Diocese announces DiNardo Scholars

May 19, 2005

HORNICK/HOLSTEIN - Two high school seniors in the Diocese of Sioux City have been awarded Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo Scholarships to attend Briar Cliff University in Sioux City.

The recipients are Suzanne Grell of Hornick and Kayla Wagoner of Holstein.

This selective award targets students with high academic performance. It requires an ACT of 24 or higher (equivalent SAT of 1100 or higher) and students must rank in the top 25 percent of their class. They must be members of a parish within the Diocese of Sioux City.

Grell, a member of St. John Parish in Onawa, has volunteered for numerous school and community service projects such as tutoring, park clean up, signage for blood drive, painting Whiting water treatment plant, staining softball dugouts and reading to nursing home residents. In school, she was a member of the National Honor Society, band, speech as well as various sports including volleyball, basketball, track and softball.

"I want to experience a deep understanding of my faith and have a wonderful relationship with my church and God. I want to get something out of life, something I can take with me when my time on earth is over," wrote Grell, in the application essay that centered on why the students wanted to continue their Catholic education. She added, "I want experiences that will broaden my thoughts, expand my mind, and assist me in having a more deeply religious life."

She also wrote that she wanted to continue her Catholic education because she believes it will be very comforting to be around others that share her beliefs. At Briar Cliff, she anticipates that she will be able to have open conversations about the Catholic religion.

"Going to a college at a Catholic institute will help me be more active in the church as well," wrote Grell. "While there, I can be a lector at the student Mass and participate in the church much more than if I were to attend a larger church off campus. Being more involved in the church Mass could help inspire others to get involved in the church and help them express their faith more openly."

In a reference letter for Grell, Bill McKelvey of Whiting Community School wrote that he had seen her mature into very responsible student and member of the local community.

"Education is a priority for Suzanne. She works very hard at being the best person she can become whether it is in the classroom or participating in the numerous extracurricular activities," said McKelvey, principal.

Wagoner, a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Holstein, has been active in her community and church as a 4-H member, member of the youth group at OLGC, substitute CCD teacher at the parish as well as cantor, lector and altar server. She has also been involved in various community service projects such as: student director of the Advent program, weed the church garden, retreat helper, assist with food drives, Wish Tree gift wrapping, donate blood, teacher's aid for kindergarten class and more.

In her essay about why she wanted to continue her Catholic education, Wagoner wrote, "I feel that being surrounded by people of my faith, I will feel welcome to share my beliefs with them. I also know that being at a Catholic school will only make my faith stronger in God and his Word."

She also pointed out that she has enjoyed involvement in her parish youth group and believes that by attending a Catholic college, it will be easier to find a Catholic group to join.

"I have talked to some of my friends who have gone to college in the last couple years, and they have almost all said they wish they would have gone to church more often," wrote Wagoner. She added, "While I am at college, I will be attending church at least once a week for Mass. Being at a Catholic school will help me to make sure I don't miss Mass at all."

In a letter of recommendation, her pastor, Father David Hemann described Wagoner as kind, intelligent, sensitive to the needs of others, responsible, faithful, loyal, honest, tenderhearted, socially minded, artistic, nurturing and steady.

"She enters into whatever she does with all these above-mentioned qualities. Even at her very young age she is one of the most mature and reliable young ladies I have ever met. Whatever she does, she does well and with all her heart," he wrote.

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

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