Creston teen named ‘Hoover Uncommon Student’

WEST BRANCH – Fifteen high school seniors from across Iowa will each earn a $1,500 cash award for their work on a special project this summer. On Oct. 31, they’ll present their work before a panel of judges and four will earn an additional $10,000 scholarship to the college or university of their choice. Tatelyn Schultz of Creston is among the finalists.

The students applied for the program in their junior year by submitting a proposal for a project showing entrepreneurship, community or humanitarian service, conservation, or special use of technology. The 15 finalists then spend the summer working their projects and recording results. They are scored entirely on the merits of their work. Grades, test scores and financial need are not evaluated.

Tatelyn Schultz will be creating a mural in Creston for her project,'The Endangered Youth.' There are currently sixteen public murals in Creston. Schultz's artwork will showcase endangered species in Iowa, both plants and animals.

“By focusing exclusively on the species in Iowa I hope to draw more Iowans to the mural and by doing that I think it will make them realize we too are a part of the problem not just other parts of the world,” Schultz said. She would like area youth to see that they can have a positive future even with mistakes in their past.

“We have a great group of students who have come up with some amazing projects,” said Delene McConnaha, academic programs manager for the Foundation. “I’m really excited to see the impact they’ll have on their home communities.”

To learn more about the Uncommon Student Award program, visit UncommonStudent.org.