South Winneshiek student RaeAnn Klimesh, a senior cross country and track athlete, was recently announced as the recipient of one of the state’s most prestigious scholarships, the E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship. The scholarship, established in memory of the former Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) executive director, is a $15,000 scholarship that is given to only one girl all throughout Iowa who displays excellent character not only in athletics, but also in the classroom, her school, and her community. (Zakary Kriener photo)
Klimesh awarded prestigious Cooley Scholarship
Zakary Kriener
News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com
Klimesh awarded prestigious Cooley Scholarship
By Zakary Kriener
The E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship, plain and simple, is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the state of Iowa. Established in 1993 as a tribute to E. Wayne Cooley, former Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) executive director of nearly 50 years, the award is given to an Iowa girl who exhibits excellent character on the playing field, in the classroom, in her school, and in her community.
The recipient reflects discipline, perseverance, character, citizenship, and leadership – all values that personified the life and expectations of E. Wayne Cooley.
This year, 97 girls were taken into consideration for the $15,000 scholarship. Each Iowa high school is limited to one nomination of a girl who meets a strict criteria of educational- and athletic-based requirements.
South Winneshiek senior RaeAnn Klimesh was one of the nearly 100 Iowa nominees for the prestigious scholarship, who after being nominated by athletic director Bruce Gullickson, later found out that she was one of the six finalists for the scholarship.