(West DesMoines, Iowa) – The Iowa Communications Alliance (ICA) reports a teen from western Iowa was selected as one of two recipients of a $2,500 2025 ICA Scholarship to support their education in the 2025-26 school year. Irelynd McCarthy is a senior at Exira-EHK High School in Elk Horn. In the Fall, she plans to attend Drake University to study Business. Irelynd’s father, Jimmy, works as a Technician at Marne Elk Horn.

The other recipient is Rachel Ogden, a senior at Moulton-Udell High School in Moulton. In the Fall, she plans to attend the University of Iowa to study Sport and Recreation Management. Rachel’s mother, Sarah, is the Customer Experience Manager at Farmers Mutual Communications in Moulton.

LtoR:
Jill Madsen, Marne Elk Horn Communications COO, Jimmy McCarthy, Father of Recipient, Recipient Irelynd McCarthy and ICA Scholarship Committee Member Kim Steffens. (photo courtesy Jill Madsen)

To be eligible for the ICA Scholarship, the individual must be either a graduating high school senior or a current full-time undergraduate student who will be continuing their undergraduate education in the 2025-2026 academic year. Students must also have a parent, grandparent, or guardian currently employed by or serving as a director at an ICA telecommunications provider member company.