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East Waterloo High Graduate Creates Scholarship for Students at His Alma Mater
Posted Oct. 16, 2007
Waterloo native and East Waterloo High School graduate Duane Swinton and his wife, Janet, have made a $50,000 gift commitment to the University of Iowa Foundation establishing an endowed scholarship fund for East High graduates who are freshmen at the UI. The Harold and Bernice Swinton Scholarship, named in honor of Duane Swinton’s parents, will be awarded by the UI to East Waterloo High graduates who are first-year UI undergraduate students, who demonstrate financial need and who help fulfill the UI’s commitment to diversity. East Waterloo High School will host a reception for the Swintons, who live in Spokane, Wash., on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 1:00 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. In attendance will be Duane Swinton’s parents, members of East High’s Student Senate, prospective UI students from East High, representatives from the UI Foundation and officials with the Waterloo Community School District, including East High Principal Willie Barney and Dewitt Jones, superintendent of Waterloo schools. "Education is a key ingredient in the mix of things necessary for an individual to achieve future success. My wife and I are pleased to make this gift to help students realize their educational and career goals,” Duane Swinton said. “It is in honor of my parents, who have given unending support and encouragement to their children through the years. The gift is also for the benefit of two fine academic institutions -- East Waterloo High School and the University of Iowa, which provided me 10 years of excellent Iowa education. Hopefully our endowment will stimulate others to make their own contributions to the continuing education and limitless future of Waterloo's young people." Duane Swinton earned his B.A. degree in journalism from the UI in 1971 and his J.D. from the UI College of Law in 1977. Since 1978 he has been an attorney with the firm of Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole in Spokane – the oldest law firm in the state of Washington. He currently is the firm’s acting managing partner. Janet Swinton is a retired English instructor from Spokane Falls Community College. While a student at the UI, Duane Swinton was assistant sports editor for the student newspaper, The Daily Iowan, and a sports reporter for the Waterloo Courier. Before joining the firm of Witherspoon, Kelley, he worked for one year for the Iowa Supreme Court. His primary area of specialty is media law. “This is a great example of East High loyalty, and an example of how universities and high schools can partner to make an impact on the future of the state of Iowa,” said Willie Barney, principal of East Waterloo High School. The UI acknowledges the UI Foundation as the preferred channel for private contributions that benefit all areas of the university. For more information, visit the foundation’s web site at www.uiowafoundation.org. Contact Information
Darryl Borcherding |