A Scholarship’s Lasting Impact | Iowa United Methodist Foundation

August 24, 2026

What does an IUMF scholarship mean to a student long after the check is received? We recently caught up with scholarship recipient Colbee Cunningham to find out. From her small-town Iowa roots to her pursuit of a career in international service, Colbee’s story shows how an investment in a student can open doors to a world of possibilities:

From Colfax to the World: A Scholarship’s Lasting Impact

Growing up in Colfax, Iowa, Colbee dreamed beyond the boundaries of her small rural community. From an early age, she was fascinated by different cultures, languages and the ways people connect across borders. That curiosity eventually led her to study Spanish and International Relations at Simpson College, spend time living and studying abroad, and discover a passion for international engagement and public service.

Today, that passion is leading Colbee toward an ambitious goal: becoming a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations at Johns Hopkins SAIS and is a recipient of the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. Her hope is to spend her career representing the United States overseas, strengthening relationships between countries and helping build mutual understanding across cultures.

Along the way, the Iowa United Methodist Foundation has been part of her journey.

More Than Financial Support

For Colbee, receiving scholarships from IUMF has meant far more than help paying for her education. “It has provided encouragement at every stage of my educational journey,” she says, explaining that the support allowed her to pursue opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach, including studying abroad, participating in international programs, and continuing her education through graduate school.

There was also something deeply meaningful in knowing a community of supporters believed in her. “I have always been grateful to know that there were people back home investing in my future and believing in my potential,” Colbee says.

That is the heart of the Iowa United Methodist Foundation’s scholarship program. A scholarship can help cover the cost of an education, but its impact can reach much further. It can give a student the freedom to pursue an opportunity, the encouragement to keep going, and the confidence to imagine what might be possible.

Investing in Iowa’s Students

Each year, IUMF awards scholarships to United Methodist students across Iowa who demonstrate academic and community excellence. Scholarships are available to high school seniors, students attending both UM and non-Methodist colleges, and seminary students answering the call to ministry. Thanks to generous donors, the Foundation will award more than $450,000 to 91 students across Iowa for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Applications are accepted annually from December 1 through March 1. Students and families can learn more about scholarship opportunities and criteria on our website.

For Colbee, the support she received has already made a lasting difference. But she is quick to recognize that the impact ultimately belongs to the people who chose to invest in students.

“To the donors, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Colbee says. “Your generosity has had a lasting impact not only on my education but also on the opportunities I have been able to pursue and the person I have become. Every scholarship recipient carries your support with them long after graduation.”

That support can travel far beyond the classroom—from a small town in Iowa to a university campus, from a study-abroad experience to a graduate degree, and perhaps, in Colbee’s case, one day to a U.S. embassy somewhere around the world.

“I hope to pay your generosity forward throughout my career and life,” she says.

What Legacy Will You Leave?

Colbee’s story is a reminder that an investment in one student can become part of a much larger story.

For those inspired by her journey, creating a scholarship fund can be one way to make that kind of impact possible for generations to come. A scholarship fund can honor a loved one, empower future leaders, or create a lasting legacy while offering potential tax benefits. IUMF can help individuals and families establish a scholarship fund either through a gift made during their lifetime or through their estate plans. To get started, contact the Foundation at 515-974-8927 or [email protected].

Today, Colbee is carrying our donors’ investment forward. And perhaps that is the most powerful legacy of a scholarship: not simply helping a student reach the next step but giving them the opportunity to go farther than they ever imagined—and inspiring them to do the same for someone else.