A LEGACY OF GIVING
Now more than ever, higher education is crucial to success in life. Yet, with rising tuition costs, many people don’t have the resources required to earn one. U.S. student loan borrowers owed a collective $1.67 trillion in federal and private student loan debt as of June 2020, according to the Federal Reserve. The Keokuk Area Community Foundation and North Lee Community Foundation Scholarship Programs recognizes student achievements and supports deserving students. Thanks to our family of donors, we have annual scholarships to provide funding to Tri-State Area students and working adults. Through our various scholarship programs, we award more than $250,000 in scholarships every year.
All 2027 Scholarships open on January 11, 2027. Students only to apply once to be considered for all Keokuk Area Community Foundation, North Lee Community Foundation and Matteson Scholarships.
SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
In 2026, the Keouk Area Community Foundation and the North Lee Community Foundation received more than 350 scholarship applications from students in Lee, Hancock, and Clark Counties. The Foundations have committed to spending $300,000 on scholarships, but we want to INCREASE that amount with your help! Please consider donating to our Scholarship Fund to help our students pursue their dreams! 100% of your donation goes directly to our community students. You can change a life and fuel a dream with just one gift.
2026 SCHOLARSHIPS
CLIMAX MOLYBDENUM SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduating from any Lee County Iowa High School.
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Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university.
Criteria
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Student must be pursuing a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math).
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Scholarship Amount: Up to $1,000.00.
PEGGY DICKEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduates from Keokuk High Schools only.
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Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university in Iowa.
Criteria
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Student must be in the top 10% of their graduating class at any Keokuk High School.
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Scholarship Amount: Up to $2,500.00.
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Eligible for renewal for 4 years.
HOENING SPEECH SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduating from any Southeast Iowa, Northeast Missouri, or West Central Illinois High School.
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Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college or university.
Criteria
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Students must be pursuing a degree in Speech Therapy / Speech Pathology.
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Scholarship Amount: Up to $5,000.00
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Eligible for renewal.
Keokuk & Fort Madison High School Scholarships
Endowments at the Keokuk Community Foundation and North Lee Community Foundation support various Keokuk and Fort Madison High School Scholarships. Pay careful attention to deadlines and requirements as applications will be disqualified for not meeting all the requirements. Click below to view additional scholarships.
MOLLY HURLEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduating from any Southeast Iowa, Northeast Missouri, or West Central Illinois High School.
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Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university or trade school.
Criteria
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Students must be pursuing a degree in Cosmetology.
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Scholarship Amount: Up to $5,000.00
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Eligible for renewal.
LEADERS
SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduating from any Southeast Iowa, Northeast Missouri, or West Central Illinois High School.
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Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university or trade school.
Criteria
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Students must compose an essay on leadership
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Scholarship Amount: $2,000.00
ERIC PARDALL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduating from Central Lee High School, Fort Madison High School, Holy Trinity High School only.
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Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university or trade school.
Criteria
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Students must be pursuing a degree in auto / diesel repair, agriculture, medical sciences, nursing, engineering, or any trades.
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Scholarship Amount: $2,500.00 for 4 years, $10,000.00 total.
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Eligible for renewal.
BONNIE & CARL PFLUG NURSING SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduating from any Southeast Iowa, Northeast Missouri, or West Central Illinois High School.
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Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university or trade school.
Criteria
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Students must be pursuing a degree in Nursing.
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Scholarship Amount: up to $2,000.00
Matteson Scholarship
The Keokuk Area Community Foundation, North Lee Community Foundation and the Matteson Family established the Matteson Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to high school seniors, as well as, continuing education students pursuing studies in agriculture, health/medical sciences, nursing, engineering, information technology or a trades.
To be eligible for the Matteson Scholarship, students and working adults must live in the Iowa Counties of Lee, Des Moines or Henry. the Matteson Scholarship also accepts scholarship applications from graduates of Wapello Senior High in Louisa County. The Matteson Scholarship is a renewable scholarship for 4 years. Each Matteson Scholarship is up to $2,000.00 a year for the first two years and then up to $4,000.00 for years three and four.
Previous LW Matteson Southeastern Community College Scholarship Recipients are not eligible for a Renewal Scholarship, but can apply as a 1st Time Applicant.
MIKE ROACH BUILDING TRADES SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduating from Central Lee High School, Fort Madison High School, or Holy Trinity High School only.
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Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university or trade school.
Criteria
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Students must be pursuing a degree in Building Trades
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Scholarship Amount: $1,000.00
JERRY STUKERJURGEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduating from any Southeast Iowa High School only.
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Planning to attend a fully accredited nonprofit or public college, university or trade school.
Criteria
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Students must be pursuing a degree in Agriculture.
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Scholarship Amount: up to $2,500.00
Scholarship Renewals
A renewal scholarship is a scholarship that can be renewed each year of a student's college career, meaning the recipient can continue to receive funding throughout their studies as long as they meet specific academic or other criteria set by the scholarship fund. Please be aware that your failure to submit the renewal application by the specified date will result in your ineligibility to be considered for this year’s and future scholarship renewal awards.
