Walter Cunningham Scholarship Fund
The Walter Cunningham Scholarship Fund awards student scholarships in recognition of Walter Cunningham's outstanding service as an educator within the Waterloo Community Schools and the community.
The scholarships are to advance the education of students graduating from the Waterloo Community Schools.
History
In the fall of 1989, the Big "E" Club of East High School searched for a means to honor Walter Cunningham for what was then 24 years of outstanding service to public education and his community. A scholarship program was established in his name.
A broad-based committee representing diverse groups in the community was established to administer the scholarships. All contributions and disbursements are maintained through the Waterloo Fund for Excellence in Education, in cooperation with the Community Foundation of Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Northeast Iowa.
Eligibility
1. Must be a graduate of the Waterloo Community School District
2. Must plan to be or currently be enrolled as a full time student at an accredited public or private university, college, vocational, technical or post-secondary institution
3. Exhibit leadership qualities through involvement in extracurricular or volunteer activities in school, church and/or community.
WALTER L. CUNNINGHAM
Dr. Cunningham was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He received his BA in 1966, MA 1971, and EdD in 1991, all from the University of Northern Iowa; he also received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He began his career at McKinstry Junior High where he taught math. He was a visiting teacher at East, McKinstry, and Logan Junior from 1968-1970. Walt then served as an Administrative Assistant at East High School from 1969-1970, and then became Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (1970-1971) at the University of Northern Iowa. In 1971 he went back to the Waterloo Community Schools to become Assistant Principal at Central High School. From1973-1974 he served as Principal at Logan Jr. High School, and then became the first black high school principal in Iowa when he became principal at Waterloo East High School in 1975. Walt was principal at East High School for 13 years and Deputy Superintendent of the Waterloo Community Schools for eight years, serving a total of 32 years in Education.
Scholarship Recipients $500 Each
| 1992 | DeAngela Reed, West High, University of Iowa |
| Rodney Wallican, East High, Iowa State University | |
| 1993 | Sabrina Wente, West High, University of Iowa |
| Kristine Oberheu, East High, University of Northern Iowa | |
| 1994 | Anne Mixdorf, East High, Allen College of Nursing |
| Heather Conley, West High, Iowa State University | |
| 1995 | Mike Ho, West High, Columbia University College |
| Dion Reed, East High, Boston University | |
| 1996 | Jessica Muniz East High, Iowa State University |
| Nicole Williams, West High, University of Wisconsin | |
| 1997 | Donna Peterson, East High, University of Northern Iowa |
| Greg Foust, West High, University of Iowa | |
| 1998 | Janille Evans, East High, University of Iowa |
| Michelle Kaiser, West High, University of Iowa | |
| 1999 | Eric Cannon, East High, Iowa State University |
| Megan Morgart, West High, Texas Christian University | |
| 2000 | Michelle Wilkinson, Expo High, Hawkeye Community College |
| Michelle Wilkinson, Expo High, Hawkeye Community College | |
| Michelle Coleman, West High, Bradley University | |
| Tiffany Neisen, East High, Hawkeye Community College | |
| Roberta Sheeley, East High, University of Iowa | |
| 2001 | Beth Hoewing, West High, Iowa State University |
| Chad Polluck, West High, University of Northern Iowa | |
| Matthew O.Brien, East High, University of Northern Iowa | |
| Erica Eickoff, East High, Concordia University | |
| Amanda Smith, East High | |
| Patrick Mass, East High, Iowa State University | |
| 2002 | Erin Hagerstrom, West High, University of Iowa |
| Anne Schwieger, West High | |
| Simone Moore, East High, University of Iowa | |
| Cherie Brown, East High, Iowa State University | |
| Bradley DeSerano, East High, Iowa State Univerisity | |
| Chauntia White, East High, Iowa State Univeristy | |
| Kimberly Renslow, Expo | |
| 2003 | John Abrams, Expo |
| Allison Miller, Expo | |
| Antony Smith, Expo | |
| Michele Herzberg, East High | |
| Everett Roberts, East High | |
| Jarvis Green, West High | |
| Ai-Linh Hong, West High |