Making dreams come true
LOREN BENOIT/Press Cody Jahns was awarded the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce’s $25,000 Super Scholarship last year through a raffle that benefits the nonprofit and a local student who plans to attend either North Idaho College, the University of Idaho or Lewis-Clark State. Here, he works on the NIC campus on Friday. Tickets are on sale for the chamber of commerce’s next scholarship raffle.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — Cody Jahns had sold swine through 4-H to help pay for the first year of college, but the following years were going to be a tougher go.
That's when a dream came true.
He was awarded $25,000 last year for college through the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce's first Super Scholarship Raffle.
"The plan had been to work, take a semester off, then work again to chip away at it," the Lake City High graduate said. "The scholarship has taken a big weight off my shoulders so I can focus on school."
The chamber of commerce is in the midst of its second such college scholarship raffle that benefits the nonprofit's education program and some local student who plans to attend North Idaho College, the University of Idaho or Lewis-Clark State College.
Only 1,000 $50 raffle tickets are sold. The chamber of commerce and raffle winner each receive $25,000 if all the tickets are sold. If 1,000 aren't sold, the scholarship winner is guaranteed to receive their total amount.
Tickets will be sold up to the drawing on Sept. 28 or as tickets remain on sale.
Tickets can be ordered at www.postfallschamber.com or purchased at the chamber of commerce office, North Idaho College bookstore and Super 1 Foods in Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene.
About 350 tickets have been sold.
With last year's drawing, Sherry Mundt, a member of the Mica Flats Grange, won the raffle before granting Jahns the scholarship after an essay contest among the nonprofit's members.
Jahns recently finished his freshman year at NIC and is majoring in nursing. He plans to later attend Lewis-Clark State College.
"Cody is the poster child for what we want the raffle to be," said Graydon Stanley, NIC's of vice president of Student Services and president-elect of the chamber of commerce. "The idea is to award a local person who plans to attend college locally and stay here to work."
Mundt said she and her husband, Larry, have supported the grange for years and were pleased to honor a member with their winnings.
"We couldn't be more pleased with (the grange committee's) choice of Cody Jahns as the recipient and want to thank the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce for the wonderful opportunity they provided us to enable Cody to achieve his goals, which ultimately benefits us all as he embarks on his career in health care," Sherry said.
The chamber of commerce is holding monthly early-bird drawings for those who purchase their tickets early.
For more information about the raffle, call 773-5016 or visit www.postfallschamber.com.