The Legacy of Heroines program has been providing scholarships to outstanding students interested in public service and politics since 1996. As a Legacy of Heroines scholar, students receive a one-year scholarship split between the fall and spring semesters. Scholars have the opportunity to renew their scholarships, provided they continue to fulfill the criteria and funds are available. One fund may be awarded as an internship or scholarship.
The 2021-2022 Legacy of Heroines scholars are:
Jaden Ahlrichs, a junior from Pocahontas, Iowa, majoring in global resource systems and horticulture, is the recipient of the Meylor Family Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. He says that one of his favorite memories at Iowa State was storming the field in the rain at the Iowa vs. Iowa State game his freshman year.
Heather Baier, a senior from Altoona, Iowa, majoring in mechanical engineering and general business, is a recipient of the Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. She is enrolled in the Honors Program, is a member of Tau Beta Pi, and participates in the Engineering Ambassador and Mentor Program.
Molly Blanco, a junior from Burlington, Iowa, majoring in journalism & mass communication and Spanish with a minor in sociology, is the recipient of the James R. and Lauri K. Young Choral Music Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Blanco, a reporter at the Iowa State Daily and a student representative on the Greenlee School’s curriculum committee, would like to work as an investigative reporter at a national newspaper after graduating. One of her favorite Iowa State experiences is hammocking on campus in the spring.
Alyannah Buhman, a senior from Le Mars, Iowa, majoring in criminal justice with minors in political science and sociology, is the recipient of the Maxine M. Burch Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Buhman serves on Student Government’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Social Justice Summit Planning Committee, is a member of the Cyclone Hockey Cheerleading and Pre-Law clubs, and is a George Washington Carver peer mentor. One of her goals for her senior year is to get accepted to UC Berkeley School of Law.
Kathryn Burns, a junior from Dubuque, Iowa, majoring in political science and Spanish with a minor in women’s and gender studies, is the recipient of the Political Science Alumni Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. She serves as social justice chair, vice delegate, continuous open bidding chair and a SET leader in the Kappa Delta sorority; is co-chair for campus involvement for the Homecoming Central Committee; is enrolled in the Honors Program; and participates in the VIP research project through the Catt Center.
Delaney Conrad, a senior from Solon, Iowa, majoring in animal science (pre-vet), is a recipient of the Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Conrad is involved with Veterinarians Without Boarders and the Eventing Club. After graduation, she plans to pursue her D.V.M at Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, with the goal of being a mixed animal practitioner and working with a university or government program in animal research.
Nyamal Diew, a senior from South Sioux City, Nebraska, majoring in biology with a minor in psychology, is a recipient of the Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science. Diew – a member of the Pre-Medical Club, STEM Scholars Program and Women’s Rugby Club – is making plans for graduate school.
Morgan Fritz, a senior from Lake Mills, Iowa, majoring in political science, is the recipient of the Katherine Bruntlett Annin Scholarship. She is currently involved in Senior Class Council, Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Phi Beta Kappa and Cardinal Key Honor Society. Fritz says that one of her favorite Iowa State memories is getting painted during Yell Like Hell. After graduation, she plans to work in government affairs in Iowa and then attend law school.
Meg Grice, a senior from Humboldt, Iowa, majoring in public relations and international studies with minors in general business and French, is a recipient of the Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. She is involved with the University Honors Program, Cardinal Eats, Cardinal Key Honor Society, Kappa Kappa Psi and the Cyclone Marching Band.
Peyton Hamel, a junior from Littleton, Colorado, majoring in English and kinesiology, is a recipient of the Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Hamel is involved in the Ballroom Dance Club, Tennis Club, Pre-Med Club, the Iowa State Daily and genetics laboratory research. Hamel’s goal for her time at Iowa State include getting her research published in a scientific journal and getting into a Columbia University research fellowship and to graduate with honors.
