wanted to continue her Catholic education, Sporrer wrote, "I have been in a Catholic school all of my life and it has made me the best person that I can be, and simply put, I love it and wouldn't want my future education to be any different."

The DiNardo Scholars are eligible for a four-year award if they maintain a 3.25 grade point average while attending Briar Cliff University. The scholarship increases annually beginning with a freshman award of $5,000, sophomore award of $5,500, junior award of $6,500 and senior award of $8,000.

Members of the selection committee were: Sr. Mary Clarenita Froehlich, BVM, Sr. Joan Stoffel, OSF, Kevin Vickery, superintendent of education for the Diocese of Sioux City and Joe Puetz.