Center awards 27 Legacy of Heroines scholarships

CATEGORIES: November 2019, Voices
Legacy scholars volunteered Aug. 26, 2019, to celebrate Women's Equality Day. From left: Sarah Gardner, Nyamal Diew, Madeline Farringer, Abigail Mankins, and Olivia Skwerski.

The Legacy of Heroines program has been providing scholarships to hard-working and exceptional students who are interested in public service and politics since 1996. As a Legacy of Heroines scholar, students receive a one-year scholarship split between two semesters. Scholars have the opportunity to renew their scholarships provided they continue to fulfill the criteria and funds are available.

The 2019-2020 Legacy of Heroines scholars are:

Mary Anton

Mary Anton, a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, is a senior studying mathematics with a teaching licensure and a minor in learning technologies. Anton is this year’s recipient of the Beth Bierbaum Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Beth Bierbaum of Wellesley, Massachusetts. Anton is a talented and avid musician, playing the French horn in the ISU Wind Ensemble and in a brass quintet. She is also a tutor and a research assistant and has been on the Dean’s List her entire Iowa State academic career. One of her favorite memories at ISU is playing with the ISU Symphony Orchestra and game nights with her friends.


Heather Baier

Heather Baier of Altoona, Iowa, is a sophomore in mechanical engineering with a minor in general business. She is the recipient of the Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which was endowed by multiple donors in memory of Davis. Baier is actively involved in the marching and pep band and also participates in The Engineering Ambassador and Mentor Program (TEAM) and the Theme Park Engineering Group. She has volunteered at a local food pantry and has been involved with the Festival of Lights in Des Moines. She was a part of the President’s Leadership Class in her freshman year and is currently in the Honors Program. Baier has been on the Dean’s List for two consecutive semesters. This summer, she was an intern in the Ride Operations Department at Cedar Point. Her favorite memory is her first marching band performance at Jack Trice.


Martha Broadnax

Martha Broadnax has been awarded the Political Science Alumni Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which is supported by Bill and Nancy Haigh of Fairmont, Minnesota; Dwight Ink and Dona Wolf of Leesburg, Virginia; Maureen Roach Tobin and Terrence Tobin of Clive, Iowa; and Sharon Haselhoff of Larchwood, Iowa. Broadnax is from Saint Paul, Minnesota, and is a senior majoring in political science. She has been involved on campus through the Model EU team, the Political Science Club and the National Residence Hall Honorary. Broadnax has also had several academic achievements, such as being in the top 2% of campus leaders, being a George Washington Carver scholar and being on the Dean’s List every semester. In the past, she interned abroad with Irish Parliament in Dublin, Ireland, where she was able to witness BREXIT negotiations first-hand. Broadnax is able to be an active community member in Ames: she is involved with Habitat for Humanity of Story County, the Emergency Residency Project, and the American Council of the Blind. Her favorite memory as a Cyclone has been her team winning first overall in the Midwest Model EU competition.


Crystal Brandenburgh

Crystal Brandenburgh of Council Bluffs, Iowa, has been awarded an Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian Binger of Ames, Iowa. She is a senior majoring in both history and political science. She is a member of the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honors Society and the Midlands Humane Society. She has a long list of academic scholarships, such as the Iowa State Liberal Arts and Sciences Summer Internship Scholarship, the ISU History Department Sue and John Lawson Scholarship, the Dean’s High Impact Award for Undergraduate Research and the Roy J. Carver Scholarship. This past summer, she worked as an intern for the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project at George Washington University. Currently, she works as an archival intern at the Catt Center. She has presented at two professional academic conferences: “Hillary Clinton in Beijing: Feminism and the First Lady” at the Northern Great Plains History Conference in Mankato, Minnesota, and “Carrie Chapman Catt: Contextualizing Controversy” at the Midwestern History Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. One of her favorite Iowa State memories has been finding and building a community of friends and colleagues in the history and political science departments and at the Catt Center.


