Need help with tuition? Catherine Birzle Scholarship will again be available

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
February 9, 2006

This year marks the second year for the Catherine Birzle Scholarship. The scholarship was set up to provide funds for students in need of tuition assistance to attend Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Sioux City.

The trust will provide for a minimum of $500 or up to, but not exceeding, 50 percent of the students tuition, which ever is the greater amount. For example, if the tuition is $2,500, the student would receive $1,250.

Last year $25,000 was distributed to 29 students ranging from $390 to $1,180. This year there is $27,000 to award and the scholarship is paid directly to the educational institution.

"This is based on the earnings of the trust in the last year," said Royce Ranniger, director of operations for the diocese. "Hopefully this fund will continue to grow."

The diocese has a relationship with FAIR in Minneapolis who will handle the financial aid application process. Each applicant must complete the FAIR Financial Aid Application, which is available on the Internet.

"FAIR is an independent financial aid company that analyzes the income of a family. They will provide rankings for us of the people that applied saying, 'here's the most needy,' all the way down," said Ranniger.

Along with the scholarship application and submitting the FAIR application, each student is to write a brief typed statement explaining why they believe they qualify for and deserve the scholarship. The statement should be a maximum of 250 words.

With the statement the student should also include the extracurricular activities they are involved in such as missions work, membership organizations, church involvement and aspirations for a full-time career choice following high school.

This is a year-by-year scholarship meaning the student would need to reapply for the scholarship each year to continue receiving the funds.

Ranniger noted that students who received the scholarship last year are welcome to reapply. He added that there were close to 100 applicants last year.

"Anyone attending a Catholic high school in the diocese can apply for it," said Ranniger.

Recipients will be designated from applicants who the committee determines to meet the following qualifications:

*Needy students who are attending or will attend a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Sioux City.

* Students who have a special financial need.

*Students who show an interest in full-time religious work such as missionaries, priests, nuns and teachers.

"We have to continue to find more sources of assistance so our Catholic schools do not become private schools," said Ranniger. "This way we can provide assistance for students based upon their ability to pay. If students in the diocese want to attend a Catholic high school, there are ways that they can attend, but they have to go out and search for them."

The Catherine Birzle Education Scholarship committee consists of four members including the trustee or its designee, the superintendent of education in the Office of Catholic Education of the Diocese of Sioux City and the administrators of Spalding High School in Granville and St. Mary's High School in Remsen. The current committee members are Royce Ranniger, designee; Kevin Vickery, superintendent of Catholic schools of the Diocese of Sioux City; Brad Thiel, principal at Spalding High School and Jim Wesselmann, principal at Remsen St. Mary's. A representative from Security National Bank, Jamie Mrla, will also be part of the committee, noted Ranniger.

Applications and scholarship rules and procedures have been sent out to the Catholic high schools in the diocese with a letter from Ranniger. Students should be able to obtain an application from the principal or guidance counselor.

Applications are due by April 15 to be considered for the scholarship. Applications should be sent to Royce Ranniger, director of operations, Diocese of Sioux City, PO Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51102.