Winners of 2021 Blaum Scholarships announced

 

[May 26, 2021] 

Four Logan County seniors have been selected as new scholarship recipients from the Iva Mae Blaum Trust.

Ashley Schmidt, Madison Orebaugh, Madeline Cook and Ruthie Ruhl will begin their nursing or agriculture studies in the fall.

Ashley Schmidt is the daughter of Adam and Alyssa Schmidt. Ashley will be a student at Lee University and will be studying Nursing. Ashley has worked as a volunteer and as an employee at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and would like to become involved with pediatric oncology and maybe one day work as a nurse practitioner.

Madison Orebaugh is the daughter of Brandy White and Jeff Orebaugh. Madison will be attending Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville and will be studying Nursing. Madison is currently studying to get her CNA license and hopes to one day work in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Madeline Cook is the daughter of Anthony and Hope Cook. Madeline will be attending the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign and will be studying Agricultural Science Education. Once she graduates, Madeline would like to secure a teaching position in agriculture while also encouraging young students to become involved with FFA and agricultural careers.

Ruthie Ruhl is the daughter of Scott and Gena Ruhl. Ruthie will be attending college to study Agriculture Business. Once she graduates, Ruthie would like to become a professional horse trainer. As a member of the Land of Lincoln CEO class and Ruthie has already started two businesses.

The scholarship, given in memory of Arthur B. Blaum and Iva Mae Blaum, is earmarked for Logan County students who are majoring in nursing or agriculture. It may be renewed up to eight undergraduate semesters, as long as the student maintains a B cumulative grade point average and remains committed to his or her initial field of study.
 

Iva Mae Blaum was a graduate of Deaconess Hospital of Lincoln and retired from Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in 1985 after 46 years of service as a surgery supervisor and director of nursing. Her husband was a lifelong farmer in the New Holland area.

Mrs. Blaum passed away in August 2015 and the first scholarship was presented in 2016. Since then, Kameron Aylesworth, Lukas Aylesworth, Cierra Crowell, Jacob Kirgan, Maggie Anderson, Molly Schempp and Madison Thomas have received scholarships for agriculture.

Emma O’Donoghue, Grace Skelton, Lauren Turner, Claire Hill, Brooke Kitner and Brook Montcalm have received scholarships to study nursing.

Per the terms of Mrs. Blaum’s will, the trust should continue to award scholarships until 2035.

Heartland Bank and Trust Company is the trustee of the Iva Mae Blaum Trust.

[Susan D. Sheley
Wealth Management Specialist]