Josh Stevens
By Cainon Leeds
Editor-in-Chief
Josh Stevens entered DMACC in 2011 with plans to move on to Iowa State University, about 13 miles away.
This month he received some big news that could expand his plans by about 1,000 miles, trading ISU for Ivy League.
Stevens was named a winner of a the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The $100,000 award is among the highest scholarships that an undergraduate can receive.
When news of the scholarship came, Josh expanded his transfer college search to include institutions like Cornell University in New York and Notre Dame University in Indiana.
“[My plan] was set up that if I got the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship and I was accepted at Notre Dame, then I’d go to Notre Dame. If I got the scholarship but wasn’t accepted at Notre Dame, then I’d go to the University of Iowa or Cornell University. If I didn’t get either of them, then I’d go to Grinnell College,” Stevens said.
He received the scholarship on April 10, making him the first Iowan to earn the scholarship. Stevens said he hopes to use the scholarship to major in pre-med.
In the long run, he said he wishes to obtain a doctorate and become a family physician.
According to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation website, scholarships are awarded to “exceptionally promising students who have financial need.” According to Stevens and those who know him, he was exactly what the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation was looking for.
Stevens spoke of his financial needs, hard work and what he hopes to use the scholarship for.
“It takes away that question, if we can make it through. I have four children. I have three boys and my daughter, and we wonder sometimes, month to month, where the money is coming from and how we’re going to make it happen,” he said.
Stevens said that he is the first member of his immediate family to go to college and that he wants to set a new standard for his children. He is engaged to April Sorbo, who cares for their children, Justice, 7, Logan, 6, and Anya, 16 months old, while he is away at school and work.
He works as a part-time wellness coach and group fitness instructor at the Boone County YMCA. He said he makes about $6,000 per year. Stevens said that there have been times when he has had to sell personal items to deal with house payments, go to school and pay for gas.
“Even here at college I’ve had people reach their hand out to me and help me with gas money at times. That’s how tight we run,” he said.
Stevens said the $30,000 in annually renewable scholarship money would relieve a lot of stress and allow him to focus on his studies.
Stevens has a GPA of 3.98. He is an active member of DMACC Boone’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, takes part in the new DMACC Honors Program, volunteers his time with youth sports and is a staff writer for the Banner News. Stevens has also attended Leadership Iowa University, a week-long program of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation.
Although Stevens has been successful during his time at DMACC, he expressed regret for not being a better student in high school. He described himself as somewhat of a “slacker” in high school. Stevens retraced his past from growing up as the “stitches kid” and graduating from Sheldon High School in Souix City, Iowa, to winding up homeless in Indianapolis, Indiana, and having to hitchhike his way home, from joining the U.S. Air Force to working long hours in a meat packing plant.
He said he found his way to DMACC Boone to be closer to his oldest son, Hunter, 13, who was living with Stevens’ ex-girlfriend in West Des Moines. He explained that his original plan was to attend DMACC for a short time and then transfer to Iowa State University as soon as possible. Stevens said that social science instructor Sean Taylor convinced him to graduate from DMACC before moving on to a four-year institution.
Editor-in-Chief
Josh Stevens entered DMACC in 2011 with plans to move on to Iowa State University, about 13 miles away.
This month he received some big news that could expand his plans by about 1,000 miles, trading ISU for Ivy League.
Stevens was named a winner of a the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The $100,000 award is among the highest scholarships that an undergraduate can receive.
When news of the scholarship came, Josh expanded his transfer college search to include institutions like Cornell University in New York and Notre Dame University in Indiana.
“[My plan] was set up that if I got the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship and I was accepted at Notre Dame, then I’d go to Notre Dame. If I got the scholarship but wasn’t accepted at Notre Dame, then I’d go to the University of Iowa or Cornell University. If I didn’t get either of them, then I’d go to Grinnell College,” Stevens said.
He received the scholarship on April 10, making him the first Iowan to earn the scholarship. Stevens said he hopes to use the scholarship to major in pre-med.
In the long run, he said he wishes to obtain a doctorate and become a family physician.
According to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation website, scholarships are awarded to “exceptionally promising students who have financial need.” According to Stevens and those who know him, he was exactly what the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation was looking for.
Stevens spoke of his financial needs, hard work and what he hopes to use the scholarship for.
“It takes away that question, if we can make it through. I have four children. I have three boys and my daughter, and we wonder sometimes, month to month, where the money is coming from and how we’re going to make it happen,” he said.
Stevens said that he is the first member of his immediate family to go to college and that he wants to set a new standard for his children. He is engaged to April Sorbo, who cares for their children, Justice, 7, Logan, 6, and Anya, 16 months old, while he is away at school and work.
