DES MOINES — Perry senior Alex Long was honored last week at the boys state basketball tournament as the 2016 recipient of the Iowa Banker’s Association’s Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship Award for Class 3A. The award recognizes a graduating senior student athlete who not only excels on the court, but also in the classroom and the community.
Perry head coach Ned Menke accepted the award on Long’s behalf prior to the start of the 3A championship contest Mar. 12.
“This is quite the prestigious award for Alex to win, as only four are given for the whole state,” Menke said. “It shows that not only was he an important part of our team as a basketball player but that he is also a great student.”
Terry Nielsen of Raccoon Valley Bank in Perry presented the award of a $1,000 scholarship to the college of Long’s choice.
“This scholarship is a great way to help students save toward their higher education and recognize them for their academics, athletics, leadership and volunteerism,” said Nielsen. “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to present Alex with this award recognizing his outstanding achievements.”
The selection committee chose Long for the award based on his scholastic standing, leadership skills, community involvement and athletic participation.
Long, who will study actuarial sciences at the University of Northern Iowa, said he was both surprised and pleased to win the scholarship.
“I felt really honored that they thought that much of me,” Long said. “I was a bit surprised because I knew there were other great students they could have chosen and they picked me.”
For more than two decades, the Iowa Bankers Association has sponsored the Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship Awards program in partnership with the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. The program includes awards to student athletes in basketball, wrestling and football. The Iowa Bankers Association has awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships since the program began.
The Iowa Bankers Association represents Iowa banks and savings institutions. Iowa bankers are committed to the values of honesty, hard work and community service, and have been a trusted resource for Iowans for more than 100 years.
Iowa banks offer FDIC insurance and lend more than $52.7 billion to help individuals, business owners and agriculture. More than 18,000 Iowans work at an Iowa bank, and Iowa banks donate more than $28.6 million and 784,000 volunteer hours to support local communities each year. To learn more, visit iowabankers.com.
