Internal Scholarships

Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation

• Merveaux Academic Excellence Scholarship

Eligibility: Graduating from a Linn Country high school. Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school

Amount: $500

Criteria: Academic achievement (GPA and class rank along with depth and variety of classes completed)

Due February 12, 2026 by 4:00PM-Apply here 

• Glidden Community Service Scholarship

Eligibility: Graduating from a Linn County high school. Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school

Amount: $1,000

Criteria: Community involvement; demonstrated respect an consideration for others

Due February 12,2026 by 4:00PM-Apply here

• Outstanding Student Leader Scholarship

Eligibility: Graduating from a Linn County high school. Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school

Amount: $500

Criteria: Exemplary leadership skills both in and outside the school environment. Academic achievement: top 1/3 graduating class with GPA of 3.0 or above. Demonstration of outstanding character, judgment, dependability, and teamwork

Due February 12, 2026 by 4:00PM-Apply here 

• College Opportunity Scholarship

Eligibility: Graduating from a Linn County high school. Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university, vocational, or technical school

Amount: $500 

Criteria: Financial need; demonstrated career goals, participating in extracurricular activities

Due February 12, 2026 4:00PM-Apply here

• Kalous Opportunity Scholarship

Eligibility: Graduating from a Linn County high school and planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university 

Amount: $1,000; renewable for three additional years

Criteria: Financial need; demonstrated strong ethics and high moral character

Preferred BUT not required: Planning to pursue study Government, Political Science, Engineering, or Music/Planning to attend a college or university in the state of Iowa

Due February 12, 2026 by 4:00PM-Apply here

• Kleiman Family Scholarship Nomination

Eligibility: Graduating from Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Marion, Prairie, Washington, Xavier; Planning to attend Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, or the University of Northern Iowa

Amount: $5,000, renewable for three additional years based on academic performance

Criteria: Leadership and good character; Academic achievement; Financial need

Due February 12, 2026 by 4:00PM-Apply here 

• Prairie Golf Scholarship

Eligibility: Graduating senior at Prairie High School, Cedar Rapids Iowa, who is a member of the school's men's golf team

Award: $1,000

Criteria: Preference given to students who participate in volunteer service activities; Preference given to students who demonstrate high moral character 

Due February 12,2026 by 4:00PM-Apply here 

• Komensky Society Scholarship

Eligibility: Czech or Slovak heritage

Amount: $1,000

Criteria: Demonstrated the importance of Czech or Slovak heritage in student's life. Financial need- student aid index (SAI) from your completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required. Academic Achievement. Good Character

Due February 12,2026 by 4:30PM-Apply here 

• The Kathleen M. McNamara Educators Scholarship

Eligibility: Must be graduating senior in Linn County, Iowa. Must plan to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university as a full-time student. Must plan to pursue a major in education with a focus on music, art, physical education, or elementary education

Amount: $1,000

Criteria: Preference given to students who are active participants in music or performing arts. Financial need (student/family financial status)

Due February 12,2026 by 4:30PM-Apply here 

• GEMS of Hope Cancer Scholarship

Eligibility: Applicant must be a graduating senior at a Linn County High School in Linn County, Iowa. The applicant must plan to attend a fully accredited nonprofit, public vocational trade or technical post-secondary school, or public college or university as a full-time student. Applicants must have been personally affected by cancer through a personal diagnosis or the diagnosis of an immediate parent, guardian, or sibling

Amount: $4,000

Criteria: Financial need and preference given to students who demonstrate financial need directly related to the impact of cancer diagnosis

Due February 12,2026 by 4:30PM-Apply here 

• Walter Kansky Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility- Academics/Service/Activities/Financial need/All-around student

Amount- $1,000

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here 

• Evan C. Brewer Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility- Concern for others/Community Service work

Amount- $250

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here 

• Nevin Florence Duffee Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility- Must live in Putnam Township (Ely) /Loves to read/ Passion for learning

Amount- $500

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here 

• Kenny Hanzlik Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility- Student who has letter in at least 1 varsity sport, interest in coaching, financial need. Will need a letter of recommendation from coach or teacher who has witnessed the student's determination, commitment and heart.

Amount- $500

Due March 23rd, 2026- Apply here 

• Bill Grabe Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility-  Student interested in trades (esp. Home Construction), 3.0 GPA, financial need, 1 extra curricular activity.