Delaney Conrad

Delaney Conrad is a recipient of the Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which is supported by Claire Andreasen of Ames, Iowa. Conrad is a junior from Solon, Iowa. She is majoring in animal science (pre-vet) and minoring in women’s and gender studies. She is a part of the Pre-Vet Club and Vets Without Borders. Conrad has also interned for ISU fisheries on a master research project studying Iowa’s fish populations. She currently works as a veterinary technician in a small animal and exotics clinic in Ames. Her favorite memory at Iowa State has been her freshman move in day where she met her best friends.


Nyamal Diew

Nyamal Diew is from South Sioux City, Nebraska, and is studying biology and psychology. She was awarded the Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science, supported by Helen Jensen Howe of Muscatine, Iowa. As a sophomore, she has become very involved on campus through the Women’s Rugby Club at Iowa State, the Pre-Medical Club and the Program for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE). Her volunteer experience is just as impressive. She has been a part of Campus Service Day, Destination Iowa State and served on the move in crew in August. In her academic career, she has received a George Washington Carver Scholarship, the Liberal Arts and Sciences Excellence Scholarship and the Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans Academic Excellence Scholarship. Diew also had the opportunity to present at Iowa State’s Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE) last semester. Her favorite memory at Iowa State has been volunteering at Reiman Gardens and walking through the butterfly wing.


Lucy Dougherty

Lucy Dougherty is from Winterset, Iowa, and is a recipient of a Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which is supported by Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian Binger of Ames, Iowa. A senior in economics and political science, she has a long list of both academic achievements and extracurricular involvement. She has been involved with Student Government, Model European Union, the Lectures Committee, Economics Club and the Economics CMBS Case Study Team. Dougherty is a member of the Cardinal Key Honors Society, has received the Christina Hixson Opportunity and Cardinal Leadership Scholar awards and has been given the President’s Award for Competitive Excellence. She has interned with the Iowa Attorney Generals Consumer Protections Division and with Women for Election in Dublin, Ireland.  Recently, she was chosen to present research at the Midwest Economic Association meeting. Her favorite memory at Iowa State has been opening the time capsule in her dorm in Helser.


Madeline Farringer

Madeline Farringer of Freeport, Illinois, has been awarded a Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science, supported by Helen Jensen Howe of Muscatine, Iowa. Farringer is a senior majoring in biochemistry with a minor in emerging global disease. She is the speaker co-chair of the Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposium, a cabinet member of the Biochemistry Club, the co-chair of the Breakfast Club and was a team leader at Destination Iowa State. She has been given the Dean’s High Impact Research Award and was a Top Biochemistry sophomore and freshman. She currently works in a research lab with the department of biomedical sciences. Her favorite memory as a Cyclone has been marching in the homecoming parade with the Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Club wearing her tie dyed lab coat.


Morgan Fritz

Morgan Fritz is a sophomore in political science from Lake Mills, Iowa. Fritz was awarded the Katherine Bruntlett Annin Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which was endowed by Annin’s estate. She is a Collegiate Panhellenic Council Senator in Student Government, a Legislative Ambassador and a member of Alpha Delta Pi. She volunteers with the Ronald McDonald House Charities through ADPi philanthropy and cooking meals at the RMHC house and helps out with Worth County 4-H workshops. Fritz also maintains an impressive academic record, being the recipient of the Sonja Carlsen Egenes Political Science Scholarship, being in the top 2% of her class last year, making the Dean’s List and receiving the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Excellence Scholarship. She is a Cyclone Aide and has also been a Destination Iowa State team leader. Her favorite Iowa State memory is getting painted in cardinal and gold paint during Yell Like Hell and performing on central campus.


Sarah Gardner

Sarah Gardner, hailing from Bakersfield, California, is the recipient of a Carrie Chapman Catt Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by various donors to the Catt Center’s general scholarship fund. Gardner is a senior in hospitality management. An exceptional student, she is also very involved in the Panhellenic community. In Alpha Chi Omega, she is the historian and is on the philanthropy committee as well as being involved in Homecoming, Dance Marathon, and Greek Week as the central culinary director. A member of the Dean’s List, she regularly volunteers at the Octagon Center for the Arts. Her favorite Iowa State memory was getting painted for Yell Like Hell last year.


