Bishop DiNardo scholars honored at luncheon
Msgr. Augustine visits with recipients

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
April 7, 2005

Recipients of the Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo Scholarship recently took time out of their college schedules to visit the Central Catholic Offices in Sioux City.

The scholarship recipients are invited each year for lunch. This year the students were able to visit with Msgr. Roger Augustine, the diocesan administrator. The newest students, the freshmen, were given the opportunity to take a tour of the Central Catholic Offices.

"This scholarship continues to be a great partnership with Briar Cliff University," said said Royce Ranniger, operations director of the diocese. "The schools and parishes in the diocese benefit in many ways from the students that graduate from Briar Cliff."

The scholarship is awarded to students from parishes within the Diocese of Sioux City attending Briar Cliff University. The university is the only Catholic institution of higher learning in the diocese.

"I knew that Briar Cliff was going to be expensive since it is a private school, and I thought that this scholarship would help a great deal. I looked at the qualifications and I thought that I met them so I applied," said Rachel Albrecht, a senior who went to St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge. "I am very grateful for this scholarship. This scholarship made it possible for me to attend Briar Cliff and pursue my career in music education."

The freshman recipients of the scholarship are Mallory Lynott and Angela Olerich. The sophomore scholars are Logan Eliason and Jackie Sporrer. The junior recipients are Karla Thole and Erin Youngers. The senior scholars are Albrecht and Chris Miller.

"I knew I really wanted to go to Briar Cliff, and I was looking for a way to help pay for my education there. I knew that I met the requirements for the scholarship and had been active in my church's youth group and teaching Bible school since I was a freshman in high school," said Thole, who is from Sibley and attended Sibley-Ocheyedan High School.

The luncheon is an opportunity for the students to understand what goes on at the Central Catholic Offices.

"I did not know the difference between a diocesan administrator and a bishop, or how they chose one," said Albrecht, who asked questions at the luncheon. "Msgr. Augustine was very open and honest with all questions, I enjoyed talking to him. We discussed his role in our Catholic Office, what he can do and can't do. Also, we got to know him a little personally, such as that he spent a great deal of his life in Remsen, Iowa and that he went to Loras College."

Olerich, who attended Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll, noted that this was a great experience to meet with officials of the Sioux City Diocese and learn more about how the diocese actually functions.

"It was nice to get a tour of the Chancery and see all the different departments. I wasn't aware that they did such a wide variety of activities and tasks," Olerich explained. "I didn't realize how much they were in charge of managing."

The scholarship is awarded to the recipients for four years of their college career at Briar Cliff as long as they meet the academic requirements by maintaining a 3.25 grade point average. Freshmen are awarded $5,000, sophomores $5,500, juniors $6,500 and seniors $8,000.

"I am honored and very grateful to have received this scholarship," said Thole. "I have had many wonderful experiences at Briar Cliff. I have grown in my faith, receive an outstanding education that is challenging and rewarding, and have gained many new relationships and friendships."

Scholarship recipients for the next academic year have not been chosen. Applications were due by March 18.

"I am very grateful to the Diocese of Sioux City for their assistance," said Olerich. "I feel this scholarship is a great combination of the diocese with a Franciscan-valued college like Briar Cliff, in order to help young people be able to continue their faith and learning together at the heart of our diocese in Sioux City."