Announcing Our 2021 Scholarship Winners

Six fabulous high school seniors have been named recipients of a scholarship from the Iowa City Area HBA Women’s Council Scholarship Program. A total of $11,250 was given to the winners, who were recognized in recent weeks at their school senior nights.

They are:

Gabriel Baird – Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City High School
Attending the University of Iowa to Study Engineering and Business
Baird has worked in a restaurant and coached kids with Kickers Soccer. He also helped at the YMCA Camp Wapsie through its leadership program.

Helen Bohnsack – Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City High School
Attending Wartburg College to Study Biochemistry
Bohnsack has been employed at a grocery store and a nonprofit. She has volunteered with UKANDU painting homes and churches in Chicago, Christ Cares Sunday playing piano at nursing homes and restoring Iowa City’s octagonal barn.

Miranda Farr – Swisher, Iowa
Cedar Rapids Prairie High School
Attending the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to Study Mechanical Engineering
Farr’s job experience includes working at a drug-store chain. She has volunteered with Next Step Ministries in New York and San Augustine, Texas, and in various roles at the Shueville United Methodist Church.

Evaleen Hajek – North Liberty, Iowa
Liberty High School
Attending Kirkwood Community College to Study Business
Hajek has worked at a grocery store, teaching swimming and for her parents’ building/remodeling business. She has volunteered with Miracles in Motion and the Iowa Flyers Swim Club.

Max Johnson – Harper, Iowa
Keota High School
Attending Des Moines Area Community College to Study Electrical Trades
Johnson has worked for a grain elevator business. His volunteer efforts include running the scoreboard for numerous high school competitions, delivering food for nonprofit events and supporting his school’s speech club.     

Korey Kramer – Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City High School
Attending Kirkwood Community College to Study Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning
Kramer has worked for home builders/remodelers and a materials supplier. His volunteerism includes elementary school events and the 2019 Student-Built House project, for which the Iowa City Area HBA was a partner.

The Iowa City Area HBA’s Women’s Council raises scholarship money year-round through HBA meeting raffles, a silent auction and other means. Scholarships mainly go to students wishing to pursue a career in the skilled trades/home building industry. Check out a video announcing the winners at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdBgMUStpX4.

“The Scholarship Program is something the Iowa City Area HBA works hard to support because we know the tremendous difference it makes for students entering post-secondary education,” said Women’s Council Co-Chair Brogan Messer of Kitchens By Design. “We’re proud of the accomplishments of these individuals and look forward to watching them succeed in their careers.” Email Karyl if you’re interested in supporting the scholarship program.

Additionally, Bohnsack, Hajek and Kramer earned scholarships through the Home Builders Association of Iowa (HBAI) Educational Corporation. The nonprofit is committed to education and economic empowerment of students entering the building trades. Bohnsack was awarded the Jeff Tegeler Scholarship, Hajek won the HBAI Past Presidents Scholarship and Kramer received the Tim Ruth Scholarship. Hajek’s brother Izaak, who attends Brigham Young University, garnered an HBAI Past Presidents Scholarship as well. Iowa City Area HBA 2020 scholarship winner Emily Greathouse, a student at Iowa State University, was awarded the HBAI Kenny Selzer Scholarship.