Premier Communications Foundation scholarships awarded to students

Six freshmen at Dordt and Northwestern colleges have been awarded $1,500 renewable scholarships from the Premier Communications Foundation Inc. of Sioux Center. They are the 25th class of students to receive the Premier Communications Foundation Scholarships.

Premier Communications Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed by Mutual Telephone Company in 1990, donates annually to both colleges to fund the endowed scholarships for students from the Sioux Center phone exchange area (722). Three freshmen at each school have been awarded renewable scholarships every year since 1992–93. There now are 12 Premier Communications Foundation Scholarship recipients at both Dordt and Northwestern.

The new Premier Communications Foundation Scholarship recipients at Dordt are Jordin Altena, an elementary education major and the daughter of Jeff and Kris Altena of Sioux Center; Rachel Los, a business administration major and daughter of David and Cherie Los of Sioux Center; and Amelia Rens, a pre-architecture engineering major and the daughter of Robert and Rebecca Rens of Sioux Center.

The new Northwestern recipients are Emma Rathbun, an elementary education major and the daughter of Van and Terry Rathbun of Sioux Center; Chaz Renken, an undecided major and the son of Candy Renken of Sioux Center; and Cassandra Sybesma, a business administration/agri-business major and daughter of Lester and Lila Sybesma of Sioux Center.

The students qualified for the scholarship by residing in the Sioux Center exchange area, applying for admission to Dordt or Northwestern by Feb. 1, and having a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 or a minimum ACT score of 21. Leadership, character and Christian commitment of the candidates are other factors considered during the scholarship selection process. The scholarships are renewable for a maximum of four years provided recipients maintain a 3.0 GPA and are otherwise in good standing at the school.