| Since 1994, the Dolly Ahrens Achievement Scholarship has awarded 187 scholarships to local Grinnell-Newburg High School seniors. Roughly $468,000 has been awarded in scholarships to date. |
Dolly Ahrens was born in 1917 and grew up in Marshalltown, IA. Dolly was a star
basketball player on the Marshalltown high school team. Married to Claude in 1937,
Dolly was a devoted mother to Paul, an avid golf player and exceptional hostess and
cook.
A 1971 newspaper article in the Des Moines Register illustrated how much Dolly
provided the foundation for her and Claude’s reputation as hospitable enthusiastic
party givers. Dolly played an important role in Claude’s work by entertaining and
always acting as the willing hostess when he invited salespeople or clients to Grinnell.
The article described her as serving meals to groups ranging from 78 family members
for a Christmas dinner, to 91 P.E.O.’s and their husbands for a sit-down dinner, or to
250 conventioneers for an indoor-outdoor business dinner. In the article she told the
reporter that she enjoyed feeding large groups, and demonstrated how her house was
set up for entertaining.
Dolly was very down-to-earth and had the gift of treating people the same no matter
who they were. She always tried to help those in need. Dolly was Claude’s “rock”, the
one he always leaned on and depended on to be there for him. Married to Claude for
fifty-five years, Dolly lost her fight to breast cancer in 1992 and passed away.
In 1994, Claude W. Ahrens established the Dolly Ahrens Achievement Scholarship
Award. Since 1994, a scholarship in memory of the late Dolly Ahrens has been made
available each year for a minimum of ten graduating seniors of Grinnell High School.
The awards, up to $2,500 each, may be used for any post-secondary education or
training deemed acceptable by the selection committee. The scholarship money must
be used within one year after graduation from Grinnell High School.
The nominees need not necessarily be the best academic students or the most talented
individuals, but should be a self-directed person who is a responsible contributor to the
community. A completed application and two reference forms may be filled out and
returned to the Grinnell High School Guidance Office in the spring of each year.
basketball player on the Marshalltown high school team. Married to Claude in 1937,
Dolly was a devoted mother to Paul, an avid golf player and exceptional hostess and
cook.
A 1971 newspaper article in the Des Moines Register illustrated how much Dolly
provided the foundation for her and Claude’s reputation as hospitable enthusiastic
party givers. Dolly played an important role in Claude’s work by entertaining and
always acting as the willing hostess when he invited salespeople or clients to Grinnell.
The article described her as serving meals to groups ranging from 78 family members
for a Christmas dinner, to 91 P.E.O.’s and their husbands for a sit-down dinner, or to
250 conventioneers for an indoor-outdoor business dinner. In the article she told the
reporter that she enjoyed feeding large groups, and demonstrated how her house was
set up for entertaining.
Dolly was very down-to-earth and had the gift of treating people the same no matter
who they were. She always tried to help those in need. Dolly was Claude’s “rock”, the
one he always leaned on and depended on to be there for him. Married to Claude for
fifty-five years, Dolly lost her fight to breast cancer in 1992 and passed away.
In 1994, Claude W. Ahrens established the Dolly Ahrens Achievement Scholarship
Award. Since 1994, a scholarship in memory of the late Dolly Ahrens has been made
available each year for a minimum of ten graduating seniors of Grinnell High School.
The awards, up to $2,500 each, may be used for any post-secondary education or
training deemed acceptable by the selection committee. The scholarship money must
be used within one year after graduation from Grinnell High School.
The nominees need not necessarily be the best academic students or the most talented
individuals, but should be a self-directed person who is a responsible contributor to the
community. A completed application and two reference forms may be filled out and
returned to the Grinnell High School Guidance Office in the spring of each year.
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Dolly Ahrens Achievement Scholarship
| (c) 2010, Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation |