Chamber awards funds to Wisdom Quest

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce presented funds to Wisdom Quest, Wednesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Director of Membership presented two students with scholarships along with a donation to the Wisdom Quest program.

“The scholarships were $250 for each student,” Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Director of Membership Delaney Van Ness said. “The funds came from money raised during manufacturing week.”

According to Van Ness, this was one of former Chamber Director Kristi Perry’s last projects.

Melissa Alexander, one of the scholarship award winners, anticipates going into Job Corps next month.

“I will use [the scholarship money] for any expenses that they won’t cover while I am there,” she said.

“I am going to go for facility maintenance,” Alexander said. “I also hope for general self-improvement.”

Mason Townsend-Lisles, other scholarship recipient, expects to use the funds for books when he heads off to trade school. He is not exactly sure what trade he would like to explore, yet.

The manufacturing week funds also allowed the chamber to present Wisdom Quest Principal Tyler Rodgers with $1,000 to benefit the Wisdom Quest program.

Wisdom Quest is an alternative high school in the Mt. Pleasant Community School District.

According to Rodgers, “We are a smaller non-traditional academic setting where 10th-12th students are given an opportunity to learn in a more flexible setting. A student's success depends upon his or her attitude, academic performance and personal behavior.”

“Our mission is to provide our students with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma while encouraging them to become responsible and dependable citizens,” Rodgers states in a message from the Wisdom Quest Principal. “We believe having a high level of expectations mixed with a caring and understanding approach is the best way to meet our mission.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com