2023 Spirit of Caring Scholarship Winner

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                                                            May 17, 2023

            Village Northwest Unlimited Announces Recipient of Spirit of Caring Scholarship

Village Northwest Unlimited in Sheldon, IA is proud to announce the 2022 recipient of the Linda K. De Groot/Village Northwest Unlimited Spirit of Caring Scholarship is Konner Gesink from Sheldon High School. Konner will be attending Northwestern Community College and will be studying Special Education. Konner was chosen from applications received from Sheldon High School seniors. Konner is the son of Laura and Jon Gesink.

The Linda K. De Groot/Village Northwest Unlimited Spirit of Caring Scholarship is a $2,000 scholarship given to a graduating senior from Sheldon High School who will be entering into a career field that focuses on working with individuals who have disabilities. Linda was the Director of Public Relations and Business Development at Village Northwest Unlimited and was a valuable employee of the Village for over 20 years.  She lost her battle with cancer on October 15, 2006. This scholarship provides an opportunity to honor and sustain the legacy of caring that Linda exemplified every day and encourage young people to pursue a career that makes a difference in the life of a person with a disability. 

Village Northwest Unlimited is nationally recognized as one of the premier providers of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder or traumatic brain injuries.  Village Northwest Unlimited builds successful lives for 180 individuals by providing opportunities and choices in residential, vocational and social programs while fulfilling its mission of providing Purpose, Privacy and Dignity.

                                                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Barry Whitsell, President & CEO
Village Northwest Unlimited
330 Village Circle – Sheldon, IA 51201
712-324-5401 (office)
barry@villagenorthwest.org

 Pictured Left to right: Barry Whitsell, Konner Gesink, Kristin Grave, and Kelly DeGroot