He works as a part-time wellness coach and group fitness instructor at the Boone County YMCA. He said he makes about $6,000 per year. Stevens said that there have been times when he has had to sell personal items to deal with house payments, go to school and pay for gas.
“Even here at college I’ve had people reach their hand out to me and help me with gas money at times. That’s how tight we run,” he said.
Stevens said the $30,000 in annually renewable scholarship money would relieve a lot of stress and allow him to focus on his studies.
Stevens has a GPA of 3.98. He is an active member of DMACC Boone’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, takes part in the new DMACC Honors Program, volunteers his time with youth sports and is a staff writer for the Banner News. Stevens has also attended Leadership Iowa University, a week-long program of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation.
Although Stevens has been successful during his time at DMACC, he expressed regret for not being a better student in high school. He described himself as somewhat of a “slacker” in high school. Stevens retraced his past from growing up as the “stitches kid” and graduating from Sheldon High School in Souix City, Iowa, to winding up homeless in Indianapolis, Indiana, and having to hitchhike his way home, from joining the U.S. Air Force to working long hours in a meat packing plant.
He said he found his way to DMACC Boone to be closer to his oldest son, Hunter, 13, who was living with Stevens’ ex-girlfriend in West Des Moines. He explained that his original plan was to attend DMACC for a short time and then transfer to Iowa State University as soon as possible. Stevens said that social science instructor Sean Taylor convinced him to graduate from DMACC before moving on to a four-year institution.
Regardless of his past, Stevens describes himself as a persistent learner and his instructors said he was a good student.
“I’m not the smartest guy in the world. I’m a hard worker, but I’m not that smart,” Stevens said.
English instructor Sam Pritchard said, “I enjoy Josh. He’s driven, determined, but he’s not afraid to laugh. He works as hard as any student I’ve ever had. He understands irony. He understands that an education is more than a piece of paper. An education helps us live a life.”
Stevens talked about why he has worked so hard for a quality education.
“The reason why I’ve done this, why I’ve worked so hard, is not for me. It’s not for an accomplishment like this. It’s so that my boys can see that no matter where you’re at in life, you can do anything you want if you’re willing to work for it,” he said.
Stevens attributed much of his success in obtaining the scholarship to the faculty at DMACC Boone.
“The winning of the award is not just about me. It’s about my teachers. It’s about the faculty. They’re absolutely amazing, and I probably did seven to eight, maybe nine, revisions of each of the essays with my teachers,” he said.
He thanked physics instructor Nancy Woods in particular for her role in encouraging him to apply and guiding him through the application process.
“I wouldn’t have even tried applying for the scholarship if it wasn’t for Nancy. Dr. Woods has helped me with all of my applications. She’s been my springboard. She helped me believe in myself,” he said.
Stevens also showed gratitude toward Pritchard for reviewing his essays and helping him to write new revisions. He said that, although he had several other instructors check his essays, Pritchard was the one of the teachers who inspired him most.
“Mr. Pritchard, one of my first instructors, really gave me confidence and helped me believe in myself,” he said.
“They are so giving of their time. It’s amazing to me that these individuals who have families, who have kids of their own, donate so much of their time giving to us,” he added.
In addition, Stevens said that Isa Adney, a guest speaker who visited DMACC early in the fall and a fellow recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, impacted his decision to apply for the scholarship.
In an email interview, Adney said, “Usually there is one special student that follows through in every college I speak. Josh stood out to me immediately; I could tell he was going to go places because of his diligence. He emailed me after I left and asked for advice on his personal branding and applying for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.”
Adney said she didn’t believe she had much to do with Stevens’ success and praised his hard work and perseverance.
“I would like Josh to know that he is an incredible person and will continue to do amazing things with his life. He has more potential than even he realizes, and the sky’s the limit,” she said.
Although Adney sparked Stevens’ interest and encouraged him along the way, Stevens said that Woods was the one who made the application for the Jack Kent Cook Scholarship feasible.
Woods said, “Anytime I start talking to students about scholarships and scholarships that are available, [the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship] is one of the first things I mention.”
She said that Stevens showed serious interest in and applied for the scholarship early in the fall of 2012. According to Woods they had a late start on applying for the scholarship.
“We really really wanted to get this thing done early so that it wouldn’t be so stressful, but I seem to remember that we were down to the last minute getting it published and submitted,” Woods said.
The deadline for application was early December, and Woods said that she and Stevens were still working on it after Thanksgiving Day.
