NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University held its annual “Powering Dreams” event on Friday, giving students the chance to meet the donors who fund their scholarships. The gathering took place at the Agricultural Learning Center and focused on fostering connections between scholarship recipients and contributors.

The event allowed students to thank donors in person and share stories about their experiences at Northwest and their career aspirations. Through live speeches and video testimonies, several students discussed how donor support helps reduce financial stress and supports their educational goals.

Mike Johnson, vice president of university advancement and executive director of the university foundation, addressed attendees. “It’s very important to know that we’re putting our heads and our hearts together in gratitude of a teachable moment,” Johnson said. “Philanthropic partnerships aren’t just within all of us, but when you experience the head and heart of a student and their gratitude and what they’re going through, it comes together in a beautiful way.”

Sydney Bentz, a senior from Burlington, Iowa, spoke about receiving the Agrivision Equipment Scholarship. She said this support has encouraged her passion for agriculture and strengthened her resolve to work in the industry. “My goal is to debunk the myths and stereotypes that revolve around agriculture,” Bentz said. “I would love to be an advocate or a communication representative for a meat-producing company. I wish to bridge the gap that lies between producer and consumer. I want to help every consumer understand where their food comes from.” She added that earning such awards provides confidence in her chosen path: “Achieving awards such as this one instills a confidence in myself that I am on the right track. This award goes far beyond its monetary value. It means that I’m not falling behind my traditional ag peers.”

Keegan Peterson, a senior from Chillicothe, Missouri, received private donor-funded scholarships including the Hancock-Woods Scholarship. He described how these awards boost his confidence as he studies accounting: “There’s a lot of times I encounter challenges from studying accounting,” Peterson said. “It makes me second-guess myself, but when I remember that somebody believes in me that I’ve never met, it gives me the confidence to overcome those challenges.”

Peyton Blankman, a junior from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, credited her scholarship with making it possible for her to attend Northwest while she works multiple jobs to pay for school. “This scholarship has provided the opportunity for me to continue my education at Northwest, and that’s just a big honor to me because the Northwest education program is so incredible,” Blankman said. “I’m so grateful I get to be a part of it.”

Gracie Smith, a sophomore from Norwalk, Iowa who received art scholarships including the Richard Allman & Margaret Peterson 3D Art Scholarship, encouraged others to consider donating: “Scholarships like this matter because you truly never know what people are going through, meaning you never know how much something like these scholarships may help,” Smith told attendees. “Every single student in this room right now is here for a reason. Each one of us has dreams and goals we wish to achieve, and these scholarships make it so that many of these dreams are able to be attained.”

The Northwest Foundation continues its focus on providing scholarship support for students at Northwest Missouri State University. In fiscal year 2025 (FY25), more than 1,400 scholarship awards were funded by the Foundation with total funding nearing $1.4 million; individual donor-funded scholarships averaged $974 per award.

For information on contributing or supporting scholarships at Northwest Missouri State University, individuals can contact the Office of University Advancement.