QCESC Scholarship Recipients 2024
Kinley Anderson, Sherrard High School
$1,000 St Ambrose University
Kinley Anderson is a current senior at Sherrard High School. She serves as this year’s Vice President for her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society. Through NHS, she has helped plant and maintain a pollinator plot designed to restore the native environment of western Illinois. One of her favorite volunteer opportunities is to participate in running the Scholastic Book Fair at the local elementary schools where she is also able to engage in fun learning activities with the younger students. At high school, she is an active member of both the Red Cross Club and the River Bend Food Bank Student Led Hunger Drive. She has taken numerous AP and honors classes and has managed to maintain a weighted GPA of 4.4 while simultaneously participating in the Robotics Club and working at a local vet clinic. In the fall, Kinley plans to further her education by attending St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.
Aspirations: Through her working knowledge in chemistry and biology, Kinley hopes to obtain a degree that will allow her to enter the medical field where she will be able to provide care to those in need and create a significant change in other people’s lives.
David Moreno, United Township High School
$1,000 Augustana College
David Moreno is a senior at United Township High School. He holds a 3.8 GPA and has a 1410 on the SAT. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honors Society, and the Student Council. He is the vice president of the school’s Key Club and is a varsity player for the scholastic bowl and the mathematics team. In athletics, he is part of the track and field team as a thrower for shot put and discus. He is involved with UTHS Latinos Unidos and enjoys participating in designing the floats for the cultural parades. When he is not studying, he can be found playing the piano. David is planning to pursue physics and mathematics at Augustana College.
Aspiration: David wants to pursue physics research, hoping to improve society by solving technological and scientific problems.
Henry Oberg, Sterling High School
$1,000 Augustana College
Henry Oberg is a senior at Sterling High School. He plans to double major in Computer Science and Music next year. He takes numerous AP classes while participating in a number of extra and co-curricular activities. Henry is also a small business owner. At PigsSSBM he creates custom modifications to video games and takes care of development, coding, 3D modeling/animation, accounting, graphic design and social media marketing. Henry enjoys working with other coding teams and was a member of Diet Melee and Beyond Melee.
In addition to his interest in computers and technology, Henry participates in the QC Youth Symphony Orchestra and recently traveled to Germany and Prague on tour. He is the cello section leader at Sterling High School and has been the first student in the history of the school to be selected for Honors All-State three years in a row. Henry was recently selected as a semi-finalist in the Butler University High School Vocal Competition in Indianapolis, IN and was named the “Star of the Stage” for the Centennial Auditorium 25th Anniversary Celebration. Henry Oberg participates in school and community theatre, Group Interpretation (GI), Orchestra, Choir, Madrigals, Sterling High School Boys Tennis, and SHS Boys Bowling in addition to also holding a part time job at Westwood Smoothie Co. He volunteers at First Presbyterian Church in Sterling, IL as the sound technician in addition to helping raise funds for Sterling Buddy Bags through the Souper Bowl of Caring.
Aspirations: Henry hopes to use his skills to work for a company that makes a positive difference in the world. He enjoys working on the software side of things, but is open to exploring other areas of CS while studying in college. He would like to pursue and combine his passions in order to help make a difference for real people and directly impact the lives of the individuals that make use of the technology he helps to create.
Isabelle Pierce, Central DeWitt High School
$2,000 University of Iowa
Isabelle Pierce is a senior at Central DeWitt High School who has maintained an unweighted 4.0 GPA. She is a member of many school clubs including National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Camanche-DeWitt Coalition, and Peer Tutoring where she possesses a leadership role in each one. Each year of high school she has competed in volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis, and two years of golf. While staying active she has received many awards of academic excellence through the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union as well as the Mississippi Athletic Conference.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, and time at her cabin in Bellevue Iowa, where she water skis and fishes.
This fall Isabelle will attend the University of Iowa to pursue an Environmental Engineering degree.
Aspirations: Isabelle hopes to become an environmental engineer and work on water sustainability in a third world country.
