The 2025-26 film awards season wrapped up with the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15. While Sinners and One Battle After Another were big winners at Dolby Theater in Hollywood, 29 UISRM scholarship recipients will argue that the gratitude and joy they experienced upon learning of their award rivals that of the winners at the Academy Awards.
Beginning in 2021, UISRM transformed the generosity of its financial supporters into a scholarship award that celebrates the successes of current students despite needing to overcome adversity. In addition to spotlighting worthy students, these awards help to reduce students’ financial burden, allowing for each to place greater emphasis on their curricular and extra-curricular pursuits.
In the category of Student Success, the 2026 scholarship awards go to:
Katie Letz | Rachel Ogden | Steven Bruno |
Haylee Puhrmann | Carter Klein | Sarah Petani |
Rachel McLaughlin | Kennith Gatlin | Andrew Chavez |
| Phoebe Loth |
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- The ten recipients for 2026 mean that UISRM has made 48 awards since 2021with total funding distributed at $46,500.
Continued generosity towards the program through the UI Center for Advancement allowed the program to increase the number of awards available in 2022. To provide a warm welcome to prospective Hawkeyes, UISRM created the Incoming Undergraduate Student Scholarship. This award provides a meaningful financial contribution to prospective first-year students who effectively articulate their aspirations in sport and recreation management.
In the category of Incoming Undergraduate Student, the 2026 scholarship awards go to:
Brennan Vendryes | Caria Bruton | Camila Ramirez |
Yahir Camberos | Cole Korycanek | Nolan Duffy |
Andrew Wiener | Jenna Pillard | Bennett Rieber |
Ellison Guddall | Carly Franey | Mason Mittan |
- The twelve recipients for 2026 mean that UISRM has made 53 awards since 2022 with total funding distributed at $58,500.
Coinciding with the creation of the incoming undergraduate opportunity, UISRM also aimed to translate the generosity of its community into celebration of student achievement above and beyond the norm. To do so, UISRM’s Scholarship Committee created the Leadership and Innovation Scholarship, awarded to current third-year or older students who amplify existing efforts or create new initiatives to positively impact sport and recreation or their communities.
In the category of Leadership and Innovation, the 2026 scholarship awards go to:
Elio Celentino | Hanna Graham | Kara Stoecker |
Taylor Ciabatti | Caden Baxter | Brynn Storhoff |
| Sergio Gonzalez Icaza |
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- The seven recipients for 2026 mean that UISRM has made 43 awards since 2022 with total funding distributed at $42,500.
UISRM’s Scholarship Committee is continually impressed by the quality of applicants and their ability to articulate their experiences. In addition to future success in sport and recreation, the committee is confident there are a few ‘Academy Award-winning’ story ideas in the minds of scholarship award recipients.
With the 2025-26 UISRM scholarship award winners announced, we invite you to participate in One Day for Iowa and grow the funds available to aspiring sport and recreation professionals. It is easy to give to UISRM through the One Day for Iowa initiative. Any amount is greatly appreciated and will go directly to supporting the unique, experience-based education that UISRM provides its students.