Bandits Scholars Program Adds Second Scholarship
The new scholarship will be awarded annually to one Quad Cities area high school senior entering either Black Hawk College in Moline, Ill., or Western Illinois University in Moline, Ill. The scholarship will pay the entire first year of tuition for one Quad Cities area resident and include a summer internship with the River Bandits following the winner's first year of college. The new scholarship is the second to be awarded as part of the Bandits Scholars Program that was founded by River Bandits owners Dave Heller and Bob Herrfeldt in 2009.
"The Bandits Scholars Program has been a wonderful way for the River Bandits to give back to a community we all love," said team owner Dave Heller. "Expanding the program has been a goal of ours since we started it three years ago, and this scholarship gives us another opportunity to recognize and support talented students and young leaders right here in the Quad Cities. Giving out these scholarships is the single most enjoyable thing I do as owner of the River Bandits."
Also at the press conference Friday were former U.S. Representative and current Western Illinois Board of Trustees member Phil Hare, as well as Black Hawk College Director of Financial Aid Joanna Dye.
The first scholarship to be included in the Bandits Scholars program was the Keith Lucier Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of the late Keith Lucier. Lucier was a graduate of Bettendorf High School and the University of Iowa. He was River Bandits Assistant General Manager in 2008 and a former employee of the Quad-City Times. Lucier passed away in 2009, and the scholarship has been awarded annually to one Quad Cities area high school senior since its inception.
The River Bandits will announce the winner of the 2012 Keith Lucier Memorial Scholarship on Saturday, June 2, during the River Bandits' 7 p.m. game against the Burlington Bees at Modern Woodmen Park. The Keith Lucier Memorial Scholarship pays the entire first year of tuition at the University of Iowa for one Quad Cities area resident and includes a summer internship with the River Bandits following the winner's first year of college.
"These scholarships allow us to reward deserving students in the Quad Cities area each year," said General Manager Stefanie Brown. "With the Bandits Scholars Program, we have selected students who are outstanding representatives of their scholarship, the River Bandits and the community."
Both scholarships are funded by fan donations and fund-raising efforts by the River Bandits and the team's ownership. Fans can donate to the scholarship fund at www.riverbandits.com. One hundred percent of every donation goes to fund the scholarships.
UP NEXT: The first 2,000 fans to Modern Woodmen Park on Friday, June 1, will receive a Welcome Mat courtesy of Clarion Hotel and the Dispatch-Argus. The River Bandits are also hosting Boy Scout Night presented by Gander Mountain, as well as Game Show Night. There will also be postgame fireworks presented by WLLR-FM and WQAD-TV. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at (563) 3-BANDIT and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: After four years of ballpark improvements, the River Bandits and the City of Davenport last summer unveiled some of the most impressive enhancements to Modern Woodmen Park yet. A brand new, state of the art, high definition 20' x 35' video board went live on June 7, and the newly enclosed glass Sky Deck on the suite level of Modern Woodmen Park was completed last August. Those improvements, in addition to new flood protection, a new front plaza, and a new parking lot directly across the street from the ballpark, are quickly making Modern Woodmen Park one of the premier facilities in all of Minor League Baseball. More improvements are scheduled for this coming season!