Phenix Holcomb, Rockridge High School
$1,000 Morrison Tech
Phenix Holcomb is a Senior at Rockridge High school. He currently has 3.7 GPA. He participates in theater and a percussionist Rockridge band program. He is also a member of the National Society of High Scholars. He will be attending Morrison Institute of Technology for Cad/Mechanical design.
Aspirations: To develop and create safer and more efficient machinery and/or residential and commercial use.
Kaitlyn Greenwood, Orion High School
$2,500 University of Wisconsin – Platteville
Kaitlyn Greenwood is a senior at Orion High School. She is an Illinois State Scholar in the top ten of her class, while also taking dual credit courses through Black Hawk College. Currently, Kaitlyn is president of National Honor Society, president of Executive Council, captain of the FTC robotics team #9189- All Charged Up, captain of the scholastic bowl team, and a four-year member of the varsity soccer team. She has also participated in choir for four years and band for four years, where she served as drum major of the marching band. In addition, Kaitlyn is highly involved with Teens Encounter Christ and IAJHSC Leadership Camp, where she has been a camp counselor for the past three years. In 2021, Kaitlyn helped form the first high school chapter of The Gray Matters Collective, a mental health organization which focuses on providing resources, education, and community to struggling young people. She has continued to lead the group since its inception. This past year, after donating more than a gallon of blood, Kaitlyn received the ImpactLife Student Impact Award.
This fall, Kaitlyn will be attending University of Wisconsin- Platteville to double major in forensic investigation and biology, while also playing in the marching band.
Aspirations: After graduation, Kaitlyn aspires to become a forensic scientist who works in a lab assisting the police in solving crime. She also hopes to volunteer for a non-profit organization which focuses on freeing the wrongly convicted.
Landon Schroeder, Central DeWitt High School
$2,500 American Society of Civil Engineers
Landon is a senior at Central DeWitt High School where he plays Football, Basketball, Tennis, and Track. He is also involved in clubs such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, and National Honors Society. He has been a 4.0 GPA student for all four years. Landon was also selected to attend the American Legion Boys State where he learned about government. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports and events. This fall Landon will attend the University of Iowa and will study Civil Engineering.
Aspiration:
As a Civil Engineer Landon wants to be a part of persevering and staining Iowa’s land.
Ethan Monson, Mercer County High School
$2,500 American Society of Civil Engineers
Ethan Monson is a Senior at Mercer County High School who has maintained a 4.0 gpa over the four years. While taking many advanced placement classes he is also involved in a full time sport of wrestling. During the four years of high school, Ethan received four varsity letters and was the team captain for the last three years in which he was participating. Hardware was also brought home twice with two, fourth place state medals being awarded during the last two seasons. Outside of school Ethan has put in hundreds of hours of community service working with the local wrestling kids club. He plans to go off to college to wrestle and receive a civil engineering degree.
Aspirations: Ethan hopes to attend UW Platteville for four years and obtain a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. With this degree he wants to change the world and the way that infrastructure is used. This includes making improvements to bridges, skyscrapers, and interstates all across the country and hopefully someday, the world too.
Cameron McDonnell, Morrison High School
$2,500 American Society of Civil Engineers
I am a senior at Morrison High School, where I have been on the high honor roll all four years, and am in National Honor Society. I have been in FFA (Future Farmers of America) for 4 years and served one year as Vice President in Parliamentary Procedure. I played football and wrestled all four years in high school. I received the defensive MVP award for football. I played baseball for two years and participated in track for two years. I participate in the local Youth Fellowship. Last summer my highlight was going on two mission trips, serving for the Lord. When I am not in school, I like to volunteer for such things as the local food pantry, the county fair, Kiwanis sandwich sales, and the local recycle day. I also enjoy mentoring young football players and wrestlers at camps and practices.
My summer job at the Whiteside County Highway Department along with the dual credit courses I am taking at Morrison Tech have enhanced my desire to pursue a career in Civil Engineering.
