2013 Scholarship Bio for Gabe Gedlinski
Gabriel Gedlinski, son of Brian and Jean Gedlinski, of Cedar Falls is a 2013 graduate of Cedar Falls High School. During his high school years, Gabe has shown strong academic and leadership skills while maintaining a 3.8 grade point average. As a senior, his extra-curricular activities included Track and Field and All-Male Dance Team.
Away from the classroom, Gabe volunteers in the Youth Ministry program at Orchard Hill Church. He currently leads a fifth grade small group. Serving in this capacity has helped him realize how much he enjoys working with Children and has aided him in developing sound leadership skills. Gabe shadowed an elementary teacher during his final semester of high school, and the experience confirmed his desire to pursue teaching as a career.
Gabe enjoys spending time with his friends and family. He and his family have discovered a passion for visiting our National Parks. They've hiked at Glacier, climbed to the top of Yosemite's Half-Dome, and succeeded in hiking from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River and back.
His fondest memories of past Sturgis Falls Celebrations involve the Talent Competition when his cousin, Jonathan Smith, played piano multiple years. Expanded family would travel from Connecticut to join grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins and everyone would gather to cheer Jonathan on and enjoy the show.
In August, Gabe plans to attend UNI and major in Elementary Education.
2013 Scholarship Bio for Hannah Mallaro
Hannah Mallaro, daughter of Mike Mallaro of Cedar Falls and Theresa of Iowa City, is a 2013 graduate of Cedar Falls High School. Throughout high school she took multiple Honors and Advanced Placement classes and maintained a 4.0 grade point average. Her extra-curricular activities included Sophomore, Junior and Senior Leadership, as well as, Dance Team and Varsity Tennis. Hannah was named Team Captain for both Dance and Tennis this past year. As a volunteer, she co-founded an after-school peer tutoring service.
As a member of Nazarath Lutheran Church, she has been a group leader for Vacation Bible School and taught Sunday School.
In her free time she enjoys watching movies, playing cards, and just hanging out with friends.
Hannah has two special memories relating to Sturgis Falls. First, her High School Dance Team participates in the SFC Parade yearly. The Parade is one of the first performances with the new team each year. They practice hard to prepare for it and it is always lots of fun. Secondly, spending time with friends during SFC weekend is a priority, as she enjoys watching the Bill Riley Talent Conpetition while drinking strawberry smoothies in Overman Park.
She plans to major in Science, Biology or Chemistry at Vanderbuilt University in Tennessee.
2013 Scholarship Bio for Courtney Richman
Courtney Richman, daughter of Brett and Kendra Richman of Waterloo, is a 2013 graduate of Waterloo West High School. She maintained a 4.0 grade point average while taking many Advanced Placement classes. During her high school career, Courtney participated in Cross Country, Soccer, and Music, including various Choirs and Piano. She was a member of Student Senate, Debate Team, and the National Honor Society. Courtney was honored by KWWL - TV as a "Best of the Class" student.
Away from school, she has been involved in various Church and Community activities. At her church she has been a Vacation Bible School teacher, a Sunday School teacher, and a member of the Worship Team. In the community, Courtney has volunteered multiple years at the Waterloo Public Library, NE Iowa Food Bank, Salvation Army, and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation - Walk for the Cure, to name a few. During her Senior year, her favorite place to volunteer has been Covenant Medical Center, where she spends time as a patient advocate in the Ambulatory Surgery Unit. Three days a week during her school day she helps keep the patients and thier family members comfortable, a job she takes seriously because she feels it makes a significant impact on their hospital experience.
In her free time she enjoys reading (especially the classics), gardening, cooking, playing the piano, and spending time with her family and friends.
Courtney loves what Sturgis Falls Celebration stands for: "bringing people together and celebrating the community". She feels the Parade and the half-Marathon/5K are enbodiments of these ideas. Courtney enjoys seeing the participants and spectators of these events smiling, chatting, and having a wonderful time.
In August, Courtney plans to start making her dreams come true as she attends Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri, where she intends to major in Spanish and Biology with a Pre-Med focus. Then proceed to Medical School in preparation for becoming a Doctor.