Amount- $1,000

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here

• Chen Innovation Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility-  Enrolled in 4 year college, STEM Major, Minimum GPA 3.5, demonstrates initiative/leadership, financial need

Amount- $1,000

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here

• Frank Becicka Scholarship

Eligibility-  Student going to a 4 year college and majoring in a business related field

Amount- $1,000

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here

• Justina Bontyy Dunlap Scholarship

Eligibility- Student who plans to attend Iowa State University. Preference will be given to a student who plans to major in Engineering or Pre-Veterinarian medicine

Amount: $1,000

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here

• Chen Our New Educators Scholarship

Eligibility- Pursuing a major in Education/Minimum cum GPA 3.0/Leadership/Financial need

Amount- $1,000

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here

• Kathie A. Cink Scholarship

Eligibility- Pursuing a degree in elementary education, preference given to students who attended Prairie View

Amount- $500

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here

• Prairie Ready Scholarship

Eligibility- Prairie High School wants to celebrate and showcase our Prairie Ready Seniors.  Please submit a 30 second or less video for a chance to win $1000 on how you are Prairie Ready.

Amount- $1,000

Due March 31, 2026- Apply here

• Darrell & Dorothy (Merritt) Fisher Scholarship

Eligibility: Must attend Kirkwood Comm Coll/ GPA of 3.0 or above, Strong work ethic/ Financial need

Amount- $2,700: Awarded 7

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here 

• Vicki Hawkins Scholarship

Eligibility: Must attend Kirkwood Community College/Minimum GPA of 2.5/Teachers enjoy in class

Amount- $500

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here 

• Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids-West

Eligibility: Must attend Kirkwood Community College /Priority given to vocational and technical program applicants, but not a requirement

Amount- $500

Due March 23, 2026- Apply here 

• Donald L. & Mildred A. Miller Scholarship

Eligibility- Applicants for the Donald L. & Mildred A. Miller Scholarship must have at least one of the three criteria listed below:

1) 3.0 grade point average or higher (Please provide transcript)

2) A strong involvement in their community and/or volunteering.

3) Resides in Swisher, Iowa (Swisher address is acceptable)

Amount- $500

Due March 1, 2026- Apply here 

• Love Like Lauren Scholarship

Eligibility: Applicant must be a high school senior attending any public or private school. They should be well-rounded individuals who demonstrates a strong commitment to volunteer service and exemplify outstanding citizenship within the community

Amount- $1,000

Due March 10, 2026- Apply here 

• Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors (CRAAR) Scholarship

Eligibility- graduates that are continuing their education here in the great state of Iowa. Our scholarships are awarded on a need basis and not merit which makes us unique compared to other scholarships. 

Amount- $500

Due March 15, 2026- Apply here

• RuthAnn Kendall Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility- Seniors who at least meet one of the three criteria; desire to pursue edcuation beyond high school, strong involvement in their community and/or volunteering, and/or demonstrated care/compassion/concern for others.

Amount- $1,000

Due March 15, 2026- Apply here 

• Cedar Rapids Prairie FFA Alumni & Supporters FFA Scholarship

Eligibility- Provides scholarships yearly to graduating seniors who are FFA members.

Amount- $500 (3 awarded)

Due March 15, 2026- Apply here

• Ely Legion Scholarship

Eligibility- Details of an applicant’s service member relative should include the following: Name, Branch of Service, Status of Service Member (deceased or living).

-or- A person pursuing military service post-graduation without family ties to the military. 

Amount- Varies

Due March 31, 2026- Apply here

• Garrett R. Farr Scholarship

Eligibility- A scholarship will be provided to a student who plans to attend community college or a 4-year university. 

Amount- Varies

Due April, 10, 2026- Apply here

• Robert Novotny Foundation Scholarship

Eligibility- Robert Novotny valued relationships and the importance of education in developing community minded citizens. This trust is dedicated to providing educational opportunities to our youth. Awarded to students in the College Community School District, who will be attending college/university within the state of Iowa as a full time student in the fall term.

Amount- Varies

Due April 13, 2026- Apply here 

• Edna Lenicek Education Scholarship Trust

Eligibility: Applicant must be a graduate of Waterloo East High School or College Community School District. This scholarship is NOT based on GPA. Applicant must demonstrate hard work and a desire for success. The scholarship is designed for both traditional college bound applicants and applicatns going into a trade field or non-traditional schooling.

Amount- $1,000

Due April 15, 2026- Apply here 

• Nancy Smith Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility- Candidate must be a senior at PHS and must be a son/daughter/grandson/granddaugther/great-grandson/greatgranddaugther of a veteran.

Amount- $1,000

Due April 15, 2026- Apply here

• Greg Erenberger Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility-  Awarded to a student who is interested in starting their own business.

Amount- $500

Due April 17, 2026- Apply here

• Swisher Men's Club Scholarship

Eligibility- Graduating High School Prairie Senior 

Amount- Varies

Due April 17, 2026- Apply here