Supporting Scholarships
DONOR-FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship gifts from alumni and friends truly make a difference in our students’ lives. By establishing or giving to a scholarship, you are investing in:
• A young person’s future.
• Society’s future.
• A young person’s future.
In addition to being rewarding for the donor, scholarships also play an integral role in making a Wartburg education affordable for our students. Nearly 97% of Wartburg students demonstrate financial need, with the majority of financial aid coming from student loans or student employment.
Each year, Wartburg awards more than 800 donor-funded scholarships. These scholarships greatly help lighten the financial burden on our students and ensure they are able to attend Wartburg and pursue their education.
To learn more about these scholarships, contact the Wartburg Development Office at (866) 219-9115, (319) 352-8495, or development@wartburg.edu.
“It means the world to me that someone could be so kind and selfless to help a student out with this, and I can’t say thank you enough. This also helps motivate me to push through and to graduate, as well as receive the best education possible. This scholarship lets me know that someone else believes in me, too, and that I have more support than I even know about.”
– Izik Rodriguez ’23
“The education I received at Wartburg greatly influenced me in the areas of worldview, faith, and responsibility to community. The Wartburg tradition of inspiring critical thinking, human compassion, and respect for diversity are important to me. Funding a scholarship keeps me connected to campus and lets me be part of Wartburg’s ongoing mission.”
— Gordon Sween ’89
Types of Scholarships
With a gift of $2,500 or more, donors may establish an annually funded scholarship in their name or in honor of a loved one. These awards are based primarily on need, and the scholarship continues as long as the donor continues making annual gifts. Annually funded scholarship gifts entitle the donor to recognition in the Tower Society, and donors also have the opportunity to suggest award selection criteria.
An endowment fund protects the principal gift and uses only a portion of the investment earnings each year to provide scholarship support. Since the principal remains intact, donors can create a legacy that will endure for generations to come. With a gift of at least $50,000, payment of which can be spread over a period of years, donors may establish an endowed scholarship in their name or in honor of a loved one, and donors may also suggest the award selection criteria.
Generous outright and estate gifts have grown Wartburg’s endowment, providing equivalent funding to meet about six percent of the college’s annual commitment to financial aid. Imagine what could happen if our scholarship endowment reached $500 million, the level necessary to generate annual investment earnings to meet 100% of Wartburg’s financial aid budget. Such a scenario would permanently enable the college to meet the financial need of deserving students. Possible endowment gift levels include:
| Full Tuition Scholarship One-Half Tuition Scholarship Minimum for an endowed scholarship |
$800,000 $400,000 $50,000 |
A scholarship is a wonderful opportunity to memorialize a loved one’s legacy and share their story with the next generation. Memorial scholarships can be either annually funded or endowed.
Great Expectations is a unique scholarship program that seeks to not only impact a student’s life by providing financial support, but also by encouraging a sense of philanthropy and engaging the student in a partnership that extends the benefit to future generations. With a gift of at least $50,000, payment of which may be made over a multi-year period, donors can establish a Great Expectations scholarship in their name or in honor of a loved one.
The students fortunate enough to receive these important awards are encouraged to “give back,” and their future gifts help to sustain the scholarships once the donors’ original gifts have been exhausted. Thus, not only does your Great Expectations scholarship help to make a Wartburg education affordable for students, it also helps to create a generation of future donors as those students-turned-alumni are encouraged to “pay it forward.”
Current Great Expectations Scholarships:
- Class of ’75 Great Expectations Scholarship
- Larry and Fran Collmann Great Expectations Scholarship
- Jobman Family Great Expectations Scholarship
- J. Robert and Joan Loslo Great Expectations Scholarship
- Jim Morrison Memorial Great Expectations Scholarship for Business
- Jack and Sarah Salzwedel Great Expectations Scholarship
- Louis J. and Betty Lou Schneider Great Expectations Scholarship
- Bob and Sally Severson Great Expectations Scholarship
- John A. Tumas Great Expectations Scholarship
- Jon and Guyla Volkert Great Expectations Scholarship
Donor-Funded Scholarships
The college recognizes and thanks its donors for helping keep a Wartburg education accessible and affordable for all students. The following donor-funded scholarships are awarded automatically as part of Wartburg’s financial aid process. No application is available or necessary for consideration.
Faculty & Staff Memorial/Honor Scholarships
Scholarships By Last Name
The order of the listing is by last name. Select the tab with the appropriate starting letter of the last name to view scholarships.