Daniela Gatica

Daniela Gatica is a recipient of the Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which is supported by Claire Andreasen of Ames, Iowa. She hails from Onalaska, Wisconsin, and is a senior in animal science. Her extracurricular transcript includes Orchesis II, also known as Dance club, and Pre-Vet Club. She is involved with Veterinarians Without Borders, works as a Reiman Gardens volunteer, and also volunteers with the Mobile Vet Clinic. Gatica is a recipient of the George Washington Carver Scholarship, a Program for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) scholarship and has been on the Dean’s List for her whole career at Iowa State. Her favorite memory at Iowa State has been making friends in the dorms. “We are still friends today,” Gatica writes. “And bonded over a college rite of passage: watching the entire ‘Friends’ series!”


Grace Jakes

Grace Jakes of Indianola, Indiana, is a recipient of the Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which is supported by Claire Andreasen of Ames, Iowa. Jakes is a sophomore double majoring in animal science and global resource systems, and she is in the Honors Program at Iowa State. Jakes is active in the Salt Company, the Dairy Science Club and Block and Bridle. She volunteers at Menagerie Stables in Altoona, Iowa, and is also an active member of her church. Last summer, she worked in research in the animal science department with dairy cattle and was part of the spring 2019 Globe Leadership Fellows cohort. One of her favorite memories at Iowa State was singing with the Lyrica choir.


Abigail Mankins

Abby Mankins is a recipient of a Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science, supported by Helen Jensen Howe of Muscatine, Iowa. From Des Moines, Iowa, she is a senior in political science and environmental studies, minoring in both women’s and gender studies and statistics. Mankins serves on the social justice committee in Pi Beta Phi, and serves as an honors ambassador for the Honors Program. She is a member of Colleges Against Cancer and has also worked as a communication consultant at Iowa State’s Writing and Media Center for the past two years. Throughout her academic career in both high school and college, she has been a rigorous civic volunteer with different campaigns. She has received various scholarships, such as the President’s Award for Competitive Excellence, the Cardinal Leadership Scholar Award and a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Excellence Scholarship. This past summer, she worked as the conservation programs intern for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Mankin’s favorite memory at Iowa State has been finding her passion for environmental politics through a summer class on the topic.


Sarah Meisch

Sarah Meisch is the recipient of the Jane Griemann Legacy of Heroines scholarship, which is supported by Griemann’s late husband, Lowell Greimann, and various donors to the fund. Meisch is a senior from Kansas City, Missouri, and is double majoring in political science and international studies. She currently works as a peer adviser for the Study Abroad Center. Meisch has worked with various political campaigns and has been the recipient of many academic scholarships, such as the Academic Recognition Award, the Cardinal, the Leadership Scholar Award Level I and has been on the Dean’s List since 2016. Along with her work at the Study Abroad Center, she has also been a research assistant for the political science department and has studied abroad at the University of Exeter in England. Her favorite memory at Iowa State has been the time she spent with friends, whether that be ice skating, having dinner together, watching a movie or traveling.


Lena Menefee-Cook

Lena Menefee-Cook has been awarded the Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which was endowed by multiple donors in memory of Davis. Hailing from Prescott, Arizona, she is a junior triple majoring in art and design, performing arts and international studies with a minor in French. She is involved with ISU Theatre, ISU Annual One Day Plays and Pi Delta Phi. Menefee-Cook still finds time to volunteer with Focal Theatre Lab and Story County Theater Company, usher for theatre productions and volunteer for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Des Moines. She has received many academic honors, such as the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s High Impact Award for Undergraduate Research, the LAS Dean’s Theatre Excellence Scholarships and the Therese Warburton Applied Art Scholarship. She was part of the ensemble of “IPHIGENIA,” an ISU Theatre production that was selected to perform at the Region 5 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in South Dakota this past January. Her favorite memory at Iowa State has been putting on a show that delves into the topic of immigration in Iowa and being able to hear the stories and perspectives of the people involved.


