QCESC 2026 Scholarship Recipients
Natalie Brown, Pleasant Valley High School
$1,500 Iowa State University
Natalie is currently a senior at Pleasant Valley High School, with an unweighted GPA of 4.0 and a 4.24 weighted GPA. She is very dedicated to her schoolwork and education, taking courses like AP English Literature and Composition, as well as Calculus I and II. At school, she is involved in the Women in STEM club, is an executive for the Social Committee, and is an executive member of STEM Night, a group of high schoolers that teaches kids about STEM through different activities. Additionally, Natalie has volunteered at the Hopewell Summer School for the past three years, helping kids in kindergarten to 8th grade with their learning and amassing over 100 hours in the program. Aside from school and work, she loves to read, paint, and spend time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews. After finishing high school, Natalie will attend Iowa State University in pursuit of a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, later hoping to enter the workforce in the aerospace engineering field.
Aspiration Statement: In the future, I wish to use my degree in mechanical engineering to work as an aerospace engineer, to find more green and sustainable means for air and space travel, with the hopes to limit carbon emissions and reduce humanity’s contribution to climate change.
Carter Bohm, Galesburg High School
$2,000 St Ambrose University
Carter is a senior at Galesburg High School in Galesburg, Illinois, and in his four years at Galesburg, he has maintained a 4.1 weighted GPA and is an AP and Illinois State Scholar. He is currently the President of the Student Council and the Spanish Honors Society and has served two years as Lieutenant Governor for Key Club. In his four years of high school, he has participated in baseball, tennis, swimming, concert band, jazz band, and diving. He has also been selected for the ILMEA All State Jazz and Honors Jazz Band numerous times. In his free time, Carter enjoys working as an after-school peer tutor, staying active, and umpiring for his local youth baseball league. Carter will attend St. Ambrose University to major in Biology with a minor in Spanish.
Aspiration Statement- Carter aims to improve the lives of his future patients through his aspirations of becoming a Physician’s Assistant.
Noah Ericksen, Central DeWitt High School
$2,000 University of Iowa
Noah is a senior at Central DeWitt High School. Throughout high school, he has been involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including football, basketball, tennis, and the fall musical, all for four years. He serves as captain of both the football and basketball teams. Academically, he has maintained a 3.98 GPA on a 4.0 scale and has earned Honor Roll recognition every semester of high school. Noah is also active in several clubs: he is President of both FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), a member of NHS (National Honor Society), and participates in Show Choir. He plans to attend the University of Iowa to major in Chemical Engineering.
Outside of school, Noah is also very active and enjoys spending time outdoors, as well as socializing with his family and friends. In the summer, he devotes his time to working as a masonry laborer for Maass Masonry. On the weekends, he enjoys spending time on the river boating, water skiing, and wake surfing. During the winter, Noah enjoys downhill skiing and, on those especially cold days, playing cards with his friends.
Aspiration: Noah hopes to earn a degree in Chemical Engineering and use it to research the medical field, helping advance studies to combat illness.
John Tarpey, North Scott High School
$3,000 American Society of Civil Engineers
John Tarpey is a homeschooled student in Lost Nation, IA. He is currently taking 18 credit hours of dual-enrollment classes at Scott Community College including Calculus III and Physics II. Throughout high school he has maintained an unweighted GPA of 4.0 and has been on the President’s List at Scott. He is currently co-directing and acting in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. When he has time between those activities, he enjoys computer coding, goes camping, plays the piano, sings in church choir, reads books, and loves spending time with friends and family.
Aspiration: John plans to use his degree in engineering and computer science to build sustainable, low-cost infrastructure using modern predictive modeling.
Bailey Alvarez, Assumption High School
$3,000 American Society of Civil Engineers
Bailey Alvarez is a senior at Assumption High School in Davenport, Iowa. He is a student athlete, captain of the 2025 football team and was awarded First Team All-State Academic. He is a pitcher on the baseball team and after the 2025 baseball season he was awarded First Team all-District. Bailey is a member of the National Honor Society, Service Club, and Pep Club.
In his free time Bailey is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys spending his time hunting, fishing, boating, and camping with his family. Bailey has a love for traveling and his favorite place he has traveled is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northern Minnesota.
