–Officials with Iowa Lakes Community College recently announced the establishment of a new endowment that will fund scholarships for students in the school’s Law Enforcement and Nursing programs. Hank and Pam Pedersen of Ledyard established $1,000 scholarships for Iowa Lakes students pursuing degrees in nursing and law enforcement back in 2022, to honor their late friend Robert Anthony Thom. Tony Condon serves as the Institutional Advancement Coordinator at Iowa Lakes, and he tells KLGA News that decision led to the establishment of a permanent endowment fund.
Dr. Dan Lutat is the Executive Director of Foundation and Government Affairs at Iowa Lakes, and he says the story behind this endowment is a testament to true friendship.
Lutat says when students know who is supporting them along their journey, it can have a true impact on their life.
Robert Thom was a military veteran and law enforcement officer who met the Pedersen’s after he retired and moved to Arizona. With no family of his own, he left his estate to the Pedersen’s when he passed away in 2022, and they in turn used the money to establish scholarships, and now, a permanent endowment with a gift of $100,000. Students in the Nursing and Law Enforcement programs will automatically be considered when they fill out their Iowa Lakes scholarship applications.
