14th Annual Clifford A. Rae Winners Announced

Clifford A. Rae Academic Achievement Award winners at Buena Vista University in 2024 include front from left: Danika Demers, Money Thammavongsa, Kylie Trappe, Paige Druskis, Keirsten Trayte. Second row from left: Abigail Clark, Lillian Hoffman, Kristen Davis, Marissa Bronner. Third row from left: Tanner Gerke, Summer Prokop, Alex Galati, Christian Voss. Back row from left: Joshua Giefer, Ethan Schlichte, Aiden Webber.

September 18, 2024

Nine Buena Vista University business students and nine science students have been named as the 2024 Clifford A. Rae Academic Achievement Award winners. The annual awards, which can range up to $10,000, are presented to three academically high-performing BVU business and science students in each of their second, third, and fourth years of school.

These awards were created 13 years ago by two separate $750,000 endowments from the Siebens Foundation, established by Dr. Harold Walter Siebens. They are named after the longtime advisor and counsel to the Siebens Foundation, Clifford A. Rae.

The competitive program, which rewards business and science students who excel in their academic pursuits, is open to students who live in Iowa or adjacent states and meet certain financial need guidelines. Students may receive the award more than once during their time at BVU.

These awards often help students offset the personal costs associated with completing an internship or experiential learning initiative, providing them with opportunities they otherwise would not be able to experience.

The nine students who earned the award from the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business are:

Second-year winners: Summer Prokop, an accounting and business double-major from Ponca, Neb.; Kylie Trappe a management major from Mason City, Iowa; Money Thammavongsa, an accounting and business double-major from West Liberty, Iowa.

Third-year winners: Christian Voss, a sport business, marketing, and management major from Everly, Iowa; Joshua Giefer, an accounting, management, and finance major from Courtland, Minn.; Kristen E Davis, an accounting, agricultural business, and management major from Pocahontas, Iowa.

Fourth-year winners: Ethan Schlichte, an accounting, financial decision making, and management major from Carlisle, Iowa; Tanner Gerke, a marketing and sport business double-major from Newell, Iowa, Abigail Clark, an accounting, management, and sport business major from Urbandale, Iowa.

The nine students who earned the award from the School of Science are:

Second-year winners: Riley Parkis, an exercise science major from Carroll, Iowa; Alexander Galati, a computer science major from Manning, Iowa; Marissa Bronner, an agricultural science major from Cresco, Iowa.

Third-year winners: Kiersten Trayte, a biomedical sciences major from Medina, Ohio; Danika Demers, a biomedical sciences major from Storm Lake, Iowa; Aiden Webber, a biology major from Wahoo, Neb.

Fourth-year winners: Lillian Hoffman, a biology major from Ida Grove, Iowa; Alexander Davidge, a computer science major from Storm Lake, Iowa; Paige Druskis, an exercise science major from Omaha, Neb.