April 17 during a special luncheon, an Iowa Wesleyan Senior received an achievement award and cash prize thanks to a unique endowment gift from the Alliant Energy Foundation. Leija Cardenas was presented with the Errol B. Davis, Junior Minority Achievement Award and $3,500. The endowment honors Davis for his 30 years of service to the utility industry and his leadership with Alliant. The unique thing about this award is that the Iowa College Foundation received the endowment gift from the Alliant Energy Foundation. The College Foundation then names one member school to form a selection committee to choose a student to receive the award. The student is selected according to the following criteria:
- A student pursuing a degree in engineering, business administration or economics.
- A member of one of the following minority groups – African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, or East India.
- A citizen/legal permanent resident or national of U.S.
The person receiving the award must submit a one to two page statement outlining his/her career aspirations and how those aspirations have evolved over time. The statement should also give an explanation of how the current studies and involvement in campus and community activities have prepared the student to achieve those aspirations. There is also a requirement of at least two letters of support from faculty members qualified to comment on the nominee’s academic achievement and leadership capabilities.