NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University has announced that Emma Eastin, a freshman majoring in early childhood education from Bethany, Missouri, is the recipient of the Lewis and Elda Israel Scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year. Eastin becomes the third student to receive this scholarship.

The scholarship, valued at $500, is available to students graduating from South Harrison, Gilman City, and Ridgeway high schools. It prioritizes freshmen entering Northwest with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Although recipients can be enrolled in any discipline, preference is given to those studying elementary or secondary education.

Established in memory of Northwest alumni Lewis and Elda Israel, the scholarship honors their legacy. Lewis Israel graduated from Ridgeway High School in 1927 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Northwest in 1931. He later served as editor of the Harrison County Republican Clipper between 1961 and 1975.

Elda Neill Israel completed her education at Bethany High School in 1937 before earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Northwest in 1969 and a master’s degree in 1973. She dedicated two decades to teaching at schools in Gilman City and Bethany.

The couple raised six children, including Susan Israel-Nelson, who graduated from Northwest in 1989.

For further details about the Lewis and Elda Israel Scholarship or to contribute to supporting Northwest, interested parties are encouraged to contact the Northwest Foundation at 660.562.1248.