Eastern Iowa Community College becomes third yearly scholarship awarded by the River Bandits
DAVENPORT, IOWA – The Quad Cities River Bandits today announced that the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges will become the third school to join the Bandit Scholars Program, expanding the largest scholarship program in all of Minor League Baseball. The inaugural EICC scholarship will be awarded during the 2018 River Bandits season and will cover the 2018-2019 academic year and will bring the total annual value of the Bandit Scholars program nearly $80,000. River Bandits owner Dave Heller and EICC President Don Doucette made the announcement during a press conference Wednesday afternoon at Modern Woodmen Park.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges joining the Bandit Scholars program furthers the evolution of the program, which has been in existence since it was founded by Heller in 2009, to cover the full cost-of-college for Quad Cities students who are earning their degrees right here in the Quad Cities. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges join St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa and Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois as the three yearly scholarships available to local students.
“Giving away these scholarships is the single most enjoyable thing I do as owner of the River Bandits,” said Heller. “This scholarship program enhances our community and, by providing these scholarships to these great schools right here in the Quad Cities, we’re helping our young people get a first-rate education, saving families money, and helping make a great community even better."
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges consists of three institutions along the Mississippi River in Eastern Iowa: Clinton Community College in Clinton, Iowa, Scott Community College in Bettendorf, Iowa, and Muscatine Community College in Muscatine, Iowa. The scholarship may be used by students attending either Scott Community College or Muscatine Community College.
“We greatly appreciate the support Dave and the River Bandits are extending to our students,” said Doucette. “That support further opens doors and increases educational opportunities for all Quad Citizens, not only enriching the lives of those who receive these scholarships, but enriching all of the Quad Cities through the greater contributions those students will be able to make into the future."
The new Bandit Scholarship will be administered by Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. The recipient will be selected by a committee including EICC faculty and administration and the River Bandits' ownership and staff. Funds for the Bandit Scholars program are raised through various events throughout the year including the ‘Race to Home’ 5k, the team’s annual golf outing, and through the 50-50 raffle held during River Bandits’ home games. Donations can be made to the Bandit Scholars program year-round by mail or in person at Modern Woodmen Park.
The scholarships are open to current students at the three universities who reside in any of the following counties: Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside Counties on the Illinois side, and Cedar, Muscatine and Scott Counties on the Iowa side. Non-U.S. citizens and children or grandchildren of employees or owners of The Quad Cities River Bandits, employees of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL), employees or Board Members of St. Ambrose University, Augustana College, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges and any member of the Scholarship Committee are ineligible for consideration.
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