One of the chamber’s favorite initiatives is the scholarship program for graduating Norwalk High School seniors. Each spring, dozens of students apply for these scholarships which are then reviewed by a task force of chamber members. Students submit their transcripts, two short essays, and a letter of recommendation from an employer, coach or teacher. This year, our scholarship committee was impressed by the students’ work experience, extracurriculars and volunteer hours, which made making the decision for the three scholarship recipients a challenge. While the committee took the students’ transcripts into account, it was the essays that gave the reviewers insight into the character and work ethic of the applicants. Many students spent their high school years working for local businesses and noted that those opportunities helped shape their path to college and that they hoped to return to Norwalk after schooling.

This year, the chamber made the program available to students who plan on attending a trade or technical school in the fall. The goal was to expand the pool of applicants and support students on multiple career paths. The pandemic brought awareness to the need for the trades, and it’s anticipated that more and more students will choose this route.

Funding for the chamber’s scholarships comes from our annual golf outing, which happens to be a favorite among members. This year, our golf outing will take place at Legacy Golf Course on June 21, and my goal is to generate enough funds to support an additional scholarship for 2024. Our scholarship committee hopes to revamp our program for next year and has been discussing ways we can better support our graduates and make a bigger impact, even looking at ways to support students going directly into the workforce. Change takes time, but with the forwardthinking leadership we have on the committee, I know innovation is bound to happen.

I am proud to announce this year’s scholarship recipients are Chloe Martin, Jonathan Tague, and our 2022 Student of the Year, William “Will” Chase. Chloe and Jonathan will be attending Iowa State University in the fall, and Will plans to attend the University of Iowa. We are proud to have them represent Norwalk as they make their way out in the world and wish them all nothing but success.

If you’re interested in supporting this program, consider sponsoring a hole or registering a team for our upcoming golf outing. Registration and sponsorships can be located on the chamber website at norwalkchamber.org or by emailing the office at info@norwalkchamber.org