Two Gehlen students named Bishop Scholars

Two high school students who will be graduating this spring were selected as Bishop Scholars and will receive scholarships to attend Briar Cliff University in Sioux City beginning with the 2025-26 academic year. 

The two new Bishops Scholars are:

Alaina Beitelspacher of Le Mars is a student at Gehlen Catholic School and a parishioner of All Saints Parish.

Desirae Dreckman of Le Mars is also a student at Gehlen and member of All Saints.

The scholarship, valued at $30,000, is distributed over four years at $7,500 per year. 
Recipients must be Catholics in good standing and a member of a parish in the Diocese of Sioux City. The students are eligible to renew their scholarships by maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

At Gehlen where she has been inducted into the school’s honor society, Beitelspacher has 

Beitelspacher

been a part of the dance team, band, cheer squad as well as the school’s Christian Leadership Team that helps to organize special activities at the school. She is also part of the Students for Life group. She has helped to lead the Vacation Bible School at her parish and participated in Steubenville Conferences.
“Through these experiences, Alaina has demonstrated her leadership skills and willingness to serve, shown an interest in growing her relationship with Christ, and has witnessed her faith to others through her words and actions,” said Alissa Schipper, director of campus ministry, in a letter of recommendation for Beitelspacher.

Dreckman has been involved in choir, speech, theatre and Students for Life at Gehlen in addition to serving on the Christian Leadership Team. Her involvement in CLT allowed her to lead prayers and give a witness talk to her peers. She regularly attends the parish discipleship group and has been involved in special projects at All Saints such as the Live Nativity.

Dreckman

“Desirae is a hard-working, dedicated student who strives to do her best. She is a responsible and reliable team member, and I have no doubt that Desirae will be an asset to any team that she is a part of in the future. I highly recommend Desirae for your scholarship and have no doubt that she will represent you well,” said Schipper in her letter of recommendation for Dreckman.

In their application material, both young women spoke of the significance of Catholic education in their lives.
“My Catholic faith has been an extremely part of my academic success. I have been able to pray to God for support and guidance throughout my years in high school and have been able to achieve the goals that I had set for myself throughout the year,” said Dreckman.

Beitelspacher pointed out that she has been going to Catholic schools since preschool, so has been surrounded by her faith while in school.

“This is very important to me because I find that I strive to have a good work ethic in my school because all of the teachers and students are so helping and kind. In my school I want to be a great role model of discipleship to younger kids and people my age, to show them how a strong faith life can help you every day,” she said.