MADISON, Wis. (May 3, 2023) – Twenty-five Wisconsin and Iowa high school seniors received $1,000 Innovation Scholarships from the Alliant Energy Foundation. The annual scholarships, to be used for higher education expenses, reflect students’ academic achievements and outstanding leadership in their communities.
Students demonstrated leadership through community service and volunteer work, as well as academic achievement through exceptional grade point averages and test scores. Each student submitted a written essay identifying a problem in their community and proposed a creative solution using science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) concepts.
“Supporting workforce readiness and fostering young minds interested in STEM-based careers is critical to developing a skilled and innovative workforce,” said Julie Bauer, executive director of the Alliant Energy Foundation. “These students have a bright future and we are thrilled to contribute to their success.”
One student, Nathan Miller of South Hardin High School in Eldora, Iowa, expressed their gratitude for the scholarship.
“This award will help ease my financial burden,” said Miller. “I hope one day I will be able to help students just as you [the Alliant Energy Foundation] helped me.”
Congratulations to all the 2023 Alliant Energy Foundation Innovation Scholarship recipients.
| Student | High School Name | City, state |
| Carlea Beckman | Danville High School | Danville, Iowa |
| Cade Bemis | Pekin High School | Packwood, Iowa |
| Abigail Bence | West Burlington High School | West Burlington, Iowa |
| Brody Deerberg | Tipton Community High School | Tipton, Iowa |
| Gabriella Deery | Burlington Notre Dame | Burlington, Iowa |
| Katarina Dries | Joseph A Craig High School | Janesville, Wis. |
| Jacob Hightshoe | Boone High School | Boone, Iowa |
| Dalton Hoehn | Mauston High School | Lyndon Station, Iowa |
| Derek Ketcham | Marshalltown High School | Marshalltown, Iowa |
| Conner Maston | Lynnville-Sully High School | Sully, Iowa |
| Brody McCluskey | Mauston High School | Mauston, Wis. |
| Tinley McLain | Van Buren High School | Keosauqua, Iowa |
| Erica McMullin | Williamsburg Jr-Sr High School | Williamsburg, Iowa |
| Cole Meier | Monroe High School | Monroe, Iowa |
| Nathan Miller | South Hardin High School | Eldora, Iowa |
| Evelyn Mrizek | Craig High School | Janesville, Wis. |
| Grant Nelson | Hempstead High School | Dubuque, Iowa |
| Kali Nelson | Lisbon High School | Lisbon, Iowa |
| Reagan Randall | Mauston High School | Mauston, Wis. |
| Keilley Riddle | Stoughton High School | Stoughton, Wis. |
| Thijs Roeven | Home school | Stoughton, Wis. |
| Christopher Sherman | Center Point-Urbana High School | Center Point, Iowa |
| Jacob Spoelstra | Amherst High School | Amherst, Wis. |
| Elizabeth Ulma | Abundant Life Christian School | Madison, Wis. |
| Brooke Wuebker | Wahlert Catholic High School | Dubuque, Iowa |
Recipients must be 24 or under and enrolling for the first time at an undergraduate school. They also must reside within Alliant Energy’s service territory at the time of application and be a dependent child of a current Alliant Energy customer or a customer themselves.
More information on the Innovation Scholarships and a full list of scholarships offered by Alliant Energy can be found at alliantenergy.com/scholarship.