Grace Jakes, a senior from Indianola, Iowa, majoring in animal science and global resource systems, is a recipient of the Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. She serves as dairy products chair of the Dairy Science Club, is an Honors peer advisor and an Animal Science peer mentor, and was education chair of the 2021 Bacon Expo. She is also a research assistant in the lab of Lance Baumgard, professor in dairy nutrition. After graduation, Jakes hopes to pursue a DVM/PhD, focusing her future career on an aspect of advancing food security.
Grace Johnson, a senior from Clive, Iowa, majoring in public relations with a minor in political science, is a recipient of the Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. She is president of the ISU chapter of Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and she says that one of her favorite memories at Iowa State is walking across Iowa State’s beautiful campus to class or to dinner with friends.
Rachel Junck, a senior in chemical engineering with minors in political science and Spanish from Ames, Iowa, who is also completing a master’s in business administration at Iowa State, is a recipient of the Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. She is involved with Engineers’ Week, the Master of Business Administration & Specialized Masters Association, Alpha Gamma Delta, the Collegiate Panhellenic Council, the Cardinal Key Honor Society, the Order of Omega Honor Society and CyBIZ Lab.
Linsey Kitt, a junior from Jefferson, Iowa, majoring in computer science and physics, is a recipient of the Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science. Kitt’s favorite memory at Iowa State was preparing a presentation for the ISU Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression. One of her goals at Iowa State is to expand her involvement in research and clubs to get to know more people and learn about different leadership styles.
Abby Mankins, a second-year master’s student in higher education student affairs from Des Moines, Iowa, is a recipient of the Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Mankins works as a graduate assistant director at the Writing and Media Center and as a graduate intern with the College of Human Sciences Career Services. She also serves as director of assessment for the Student Affairs Graduate Association.
Tamara McConnell, a junior from Kansas City, Kansas, majoring in geology with a minor in African American studies, is a recipient of the Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science. She is president of the BRICS (Building Relationships in Christ Soteria) campus ministry and the treasurer of the Geology Club. She says her current academic goal is to determine what to study in graduate school.
Anna Olson, a junior from Boone, Iowa, majoring in journalism & mass communication and political science, is a recipient of the Kedrowski and Fitzgerald Family Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Olson is a member of the Women in Pre-Law Club First Amendment Committee. One of her favorite Iowa State memories, she said, was putting on the Women’s Week Conference and being able to talk to Gloria Allred and other awesome women.
Natalia Rios Martinez, a senior from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, majoring in political science, international studies and public relations, is a recipient of the Kedrowski and Fitzgerald Family Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Rios Martinez is president of the Political Science Club and serves on Student Government’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the ISU Committee on Lectures. She also volunteers with Ames’ Transit Agency Board of Trustees through ISU Student Government.
Nicole Schmitt, a senior from Holy Cross, Iowa, majoring in psychology and English, is a recipient of the Rice-Neville Political Activism Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Her post-Iowa State goal is to pursue a doctoral degree in public policy.
Amy Smith, a graduate student in political science from Winterset, Iowa, is the recipient of the Haselhoff Family Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Smith is involved with the Salt Company and the Graduate Association for Students of Political Science.
Jessica Stabler, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colorado, majoring in political science and management, is the recipient of the Carrie Chapman Catt Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Stabler is a member of Alpha Chi Omega and the Pre-Law and Women in Pre-Law clubs and is a Supplemental Instruction instructor and Athletics tutor.
Emma Staut, a junior from Buffalo, Minnesota, majoring in mathematics, is the recipient of the Beth Bierbaum Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Staut, who is a violist in the ISU Symphony Orchestra, says that Iowa State has felt like home since her childhood days of tailgating with her family at football games and then walking through the campus buildings.
Ulrich Wolfe, a sophomore from Nevada, Iowa, majoring in finance, is the recipient of the Joanne and Charles Kuster Legacy of Heroines Scholarship. Wolfe, who enjoyed watching the stadium renovation at Jack Trice Stadium, intends to continue working as an intern for Hunziker Land Development while at Iowa State and then pursue a career in real estate development and high finance.