MUSCATINE, Iowa–For the past nine years, the Leah L. Maurer Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine has helped students in need across the state of Iowa get additional academic support by attending a regional Sylvan Learning Center. This year, the award continues to assist students as they begin the work of getting back on track after disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leah L. Maurer, a Muscatine native, worked as a director of program development for Sylvan. She enjoyed her work and having the opportunity to positively impact kids’ lives. After her unexpected death in 2010, her mother set up a fund at the Community Foundation to help kids take advantage of Sylvan’s services regardless of their families’ ability to pay for them. As Community Foundation Community Relations Manager Jamie Leza explained it, “her mother set up the endowment to honor her memory and because she believed in the mission.” Since its creation, the fund has helped nine children in various parts of the state receive the additional personalized instruction they needed.
In order for a student to receive a Leah L. Maurer scholarship, Jody Simpson, regional director of Sylvan Learning Centers of Iowa, shared that their teachers, parents, or the parents of another student who attends Sylvan must nominate them. Staff at Sylvan then look at both the financial and academic needs of the nominees and select the one they think would receive the most benefit from it.
This year’s Leah L. Maurer scholarship went to Julani Ware, a student who attends Sylvan’s Hiawatha location. The son of a single mother, Juliani attended Sylvan weekly. His mother wanted to send him twice a week so that he could make more consistent progress with his academic development, but the cost proved too much. Thanks to the scholarship, Juliani can double the amount of time he spends getting tutored, which his tutors think will benefit him immensely. “We can see his skills improve faster, not just academically but also his confidence,” observed Simpson.
Juliani’s mother echoed Simpson’s sentiments. In a thank-you letter, she wrote: “Julani is very proud of all the progress he has made in school; he is no longer sad about his peers doing things at a faster pace than him. He is continuously gaining confidence in and out of the classroom. His teacher at school tells me that he is showing signs of improvement.”
For their part, the Community Foundation feels grateful that they can benefit students in need throughout Iowa thanks to Maurer’s mother’s generous gift. “I think it’s an honor to partner with the work that they’re doing and to help our donors honor their loved ones as well,” stated Leza.
Currently, Sylvan operates four locations across the state of Iowa, and the Leah L. Maurer scholarship can benefit any of them. Simpson encourages any Muscatine County families looking for one-on-one tutoring to consider contacting their Coralville location at 319-351-9343 to explore in person and online tutoring options. Typically, online tutoring works best for students in second grade and up, as younger students struggle to focus on it.
The Community Foundation also encourages people interested in supporting specific causes to reach out to them to see about creating a new scholarship or endowment. Leza, who helps make such arrangements, welcomes people’s calls at 563-264-3863 or their emails at [email protected].
