College Scholarships
The Autism Society of Iowa offers the following post high school graduation scholarships. Applications are due on March 15th, and application requirements can be found at www.autismia.com. Scholarships will be given for the fall semester each year, and winners will be announced in April.
For a printable flyer, click here.
Email cover letter and documentation to: autism50ia@aol.com or mail to: Autism Society of Iowa, Attn: Kris Steinmetz, P.O. Box 65311, West Des Moines, IA, 50265.
Sue Askeland Honorable Scholarship – This scholarship is for a student with Autism, who is a senior in a high school in Iowa. The student may be entering a college or university, community college, vocational program, or a transition program, such as the REACH Program. Two students will be selected for this scholarship.
Please send the following information for this scholarship:
- A cover page with the name of the applicant, address, phone number, and e-mail address
- Documentation of status as an individual with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Documentation of acceptance into an accredited, post-secondary educational, or vocational program of study
- Two letters of reference
- Personal statement, of no more than 500 words, with attention to the following questions:a.
- What do you plan to study?
- What is your greatest accomplishment?
- What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
Sue Baker Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship is for a student in their senior year of high school in Iowa and entering a college program to assist those with Autism upon graduation. One student will be selected for this scholarship.
Please send the following for this scholarship:
- A cover page with the name of the applicant, address, phone number, and e-mail address
- Secondary School Transcripts
- Documentation of acceptance into an accredited, post-secondary educational, or vocational program of study
- Two letters of reference
- Personal statement, of no more than 500 words, with attention to the following questions:
- Describe your anticipated field of study.
- Describe how this field of study will assist those with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Describe your experiences with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Robert and Clarice Burkgren Honorable Scholarship – This scholarship is for an existing college student who is a junior, senior, or graduate student in a college in Iowa and majoring in a field of study to assist those with Autism upon graduation. The student may also be working in a field of study helping those with Autism while obtaining an advanced degree. One student will be selected for this scholarship.
Please send the following for this scholarship:
- A cover page with the name of the applicant, address, phone number, and e-mail address
- College Transcripts
- Documentation of acceptance into an accredited, post-secondary educational, or vocational program of study
- Two letters of reference
- Personal statement, of no more than 500 words, with attention to the following questions:
- Describe your anticipated field of study.
- Describe how this field of study will assist those with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Describe your experiences with people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Zach Paulsen Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship is for students with Autism who live in Iowa, and are entering into a vocation field of study, such as automotive technology, construction, collision refinishing, diesel technology, HVAC, Plumbing, Landscaping, and other trades. More than one student will be selected for this scholarship.
Please send the following information for this scholarship:
- A cover page with the name of the applicant, address, phone number, and e-mail address
- Documentation of status as an individual with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Documentation of acceptance into an accredited, post-secondary educational, or vocational program of study
- Two letters of reference
- Personal statement, of no more than 500 words, with attention to the following questions:
- What do you plan to study?
- What is your greatest accomplishment?
- What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
Josephine Gittler Honorable Scholarship – This scholarship is for a student with Autism attending the University of Iowa College of Law or an Advocate in Training. One scholarship will be given for this scholarship up to $1,000.
Please send the following for this scholarship if you are applying as a law student with Autism:
- A cover page with the name of the applicant, address, phone number and email address
- Document of acceptance into the University of Iowa Law School
- Two current letters of reference
- Personal statement, of no more than 1000 words, with attention to the following questions:
- How has the diagnosis impacted your education?
- How do you believe your Autism provides unique perspective in the classroom and in the community?
- How do you plan to leverage your unique talents, qualities, and inherent gifts to help progress the legal profession forward–perhaps just by being at the boardroom table or by actively providing counsel to those with disabilities?
Please send the following for this scholarship if you are applying as a law student who does advocacy work for those with Autism:
- A cover page with the name of the applicant, address, phone number and email address
- Document of acceptance into the University of Iowa Law School
- Two letters of reference
- Personal statement, of no more than 1000 words, with attention to the following questions:
- Describe how interacting with autistic people has shaped your life up to this point.
- Describe how you have advocated for or otherwise assisted those with Autism in the past. Describe what you plan to do in the future vis-a-vis more advocacy. How will these funds get you closer to that goal?
- Describe why you are the best fit for this scholarship.
Marilyn Weinberg Caregiver Scholarship – This scholarship is given to a person living in Iowa who has a documented history of being a caregiver for someone with Autism who is currently enrolled in a certification, credential, professional trade, or degree program. One scholarship will be given for this scholarship up to $1,000.
- A cover page with the name of the applicant, address, phone number, and e-mail address
- Documentation of enrollment into an accredited, post-secondary educational, or vocational program of study
- One current letter of reference
- Personal statement, of no more than 500 words, with attention to the following questions:
- a. Describe your future goals and aspirations.
- b. Describe, if applicable, how you may have put any plans or professional goals aside while caregiving a person with autism.
- c. Describe why you are the best fit for this scholarship.