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Nancy Luikart was born Aug. 24, 1936, in Sioux City to Clair John and Bernadine (Smith) Conway.

Luikart was West High School’s founding Choral Director. She was a Westside girl and PROUD OF IT!  She was born up on California Street August 24^th 1936. The hills of Riverside were her domain. She had many happy hours exploring West side with her brothers and sisters and her horse Molly. Nancy was a gifted vocalist and she loved sharing her music with others.

She graduated from Sioux City Central High School in 1954, where she was chosen All Central. She attended the University of South Dakota and graduated with a B.F.A. degree in music education.  She also studied voice at the Chicago Conservatory of Music in the summers of 1958 and 1959. She was also a district and regional winner of the, National Association of the Teachers of Singing, and a vocal winner in 1958. She furthered her studies at the University of Nebraska as well as Kansas University. She taught vocal music in the secondary schools of Sioux City for 30 years.

Some of her performance highlights include: singing with the Sioux City Symphony, the Sioux City Coral Association, the Shrine Chanters, the University of South Dakota Band, the Yankton College Orchestra, Sioux City Community Theater, Lamb Productions, Morningside College Choir recitals and orchestra, Morningside Choral Union, Morningside College Theatre and the Metro Opera of Waterloo, Iowa. She was a featured soloist at the Sioux City Band Shell for more than 40 years, and a Messiah soloist throughout the Midwest. Other career highlights include singing with Danny Thomas and William Warfield. She sang for a special reception in Sioux City for then-President Gerald Ford.

When Sioux City schools built West High, Luikart, was asked to take on a young program with students who were being separated and sent to high schools all over the city. Luikart decided that West High’s vocal music department was going to be strong, successful and happy at West High. She helped write the schools fight song, select the Wolverine mascot and the schools Classy Green and cream. She loved West High and the kids. She was one of them and she was proud of it.

A guiding life principle of hers was to use her God-given music talent to bring joy to others, especially to young people. Nancy’s “Philosophy of Life”, written in 1955 states that, “I would like to be a concert singer, but if the Lord didn’t mean me to do this then I will teach his children the music. Oh, what a gift to the world music is, think of how dull life would be without being able to express ourselves through music.”

Luikart, 68, passed away December 26, 2004.  Family, friends and West High Music Alumni gave to establish the Nancy Conway Luikart Music Scholarship to be administered by the Siouxland Community Foundation.

The Luikart family would like to thank all of those who gave so generously. The Luikart family would like to see this scholarship grow and touch young professionals’ lives. We are now excited to announce the first winner of the Nancy Conway Luikart Music Scholarship.  The award recipient for 2014 is Alexis A. Larvick from West High School in Sioux City, IA who will be attending Northwestern College in Orange City, IA this fall.

The O’Brien County Community Foundation (OBCCF) recently awarded 27 grants totaling $103,262 to nonprofit organizations and units of local government in support of projects throughout O’Brien County. Since the first grants were made in 2006, over $744,262 has been awarded. Funding for the grant program is a result of County Endowment Fund legislation (HF2302) passed in 2005 which provides that a percentage of state gambling revenues be distributed among all Iowa counties that do not have a gambling entity.

The following grants were recently awarded by the Community Foundation:

The OBCCF was formally established in 2005 through affiliation with the Siouxland Community Foundation and is governed by a local nine-member advisory board composed of representatives from each of the communities in O’Brien County: Archer, Calumet, Hartley, Paullina, Primghar, Sanborn, Sheldon, and Sutherland; as well as one county-at-large member.

The mission of the O’Brien County Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in the communities served by encouraging permanent charitable giving to meet the needs of present and future generations.

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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Rebecca Krohn, Executive Director • (712) 293-3303

FOUNDATION AWARDS $285,850 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

The Siouxland Community Foundation, organized exclusively to benefit and serve the greater Siouxland tri-state area, administers a pool of endowed grant and scholarship funds that have been established by individuals, families, corporations, and other foundations for charitable and educational purposes.

The Foundation has announced $285,850 in funding for the 2014 academic year for scholarship award recipients from the following funds:

Flight Crew (United 232) Scholarship Fund established in 1999 by flight crew members in appreciation of Siouxland’s valiant rescue and recovery efforts during the aftermath of the United Airlines Flight 232 incident on July 19, 1989.   Graduating high school seniors in the Siouxland area that will be attending Briar Cliff University, Morningside College, Western Iowa Tech Community College, or St. Luke’s College to pursue a career in the medical/health sciences field are eligible to apply. Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 were awarded this year to:

Juan Alamillo – South Sioux City High School

Emily J. Schnoor – Randolph High School

Austin L. Schmidt – Remsen – Union High School

Riley M. Ehlers – Maple Valley Anthon Oto High School

Cassandra D. Stowe – Homer Community High School

Great West Casualty Company Scholarship Fund created in 1995 by Great West Casualty Company (GWCC) to assist children or other legal dependents of active full-time employees in their pursuit of a post-secondary education. Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 have been awarded to:

