This year, forty Iowa students have been awarded college scholarships through Athene’s Game Changer Scholars Program. Funded by the Athene Charitable Foundation, the program underscores Athene’s commitment to education and its support for the next generation of Iowa leaders.
Launched in 2021, the Game Changer Scholars Program has since distributed more than $475,000 in scholarships to students across the state.
“Congratulations to the outstanding students selected for our Game Changer Scholars Program,” said Kristi Kaye Burma, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Athene. “This program is about empowering the next generation of innovators, leaders, and changemakers, and we are honored to support them as they pursue their educational goals.”
The program awards scholarships to Iowa residents who plan to attend an accredited college or university within the state. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, work experience, and financial need.
Athene is proud to support these students as they take the next step in their educational journeys and futures. Today’s scholars are tomorrow’s game changers.
For more information about the Game Changer Scholars Program or Athene, visit www.athene.com
2025 Game Changer Scholars
First-year recipients:
- Mitchell Anderson, Ankeny
- Izabella Arndt, West Des Moines
- Ava Binstock, Urbandale
- Alfredo Espana-Alarcon, Des Moines
- Mason Farrington, Ottumwa
- Aammin Hassan, Ankeny
- Daria Haynie, Ankeny
- Abigail Herman, Elberon
- Sydney Hurd, Nemaha
- Elizabeth Kalous, Cedar Rapids
- Isabella Moyer, Des Moines
- Kyra Nugent, Ankeny
- Ella Rankin, Knoxville
- Addison Whipple, Pleasant Hill
Second-year recipients:
- Malaina Elliott, Dallas Center
- Kela Eltoum Hamdan, Des Moines
- James Meggitt, Iowa City
- David Nguyen, West Des Moines
- Jolcey Santana, Marshalltown
- Bailey Schoepske, Waterloo
- Sydney Singh, Waterloo
- Kelsey Taylor, Swisher
- Clayton Williams, Moravia
- Araceli Zaragoza-Tapetillo, Ottumwa
Third-year recipients:
- Koryn Bakken, Decorah
- Rosalyn Becicka, West Des Moines
- Harry Bui, Sioux City
- Abby Koppmann, Dunkerton
- Lizzy Orey, Indianola
- Emma Palmer, Waukon
- Madeline Warning, Bloomfield
Fourth-year recipients:
- Colin Chau, Grimes
- Ellie Chen, Urbandale
- Brayden Dirks, Marcus
- Anna Flyr, Urbandale
- Alexa Garvin, Wilton
- Caden Kingery, Des Moines
- Leah McClure, West Des Moines
- Chloe Rooney, Rockford
- Jacob Swestka, Palo