Aspirations: I hope to receive a Civil Engineering degree, then work for a county highway department or state transportation organization/industry. Ultimately, I would like to find a way to help people from impoverished countries receive access to clean drinking water.
Jacob Tegeler, Northeast Community High School
$2,500 National Defense Industrial Association
As a senior at Northeast Community High School, Jacob Tegeler has consistently held a top spot among his peers. He has remained active throughout his high school career, participating in various hobbies and activities. These include basketball, cross country, fall musicals, FBLA, chamber choir, swing choir, and the National Honor Society. Most notably, Jacob has taken the lead in two of his four musicals and received an award from the Iowa High School Musical Theatre Awards for a “Distinguished Scene” – the prologue of his junior year show “Into the Woods.” When not on the court or stage, Jacob can be found in the weight room or on his computer, designing 3D models for his 3D printer. Despite his busy schedule, he has maintained a 4.0 GPA.
Jacob also spends time working on his truck. Whether he’s washing and polishing it or replacing a part, he continually takes care of his nearly two-decade-old vehicle, which he has named “Beatrice.” When he’s not working on his truck, he’s helping his dad with a project or playing video games with his younger brother.
Aspirations: Jacob aims to use his knowledge as an aerospace engineer to pioneer new technologies that will benefit not only military industries but also civilian life.
Ian Smiddy, Riverdale High School
$2000 – Constellation Corporation
Ian Smiddy lives on the family farm in Rural Hillsdale, Illinois with his parents Mike & Debra Smiddy and older brother Logan who currently attends Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.
Ian is a Senior at Riverdale High Scholl in Port Byron, Illinois. While attending school Ian has been involved in several clubs and activities. Ian is involved in National Honors Society, is a student ambassador on the school board as a representative for the Senior class. Ian has participated in Golf, Track & Field, Scholastic Bowl, Speech, Student Government, Interact Club, Students Against Hunger, Choir, School Musicals and plays.
Outside of school activities, Ian has organized blood drives for First Lutheran Church in Moline, Illinois, performed at Music Guild in last summer’s show Singing in the Rain and has received statewide recognition for his creative writing in poetry having two of his works published.
Ian has been accepted into the University of Iowa’s School of Electrical Engineering for the fall term as well as the University of Illinois’ School of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering.
Landon Whelchel, Amboy High School
$2,000 Society of American Military Engineers
My name is Landon Whelchel and I am a senior at Amboy High School. Over the four years I have maintained a 3.9 GPA and have consistently been on the high honor roll. I have participated in many activities such as football, baseball, basketball, FFA, and many others. I have played football all four years earning a State Championship title in 8 man football and the academic all conference award three times. I am the varsity team captain for both football and baseball. I am the secretary for our National Honor Society and I am also the senior class president. During my senior year I have been named an Illinois State Scholar. I was also named homecoming king. I plan to attend Northern Illinois University to study engineering.
In my free time I enjoy fishing, hunting, and playing golf with my friends and family
Aspiration: I plan to become an engineer in the northern Illinois area. I would like to help out the world with the fight against global warming.
Alaina Heim, Riverdale High School
$1,500 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Alaina Heim is a senior at Port Byron Riverdale High School with a weighted GPA of 4.2. She currently serves as President of Student Council, Vice President of her Senior class, President of the Buccaneers 4-H club and is on the leadership board for both Interact and Rams for Christ. Academically, Alaina is an Illinois State Scholar, Academic All Conference, and a member of the National Honor Society. She has enjoyed taking part in many extracurricular activities during high school including track, cheerleading, musical, speech, and play. In her free time, she actively volunteers at her church and is a 10 year member of 4-H which has allowed her to develop key skills in not only woodworking and welding but also leadership and presentation skills as well. She is very thankful to the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for this opportunity.
Alaina plans to attend Iowa State University this fall and pursue a major in Agricultural Engineering.