Amy J. Zeller – Elk Point Jefferson High School

Alex J. Keime – Dakota Valley High School

Brittni R. Porath – Bishop Heelan Catholic High School

Hannah R. Jensen – Sergeant Bluff – Luton Community High School

Novotny/Osborne Scholarship Fund established in 2001 by Thomas and Jeanne Novotny, former residents of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, to assist graduating Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School seniors. The 2014 recipient of this $20,000 scholarship award is:

Peyton E. Harms – Sergeant Bluff – Luton Community High School

Col. V. Thomas Considine Scholarship Fund established in 2001 by family and friends in his memory to perpetuate Col. Considine’s legacy at the 185^th and his commitment to achieving higher education. Eligible high school seniors include those who have enlisted in the 185^th Iowa Air National Guard prior to graduation, or are children or other legal dependents of a retired or currently active member of the 185^th Iowa Air National Guard. The graduating student to be awarded a $500 scholarship from this fund is Bryce M. Butters from Woodbury Central Moville, IA.

 Adam D. Ellis Memorial Scholarship Fund established in 2014 by Larry and Roxanne Ellis, residents of McCook Lake, South Dakota. This scholarship is for graduating seniors from Dakota Valley High School. The first recipient of this $500 scholarship award is:

Ellie C. Bohan – Dakota Valley High School

 Cloy and Connie Olhausen Scholarship created in 2011 within the Hartley Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Siouxland Community Foundation for graduating seniors pursuing nursing from Hartley Melvin Sanborn, Sibley-Ocheyedan, Sheldon and O’Brien High Schools. The scholarship in the amount of $7,500 has been awarded to:

Bridget F. Doeden – Sibley – Ocheyedan High School, Sibley, IA

Curtis R. Turner PTLW Scholarship Fund established in 2013 by Marilyn Turner of Sioux City, Iowa to assist graduating East High School seniors pursuing a career in engineering. The first recipient of this $1,000 scholarship award is:

Emily E. Bock – East High School

Joshua M. Lester Memorial Scholarship Fund established in 2013 by family and friends in his memory to perpetuate Joshua’s contagious personality and love for others. The scholarship program has been established to assist graduating seniors from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School pursuing post-secondary education. The first recipient of the $500 scholarship is:

Brenna A. Sweeney – Bishop Heelan High School

Other scholarships administered by the Siouxland Community Foundation and the recipients are:

Dr. Roger Wendt Memorial Scholarship for $500 awarded to Jenna K. Lee – North High School 

Duane & Shirley Hiller Student Athlete Scholarship for $250 awarded to 2 students:

Shawna C. Koch – Kingsley Pierson High School

Kaylee H. Hathaway – West Monona Community High School

Herrold “Mr. A” Asmussen Scholarship for $500 awarded to Paige M. Noble – North High School

Karen Linder Memorial Scholarship for $500 awarded to Jenna K. Lee – North High School

Kind World Foundation Scholarship program,administered by the Foundation, exceeded the one million dollar mark in scholarship since its inception in 2008. $210,000 in scholarships were awarded this year to graduating Siouxland students. The following were awarded:

The $25,000 Distinguished Scholar Award was given to Raul Aguilera from South Sioux City High School pursuing post-secondary education at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, NE

Matching Scholarship Recipients:

The Avery Brothers Scholarship awarded to:

Brenna A. Sweeney – Bishop Heelan High School (Sioux City, IA) for $5,000

The Leopold Family Charitable Trust Scholarship awarded to:

Allison M. Sexton – Dakota Valley High School (North Sioux City, SD) for $5,000

The Joan L. Waitt Scholarship awarded to:

Hanna L. Nichols – North High School (Sioux City, IA) for $5,000

The Gleeson Family Scholarship awarded to:

Amanda A. Torres – South Sioux City High School (South Sioux City, NE) for $5,000

The Norm Waitt Sr. Scholarship         awarded to:

Gabriela Amador – South Sioux City High School (South Sioux City, NE) for $5,000

The Carolyn Goodwin Scholarship awarded to:

Gerardo Guerrero – West High School (Sioux City, IA) for $5,000

The Bernstein Family Scholarship awarded to:

Tayla S. Schager – East High School (Sioux City, IA) for $5,000

The Elk Point – Jefferson Scholarship awarded to:

Conner J. Kneip – Elk Point – Jefferson High School (Elk Point, SD) for $5,000

The Sergeant Bluff – Luton Comm. School Foundation Scholarship awarded to:

Courtney N. Morrison – Sergeant Bluff – Luton High School (Sgt. Bluff, IA) for $5,000

2014 KIND WORLD FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE:

$10,000 award to Kassitti A. Balomenos from East High School (Sioux City, IA)

$10,000 award to John M. Becker from Heelan High School (Sioux City, IA)

$10,000 award to Derek X. Clayton from West High School (Sioux City, IA)

$10,000 award to Bryan Chavez from West High School (Sioux City, IA)

$10,000 award to Falmata G. Gishe from North High School (Sioux City, IA)

$10,000 award to Maire C. Grupp from West High School (Sioux City, IA)

$5,000 award to Riley J. Harder from Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School (Sgt. Bluff, IA)

$10,000 award to Hailey M. Hinds from South Sioux City High School (South Sioux City, NE)

$10,000 award to Paige N. Kellogg from East High School (Sioux City, IA)

$5,000 award to Anna M. Koch from Bishop Heelan High School (Sioux City, IA)

$5,000 award to Taryn M. Jansen from Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School (Sgt. Bluff, IA)

$10,000 award to Jenna K. Lee from North High School (Sioux City, IA)

$5,000 award to Yvette M. Luna from Dakota Valley High School (North Sioux City, SD)

$5,000 award to Ronald K. Nash from East High School (Sioux City, IA)

$10,000 award to Nicole R. Page from North High School (Sioux City, IA)

$10,000 award to Esther E. Peralez from South Sioux City High School (South Sioux City, NE)

Lawton Centennial Scholarship was awarded to two students Mitchel J. Masching and Blake F. Sappingfield both from Lawton – Bronson Community Schools in the amount of $250.

The Nancy Conway Luikart Music Scholarship awarded a scholarship for the first time this to Alexis A. Larvick from West High School.

Macfarlane Family Scholarship awarded a scholarship to Jenna K. Lee – North High School for $500 and Levine Sheehan – West High School for $500.

Mercy Medical Center Auxiliary Nursing Scholarship awarded a $500 scholarship Kari A. Hilbrands currently attending Northwestern College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Paul Lindberg Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Logan L. Ernst in the amount of $1,000 from Westwood High School.

The final two scholarship programs are the Sergeant Bluff – Luton Community School Foundation Scholarships and the Walt Fiegel Scholarships. Sergeant Bluff – Luton School Foundation awarded a total of 13 scholarships for $500 each to the following students: Andrew M. Dillman (Pioneer Auto scholarship), Sierra Brand, Riley Harder, Ashtin Hazel, Taryn Jansen, Hannah Jensen, Paige LaPlant, Courtney Morrison, Zalina Rostermundt, Shelbe Schlag, Sydney Smith, Allison Stockfleth, and Peyton Harms. The Walt Fiegel Foundation awarded $1,000 scholarships to 16 area students. The students receiving the scholarships are from Dakota Valley High School– Aubrie Wauhob; Bishop Heelan High School – Tyler Cropley and Brenna Sweeney; Sergeant Bluff High School – Courtney Morrison; East High School students: Kassitti Balomenos, Brooke Daane, Hannah Ingram, Paige Kellog, Chase Kern, Anna Larson and Lauren Tidwell. Graduating from West High School, scholarship recipients are Olivia Flannery, Gerardo Guerrero, Sheehan Levine, Xiomara Santana and Isabelle Whitead.

Congratulations students on all of your accomplishments!

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The Siouxland Community Foundation has received official confirmation from the national Council on Foundation that it is in compliance with National Standards for U.S. community foundations. The Community Foundation is therefore recognized as a qualified community foundation in the State of Iowa for the purposes defined in Endow Iowa and County Endowment Fund legislation that promote philanthropy. 

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations were designed to define the fundamental policies and procedures to be shared by community foundation regardless of size or geographic location and to provide an important framework for the organizational development of community foundations.

Community foundations that have declared their intent to comply with National Standards are given an opportunity to submit their standards-related “key elements” documentation for review and to receive independent confirmation of compliance. 

New and innovative opportunities for charitable giving are now available for donors through a program created by Iowa legislation in 2005 called Endow Iowa.

Endow Iowa was created to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of this state through increased philanthropic activity by encouraging contributions from individuals, businesses, and organizations to new and existing community foundations. This handout is available for your use SCF EndowIA flyer ’15

With Endow Iowa, you can give and receive.

When you donate to a permanently endowed fund at a qualified community foundation, you’re not only helping your neighbors today—you’re building a stronger community tomorrow. And while that in itself is rewarding, with Endow Iowa, you’ll also get back for giving. 

Beginning January 1, 2010, you will be eligible to receive a tax credit for each donation, up from the 20% credits previously offered. The tax credit is in addition to any federal tax benefits you may qualify for.

Charitable gifts must be made:

• To a “qualified” community foundation (Siouxland Community Foundation is a “qualified” community foundation that meets National Standards).
• To a permanent endowment fund (existing or newly established) within the Siouxland Community Foundation. Start an endowment fund for as little as $5,000.
• For the benefit of one or more Iowa charitable causes.
• By Iowa taxpayers – individuals, corporations, or financial institutions.

The tax credit:

• Cannot be used against prior year’s taxes. Iowa taxpayers may use the tax credit the year of receipt of the tax credit letter from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Excess credit may be carried forward for up to five years.
• Is issued on a “first come, first serve” basis with approximately $6 million in tax credits available.

With Endow Iowa, donations to community foundations cost donors less.

For example:
Gift: $500
Tax Credit: $125
Federal Deduction: $175
Total Tax Savings: $300
Total Cost of Gift: $200

Gift: $5,000
Tax Credit: $1,250
Federal Deduction: $1,750
Total Tax Savings: $3,000
Total Cost of Gift: $2,000
*Based on 35% marginal federal tax rate

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