Bailey plans to continue his education at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, to earn a degree in civil engineering. Bailey intends to use his education to help find a balance between modern society and the natural environment. He looks forward to his future endeavors and career opportunities.
Aspiration: to help find a balance between modern society and the natural environment.
Kevin Marquez, Sterling High School
$1,000 American Society of Civil Engineers
Kevin Marquez is a senior at Sterling High School who has maintained a 4.0 weighted GPA throughout his high school career. Currently, he is taking AP Computer Science along with dual credit Math 121 and Math 122 with Sauk Valley Community College. Throughout high school, Kevin has been actively involved in high school athletics and extracurricular activities. He has participated in soccer for four years, earning All-Conference Honorable Mention twice, and has participated in track for two years. In addition, he has been involved in Robotics, NAMI, CEO, and National Honor Society. He was able to achieve real world work experience with the CEO program by becoming a business owner as a student.
Outside of school, Kevin has built a strong work ethic through part-time jobs in healthcare and agriculture. He has also been actively engaged in providing community service through dog walking and United Way volunteer work. In addition, when he is not in school, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing with his German Shepherd, gaming, and playing or watching soccer.
After graduation, Kevin plans to attend Bradley University, where he will major in Civil Engineering.
Aspiration Statement: He hopes to use his civil engineering education to design safe, reliable structures, and improve the safety and quality of life for the community.
Emily Downing, Cambridge High School
$2,500 National Defense Industrial Association
Emily Downing is a senior at Cambridge High School in Cambridge, Illinois. Throughout high school, she has been a part of the track and cross country teams, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Farmers of America, Student Advisory and Leadership Team, National Honor Society, The Gray Matters Collective, and Scholastic Bowl. She has been on the High Honor Roll the past four years. She also has owned and operated Downing Daughters’ Pumpkin Patch since 2013. After graduating, she will attend the United States Naval Academy.
Aspiration: I will attend the United States Naval Academy where I plan on studying Aerospace Engineering. After 4 years there, I will be commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy. It is my goal to become a pilot and serve our country.
Braxton Laurion, Camanche High School
$2500 Constellation Corporation
Braxton is a senior at Camanche High School. He has a GPA of 4.0 and an ACT score of 33 and is ranked #1 in his class. He serves as the president of his school’s chapter of National Honor Society, as well as the senior class vice-president for Student Council, drum major and trombone section leader for the school band, tenor section leader for choir, point recorder for his school’s Thespian troupe, and is an active member of Key Club. Other activities he participates in include quiz bowl, speech contest, drama, and bowling.
Braxton plans to attend Iowa State University to study Chemical Engineering.
Aspiration: Braxton wants to focus on refining chemical processes to make them more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Ava Egel, Sherrard High School
$3,000 Society of American Military Engineers
Ava Egel is a senior at Sherrard high school. She was first introduced to STEM in elementary school when people would bring their parent to show what they do for work. She began to be very interested in engineering and science. She was in a robotics club, Red Cross club, varsity volleyball, softball, track, school, Senate, and class Senate. Throughout her years in high school, she has maintained a 4.0 and over her senior last semester GPA was a 4.7. She plans to attend a service academy or a university on a ROTC scholarship to study biomedical engineering and go into service.
Aspirations: She wants to become an aviator and graduate from the naval academy.
Anneliese Poppe, Muscatine High School
$3,000 Society of American Military Engineers
Anneliese Poppe is a senior at Muscatine High School. She is currently ranked first in her class with a GPA of 4.59, as well as a GPA of 4.0 at Muscatine Community College. She has taken many honors and advanced placement classes throughout her time at MHS, leading her to be awarded as an AP Scholar with Distinction. Along with this award she has been on the school’s honor roll for the past seven semesters, received the President’s Award from Eastern Iowa Community College, earned her Seal of Biliteracy in the Spanish language, and received a National Rural and Small Town recognition award. Anneliese currently serves as the President of her school’s chapter of National Honor Society, is a four year varsity letter recipient for the MHS dance team and was promoted to captain for her senior year. During her time as a dance team member she helped to lead the team to the first state championship in Muscatine’s history. She has received MAC all-academic honors for her dedication to her studies as well.
