Since 1998, the Hoover Presidential Foundation has hosted Iowa high school juniors from across the state for the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award program. Students create community-minded projects that are emblematic of the values regarding humanitarianism and public service that Herbert Hoover embodied throughout his life. All participants receive a $1,500 award toward their secondary education. Four additional $10,000 awards are given on the Stanley and Helen Howe Presentation Day in November based on the merits of the projects.

The path to the November presentations started in early summer. This past June, 15 Iowa high school juniors descended on the Hoover Campus for June Weekend, a time when the Uncommon Student Award participants spend with mentors to develop their projects and to learn more about Herbert Hoover. These students were selected by an application process by a committee comprised of members of the Hoover Presidential Foundation board of trustees.

The 2024 class, as classes before them, had wide-ranging projects with impressive depth.

Gabrielle Biedermann                      Linn-Mar High School                         Marion

The Reaction Project: Putting the Action into Reactions by Spreading Awareness of Food Allergies and Related Mental Health

Cory Carter                                             Davenport West                                    Davenport

Iowa Kid, Iowa Dirt, Iowa PRODUCE…IOWA Students

Edmund Hamann                                Des Moines East                                    Des Moines

ISCD (Iowa Swim Clinic for the Deaf)

Graham Johnson                                 Valley High School                               West Des Moines

Global Gardeners

Hudson Kimm                                       Prairie High School                              Swisher

Empowering Youth Athletes: The Mental Side of Sports

Alannah McKibben                             Iowa Valley High School                      Marengo

Care Bag Project

Raygan Meehan                                    Hempstead High School                      Dubuque

Lunch Tray 5k

Zack Morris                                            BCLUW High School                            Union

Giving Bees a Home

Ananya Oli                                              Linn-Mar High School                          Marion

Today’s Voters, Tomorrow’s Future

Journee Petersen                                Calamus-Wheatland High School      Calamus

Warrior Wellness Corner

Isaiah Picard                                         Homeschool                                            Knoxville

Para Swimming Clinic

Shubham Sah                                       Waukee High School                             Waukee

STEM Empowerment Initiative Nepal

Lauren Schroeder                              Calamus-Wheatland High School        Dixon

Garden Donations for Non-Profits

Katlin Truelsen                                   Central DeWitt High School                  DeWitt

Ladies Livestock Mentor Program

Luke Wittrock                                      Valley High School                                 Urbandale

Central Iowa Youth Business Incubator (CIYBI)

The students, now seniors, all had very impressive projects to present this past weekend. The amount of effort and the results they achieved were all astounding. While many students take the time to relax and enjoy their free time, these uncommon young leaders worked diligently on ventures that would benefit those in their communities.

The four students who received $10,000 awards to be applied to their secondary education were Cory Carter (Kimber Lockhart Innovation Award) of Davenport, Iowa, Katlin Truelsen (Pete and Meredith Hoover Award) of Dewitt, Iowa, Lauren Schroeder of Dixon, Iowa, and Gabrielle Biedermann of Marion, Iowa were this year’s recipients.

It is also important to note that Katlin Truelsen’s $1,500 award is an endowed award named for Corinne and Stanley Barber.

A significant part of our annual Uncommon Student Award program is awarding the Mariah Becker Volunteer Leadership Award. Since 2004, the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Alumni Association has upheld this honor in memory of the 2000 Uncommon Student Award participant of the same name. The Mariah Becker Volunteer Leadership Award is accompanied by a $500 stipend to fund the continuation of an outstanding Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award project. The recipient’s name is also inscribed on a permanent plaque at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. This year’s recipient is Raygan Meehan of Hempstead High School in Dubuque for her project Lunch Tray 5k.

We have watched the trajectory of past Uncommon Students over the years, and many have continued to demonstrate the leadership skills that they showed as high school students. The Uncommon Student Award program is a step in not only recognizing these talented students but helping them develop into uncommon men and women serving our communities in the future. As Herbert Hoover noted, “We believe in equal opportunity for all, but we know that this includes the opportunity to rise to leadership . . . to be uncommon.”

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