Aspirations:
Alaina hopes to help the agricultural world one piece of equipment at a time, making sure farmers get what they need to run properly and helping them to the best of her abilities.
Joseph Magee, Alleman Catholic High School
$1,500 IEEE Iowa Illinois Section
I am a senior at Alleman Catholic High School and have maintained a 4.79 weighted and 4.15 unweighted GPA. I superscored a 34 on my ACT, placed in state for both Computer Science and Engineering Graphics at the ACES competition, and placed in state at the ICTM 8-person team contest. While at Alleman I have been on the Principal’s List all 8 semesters and a Reverend John O’Connor Scholar the past six. I have also been involved as a leader of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Student Council, Key Club, Student Hunger Drive, Student Ambassadors, and Dance Marathon. Over the summer I work as a lifeguard at Whitewater Junction and in my free time I enjoy playing video games with friends and working out. I hope to be pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign next year.
Aspirations:
I hope to become an electric engineer and use my skills in robotics to make life easier for everyone while being able to spend as much time with my family as possible.
Garrett Polson, Sterling High School
$1,000 Quad City Engineering and Science Council Community College
My name is Garrett Polson and I am a senior at Sterling High School. Throughout my high school academic career I have earned a 4.1 GPA while taking many AP science and math classes as well as many honor classes. I have been a part of varsity baseball all 4 years at sterling earning 1st team all area baseball team as well as honorable mention all-conference. I am a part of the National Honor Society and Rotary Club. After high school I plan on studying Pre-Engineering at Mineral Area College.
Aspirations: I hope to one day work for an automotive company and continue my passion for cars.
Molly Albrecht, Pleasant Valley High School
$2,500 Quad City Engineering and Science Council
Molly Albrecht is a senior at Pleasant Valley High School. She has taken numerous engineering and business classes, and has also taken dual enrollment courses at Scott Community College. She held a 3.9 unweighted GPA at both Pleasant Valley and Scott Community College, where she was on both the President’s List and High Honor Roll. During her dual credit Engineering Problems course, Molly participated and placed in multiple QCESC Challenges, earning 1st place overall over many Quad City school district participants.
Molly was heavily involved with the Pleasant Valley Volleyball Program throughout high school. She was on the varsity team for 3 seasons, and was voted team captain by her teammates her junior and senior seasons. Throughout her career, she earned multiple All-Conference, All-State, and All-District awards, along with being selected to play in the Iowa All Star match, which consisted of the top 32 seniors in Iowa across all classes. Molly was selected for the MAC Academic All-Conference team for all 3 of her varsity seasons, for her achievements in the classroom and on the court. She also spent numerous hours volunteering at summer camps, tournaments, and giving private lessons to young players. She is currently a coach and referee at Platform Elite Volleyball Club.
Molly plans to attend Iowa State University this fall to pursue a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Aspiration: Molly hopes to use her education to improve systems and production lines with a successful company, as well as help positively represent the future of women in STEM.
Shivam Patel, Pleasant Valley High School
$2,500 Jeffrey Richland Memorial Scholarship
Shivam Patel is a senior at Pleasant Valley High School. He has a weighted GPA of 4.43 and a 33 ACT. He plans the attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in Computer Science and Statistics. Shivam has taken numerous honors and AP classes throughout the years but his favorite class of all time is discrete math. He has participated in a variety of activities in high school, including cross-country, track and field, computer science club, Future Business Leaders of America, and First Tech Challenge. Out of these activities, Shivam contributes most of his time to his First Tech Challenge. He has qualified for state 2 times and was a state finalist in 2023.
Another activity Shivam participates in is research at the University of Iowa. Shivam is currently researching how machine learning can be used to create an algorithm that predicts N2O emissions based on weather and plant data.
For fun, Shivam enjoys playing video games and basketball with his friends.
Aspirations: Shivam aspires to obtain a degree in Computer Science and Statistics and then go on to specialize in machine learning. As a specialist, he hopes to use machine learning to create predictive algorithms for the betterment of humanity in a similar fashion to his current research.