Anneliese also spends her time volunteering her skills to support learners within her community. Throughout her high school career, she has volunteered for more than 160 hours, earning her the silver cord award. She has volunteered as a classroom helper at an elementary school, a teaching assistant in a high school math course, and a peer tutor for Calculus students.
In the fall of 2026, Anneliese will be attending the University of Iowa to pursue a degree in engineering. She plans to use her degree to encourage and represent women in STEM fields, and to make a difference in the lives of people with the work she will do.
Atharva Anthati, Atharva Anthati
$2,000 IEEE Iowa Illinois Section
Atharva Anthati is a senior attending Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, Iowa. He has maintained an unweighted GPA of 4.0 throughout high school with a weighted GPA of 4.57. In his four years he has taken many AP, honors, and dual-enrollment courses to further his education. After high school, Atharva plans to attend Iowa State University to major in Electrical Engineering, a passion he discovered during his AP Physics 2 class.
Aspiration: After university, Atharva hopes to use his degree to support and foster innovations within the electrical field to help others. He also hopes to explore the world and live abroad.
Vella Batdorf, Pleasant Valley High School
$1,500 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Vella is a senior at Pleasant Valley High School, where she maintains an unweighted 4.0 GPA with a weighted 4.39. She has completed a challenging course load of many AP and dual enrollment courses, including Calculus 3 and Differential Equations. She participates in school activities as a member of PV’s student council, Spartan Assembly, and leads within her role of vice president of the school’s Women in STEM club. Outside of school is where her true passions lie, with her involvement as a member of Bettendorf Conservation Council and her time spent volunteering with various environmental organizations. If she still has time after all her activities, she enjoys hiking, baking, and traveling with her family. She hopes that pursuing agricultural engineering will allow her to make a difference in the world, increasing sustainability initiatives in agricultural practices as well as creating more efficient methods of food production that maintain a positive environmental impact. Post high school, her plan is to attend Iowa State University to gain a degree in agricultural engineering with a minor in biology.
Aspiration Statement: I hope that pursuing agricultural engineering will provide me the ability to implement sustainability improvements into current practices and to make our food production more efficient while maintaining a positive environmental impact.
Toni Stansbery, Muscatine High School
$1,000 Quad City Engineering and Science Council Community College
Toni is a senior at Muscatine High School. She maintains a 3.75 GPA. She is a member of National Honor Society, has participated in swimming and band for 4 years. She was a member of the marching band color guard for 2 and is trying out Track her Sr. year, throwing shot put.
In her free time, she likes to play Dungeons and Dragons and video games with friends, volunteering in the community, writing and crafting jewelry and trinkets. Welding will allow her to create, build, and solve problems using her hands while learning a skill that is in high demand in her community. She plans to attend Muscatine Community College to earn her welding certification and take part in an internship program to gain real-world experience with a local company.
Giving back has always been important to her family. When they were not working on their acreage, they volunteered their time and labor at school and with community groups. She hopes to continue contributing to her community as a skilled and dependable worker.
Asmita Bag, Pleasant Valley High School
$2,500 Quad City Engineering and Science Council
Asmita Bag is a senior at Pleasant Valley High School. She is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. At school she participates in band, Model UN, theater, speech, and debate. She also is involved in FLL coaching for neighborhood teams. In her free time, Asmita loves to write, watch motorsports, and binge shows. She’s very grateful for QCESC for helping her pursue her STEM career.
Aspiration: I hope to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering to then find a career within motorsports.
Cael Mess, North Scott High School
$2,500 Jeffrey Richland Memorial Scholarship
My name Cael Mess. I am a student at North Scott High School, and I am interested in a wide variety of hobbies, such as woodworking, restoring antique vehicles, and music. I have always loved engineering and STEM, and I have taken many STEM classes during my high school career. I enjoy designing and creating my own projects, and my favorite hobby is building guitars. I have a long history of showing off my skills and hobbies at the Mississippi Valley Fair and the Iowa State Fair. I am very involved in agriculture, and I help run a fresh produce and flower shop with my family. My hobbies and interests align fully with engineering, which is why I am excited to enter the field soon.
Aspiration: to one day be a well-renowned engineer. I am planning on going to Iowa State University to study mechanical engineering or agricultural engineering. I hope to own my own machine shop in the future and work on agricultural and mechanical applications.