Urbandale Community
Schools Education Foundation
The George E. and Helen E. Newsom Scholarship
[ General Information About Scholarship | Where to Send Application | Get Application Now ]
Growing up in Des Moines as one of 10 children, George Newsom knew firsthand how financially difficult, if not impossible, it could be to attain a higher education. Although George's career as a general contractor did not demand a college education, his wife, Helen, recalls him saying, "I often wondered if I would have done any better if I had had a higher education." A deeply caring individual, George adored Urbandale, where he lived from 1960 until he died of cancer on June 9, 1996. He enjoyed people and sports, especially football. He was an active Urbandale supporter who wanted to see the city grow and who dabbled in the community's political arena now and then. And, says Helen, "He loved kids. He believed that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue a higher education." George also realized that, like during his own childhood, the high cost of postsecondary education makes it unattainable for many.
That's why George and Helen Newsom have so generously provided the funds to help qualifying Urbandale students pursue their own education beyond high school. Through the George E. and Helen E. Newsom Scholarship, George's legacy as an avid Urbandale supporter will continue for many years to come.
General
information and eligibility requirements for the
George E. and Helen E. Newsom Scholarship
1. Two need-based scholarships will be awarded to one male and one female Urbandale High
School student each year in an amount not to exceed $2,500.00. Scholarship
winners will be announced at the UHS Senior Awards ceremony.
2. Each applicant must be an Urbandale High School
student. Upon graduation the applicant must enroll as a full-time student (12 +
credits /semester) at an institution of higher learning (public or private)
which maintains an accredited two or four-year program. The award will be made
to the institution in the name of the student in two installments by semester.
3. The applicant must have a minimum high school GPA of
3.00.
4. The applicant must be in the top 50% of his/her
graduating class.
5. The applicant must have participated in school and/or
community activities during his/her high school career.
6. The applicant may be required to meet with the scholarship
review panel for a personal interview. Writing a short impromptu essay will be
a part of this process.
7. The scholarship award will be based upon all elements
of the application with greatest emphasis placed on financial need.
8. The applicant may not be related to the Newsom family or any member of the
scholarship review panel.
9. Application may be typed or computer printed (a copy of
this application may be downloaded from this site below or a printed form may
be obtained from the Counselor's or the Urbandale School District
Administration office). All financial information contained within this
application will be held strictly confidential.
Return your completed application to:
Urbandale Community School District
George E. and Helen E. Newsom Scholarship Committee
Attention: Shelly Clifford, Director of Business Services
11152 Aurora Ave
Urbandale, Iowa 50322-2838
The application forms may be obtained from the Urbandale Community School District offices at the address above, the Counselor's office at the Urbandale High School, or download in either .pdf or Word formats at <http://www.urbandaleschools.com/downloads/>
It is the policy of the Urbandale Education Foundation not to discriminate on the basis of gender, race, national origin, creed, age, marital status, parental status, sexual orintation, or disability in its education programs, activities, or employment policies as required by Title VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.