On October 6, the initial PH (Parent in Heaven) Balance Scholarship was awarded to Katie Schlosser, a senior from Colfax-Mingo Community Schools by the lowa Retired School Personnel Association (IRSPA) at their annual State Meeting and Conference held at Honey Creek Resort. Katie has, in her words, endured the "unimaginable" when her father died suddenly from a heart attack during her freshman year of high school. She stepped up and quickly learned how to do the chores on the farm to help keep it going.
She has continued to participate in many school activities such as student council, Generation On, choir, youth group, swimming, golf, track, girl's wrestling, FFA and 4-H. She has held multiple offices in these organizations. In fact, she has excelled in wrestling placing multiple times as a state place-winner. Her high school girl's wrestling teams have placed 2nd and 3rd in the state. She represented women's wrestling for the state of lowa at the AAU National Scholastic Duals Championships held in Orlando, Florida, this past June. Presently she is preparing for her senior year of wrestling in hopes of gaining a wrestling scholarship, too. During the state fair in 2019 and 2021 her leadership skills were put to use as she led a group of 20 FFA members from across the state by answering questions and developing work schedules for their work done at the grandstands. I can only guess she would have been there in 2020 had it not been for Covid. Katie is looking at several options for school at this time and intends to pursue a degree in photography and ag-related studies. It was a pleasure to meet Katie in person. IRSPA wishes her continued success in the future.