Mckenzie Meradith

Mckenzie Meradith, a senior in political science, is the recipient of the Meylor Family Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Sharon Haselhoff of Larchwood, Iowa. Meradith is also a member of Chi Omega, a Student Admissions Representative, a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Senator for Student Government and a teaching assistant in the political science department. She was on the On-Campus Committee of the Iowa State Spring 2019 Blood Drive, a participant in Dance Marathon and was on the Dean’s List all semesters so far except for the spring of 2017. She is currently a Victim-Witness intern at the Story County Attorney’s Office. Her favorite Iowa State memory is each football season. Meradith is from Omaha, Nebraska.


Sarah Moody

Sarah Moody, from Collins, Iowa, has been awarded a Jane Greimann Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which was endowed by the late Lowell Greimann of Ames, Iowa. Moody is a senior majoring in political science and international studies. Currently, she is the senior director of academic affairs for Student Government. She has also been a member of Chichaqua Valley Ducks Unlimited for the past several years. Moody is a member of the Cardinal Key Honor Society at Iowa State and Pi Sigma Alpha, which is the national political science honor society. She has also been on the Dean’s List every semester she has been enrolled at Iowa State. During the summer of 2018, she interned with Women for Election in Dublin, Ireland. This past summer she had the opportunity to help Dr. Nieman in the political science department with his research. Along with her work in Student Government, she also works for the office of admissions. Some of her favorite memories have been assisting students in making the next step towards their academic and professional futures.


Montserrat Ponce-Parra

Montserrat Ponce-Parra has been awarded the Katherine Bruntlett Annin Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which was endowed by Annin’s estate. She is a senior in economics and mathematics. Currently, she has two jobs working at Kingland Systems and at Friendship Ark Homes as a human resources and agency administration intern. She volunteered at Habitat for Humanity from 2016-2018. This year, she received the Liberal Arts and Sciences Excellence Scholarship. Ponce-Parra has been accepted into the Peace Corps and will be going to Paraguay after she graduates in May. Her favorite Iowa State memory is ice skating at the ISU arena with friends.


Kaitlyn Sanchez

Kaitlyn Sanchez of Belleville, Illinois, is a recipient of the Joanne and Charles Kuster Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Joanne and Charles Kuster of Johnston, Iowa. Sanchez is a senior in graphic design and leadership studies. Her extracurricular transcript includes her involvement in Kappa Alpha Theta, Design Council, Graphic Design Social Club, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Student Government where she helped author the Middle Eastern North African Resolution. Sanchez volunteers with Food at First, Overflow Thrift Store and the Octagon Art Festival. She has received the Jessie Coles Scholarship and can proudly say she is both a George Washington Carver Scholar and a President’s Leadership Class student. Sanchez has done work as a social media marketing manager for a small business in Florida and was a children’s ministry intern for First Baptist Church Maryville in Maryville, Illinois. One of her favorite memories at Iowa State was participating in the annual Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE), which is held in the Memorial Union to address various topics concerning race and ethnicity.


Smruthi Sandhanam

Smruthi Sandhanam of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a senior in computer engineering with a minor in cybersecurity. Sandhanam is a peer mentor for Leadership through Engineering Academic Diversity and Electrical Computer and Software Engineers as Leaders. She is a part of the Academic Program of Excellence (APEX) class of 2016, is part of the Vermeer International Leadership Program and is also an Electrical Computer and Software Engineers as Leaders (ECSEL) scholar. She is also an FS-ISAC Building Cybersecurity Diversity Scholar. During her academic career, she has interned as product development and testing intern at Optum and as a cyber/software intern at Northrop Grumman for two summers. Her favorite memory at Iowa State has been traveling to the Netherlands with the Vermeer International Leadership Program.


Madeline Sinovic

Madeline Sinovic is a recipient of the Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian Binger of Ames, Iowa. She is a junior from Columbus, Nebraska, majoring in political science. She has been the vice president of the College Democrats of Iowa State and is a member of the Iowa State Pre-Law Club, legislative ambassadors and is on the UNICEF travel team. Sinovic also volunteers with the Ronald McDonald House and with Access for Survivors.