They said the process was daunting. Stevens said he had to complete many application forms and several drafts of three separate essays: an autobiographical essay, an essay describing an instance when Stevens helped someone and an essay devoted to what he hopes to do with his future.
Woods said that she couldn’t begin her work until Stevens had finished his application. She had to write three essays of her own describing Stevens and explaining why he should receive the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.
Woods said that although she has never had Stevens in one of her classes, she has gotten to know him and his personal story through Phi Theta Kappa and working on the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.
“He’s dependable. If he says he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it. This is a man that has an extensive family life. He works outside of here,” Woods said.
Woods said that she is eager to see Stevens continue through college, earn his PhD. and help those who come after him.
“I cannot wait for Josh to become future Josh. And whatever that future Josh is, I can’t wait for him to get to that place and then say, ‘Okay now, how can I turn around and lend a hand to the next generation,’” she said.
“I’m not the smartest guy in the world. I’m a hard worker, but I’m not that smart,” Stevens said.
English instructor Sam Pritchard said, “I enjoy Josh. He’s driven, determined, but he’s not afraid to laugh. He works as hard as any student I’ve ever had. He understands irony. He understands that an education is more than a piece of paper. An education helps us live a life.”
Stevens talked about why he has worked so hard for a quality education.
“The reason why I’ve done this, why I’ve worked so hard, is not for me. It’s not for an accomplishment like this. It’s so that my boys can see that no matter where you’re at in life, you can do anything you want if you’re willing to work for it,” he said.
Stevens attributed much of his success in obtaining the scholarship to the faculty at DMACC Boone.
“The winning of the award is not just about me. It’s about my teachers. It’s about the faculty. They’re absolutely amazing, and I probably did seven to eight, maybe nine, revisions of each of the essays with my teachers,” he said.
He thanked physics instructor Nancy Woods in particular for her role in encouraging him to apply and guiding him through the application process.
“I wouldn’t have even tried applying for the scholarship if it wasn’t for Nancy. Dr. Woods has helped me with all of my applications. She’s been my springboard. She helped me believe in myself,” he said.
Stevens also showed gratitude toward Pritchard for reviewing his essays and helping him to write new revisions. He said that, although he had several other instructors check his essays, Pritchard was the one of the teachers who inspired him most.
“Mr. Pritchard, one of my first instructors, really gave me confidence and helped me believe in myself,” he said.
“They are so giving of their time. It’s amazing to me that these individuals who have families, who have kids of their own, donate so much of their time giving to us,” he added.
In addition, Stevens said that Isa Adney, a guest speaker who visited DMACC early in the fall and a fellow recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, impacted his decision to apply for the scholarship.
In an email interview, Adney said, “Usually there is one special student that follows through in every college I speak. Josh stood out to me immediately; I could tell he was going to go places because of his diligence. He emailed me after I left and asked for advice on his personal branding and applying for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.”
Adney said she didn’t believe she had much to do with Stevens’ success and praised his hard work and perseverance.
“I would like Josh to know that he is an incredible person and will continue to do amazing things with his life. He has more potential than even he realizes, and the sky’s the limit,” she said.
Although Adney sparked Stevens’ interest and encouraged him along the way, Stevens said that Woods was the one who made the application for the Jack Kent Cook Scholarship feasible.
Woods said, “Anytime I start talking to students about scholarships and scholarships that are available, [the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship] is one of the first things I mention.”
She said that Stevens showed serious interest in and applied for the scholarship early in the fall of 2012. According to Woods they had a late start on applying for the scholarship.
“We really really wanted to get this thing done early so that it wouldn’t be so stressful, but I seem to remember that we were down to the last minute getting it published and submitted,” Woods said.
The deadline for application was early December, and Woods said that she and Stevens were still working on it after Thanksgiving Day.
They said the process was daunting. Stevens said he had to complete many application forms and several drafts of three separate essays: an autobiographical essay, an essay describing an instance when Stevens helped someone and an essay devoted to what he hopes to do with his future.
Woods said that she couldn’t begin her work until Stevens had finished his application. She had to write three essays of her own describing Stevens and explaining why he should receive the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.
Woods said that although she has never had Stevens in one of her classes, she has gotten to know him and his personal story through Phi Theta Kappa and working on the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.
“He’s dependable. If he says he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it. This is a man that has an extensive family life. He works outside of here,” Woods said.
Woods said that she is eager to see Stevens continue through college, earn his PhD. and help those who come after him.
“I cannot wait for Josh to become future Josh. And whatever that future Josh is, I can’t wait for him to get to that place and then say, ‘Okay now, how can I turn around and lend a hand to the next generation,’” she said.