Olivia Skwerski

Olivia Skwerski of Arlington Heights, Illinois, is the recipient of the James R. and Lauri K. Young Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Lauri and James Young of Cedar Falls, Iowa. She is a senior in civil engineering. Skwerski is a member of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, the Symphony Orchestra, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Program for Women in Science and Engineering. She does volunteer work through Alpha Phi Omega on campus and around Ames. In terms of academics, she has received the Barbara Ann Highland Herum Scholarship in Environmental Engineering. This past summer, she had an internship with HDR in Des Moines working as a water/wastewater intern. Her favorite Iowa State memory was going to England over spring break with an honors seminar on the Beatles.


Toni Sleugh

Toni Sleugh has been awarded a Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science, supported by Helen Jensen Howe of Muscatine, Iowa. A junior from Carmel, Indiana, she is a double major in biology and environmental studies. She is chair of the ISU chapter of the Climate Reality Campus Corps, secretary for the Multicultural Student Leadership Council and has volunteered at the Octagon Center for the Arts and the Wildlife Care Clinic. She is a George Washington Carver scholar, received the Earnest F. Hollings undergraduate scholarship from NOAA, and was in the Presidents Leadership Class. She is currently a student ambassador for the Dean of Students Office and interned at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the summer of 2018. She interned this past summer in a NOAA field office. At Iowa State, her favorite memory has been getting to meet so many incredible people and making friends for life.


Sierra Stalians

Sierra Stalians of Apple Valley, California, is a junior studying political science and minoring in women’s and gender studies. She has been awarded a Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Dianne and Keith Bystrom of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Currently, she is president of the Schilletter and University Village Community Council and has been a research assistant on a project that examined the role of candidate gender in American elections. She previously served on Student Government’s Election Commission as treasurer and debate coordinator, and last year, Stalians volunteered with the Iowa Democratic Party during the midterm elections. Stalians received the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Excellence Scholarship, Academic Recognition Scholarship and the LAS Dean’s High Impact Scholarship. She has also been on the Dean’s List since 2017. At the moment, she is serving as an intern for the Iowa Department of Human Rights – Office on the Status of Women. Her favorite memory at Iowa State has been visiting France during her semester abroad.


Jazlyn Talley

Jazlyn Talley, a senior majoring in political science and public relations with a minor in environmental studies, is a recipient of a Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which was endowed by multiple donors in memory of Davis. Talley is from West Des Moines, Iowa, and has made Iowa State her second home through her involvement in various clubs and her sorority. She has also been involved with the Special Olympics of Iowa and the Arthritis Foundation. In the past, she has interned at the World Food Prize in Des Moines, where she helped create social media content and assisted with public outreach. Last fall, she was able to intern with a political consulting group, LS2group. She was also lucky enough to attend the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) and then present at ISCORE the following spring. Her favorite thing about Iowa State is when the weather starts to change from snowy to spring, and students emerge from hibernation and enjoy the new season.


Cody Woodruff

Cody Woodruff of Carlisle, Iowa, has been awarded a Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Dianne and Keith Bystrom of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. A senior in political science, Woodruff has put his knowledge to the test with his involvement in student and local government and his work as an organizer for Mayor Pete’s 2020 presidential campaign. He has been on the Dean’s List every semester. Woodruff’s favorite memory has been singing Sweet Caroline after a big Cyclone win at Jack Trice.


Matthew Voss

Matthew Voss has been awarded a Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Dianne and Keith Bystrom of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Originally from Atkins, Iowa, he is a senior in statistics with minors in political science, economics, mathematics and computer science. Voss is part of the ISU Legislative Ambassadors and the Sports Analytics Club, where he served as president during the 2018-2019 academic year. He is also a member of the Memorial Lutheran Church brass choir. He’s been the recipient of his fair share of scholarships, such as the Schillmoeller Family Scholarship in Statistics and the Kingland Systems Data Analytics Scholarship. He has also been on the Dean’s List. Though he has a full academic career, he has made time for multiple internships in the federal government, has been a research intern at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center and has been a Campus Election Engagement Project fellow. His favorite Iowa State memory was Iowa State football beating West Virginia in 2018.