Four Simpson College students earn scholarships from Principal®

Simpson College students Emily King, Peter Walkwitz, Katie Oosterhuis and Spencer Moon have been named Principal Scholars for the 2021-22 academic year.

Scholarship recipients receive $5,000 from Principal and mentorship from a Principal employee. Scholarship funds are designated for students majoring in fields related to STEM or accounting and are part of the Principal Talent-Focused Higher Education Grant.

“We are deeply grateful for the strong support Principal provides Simpson College,” said Laurie Dufoe, Simpson College director of career development. “The Principal Scholars program is a great benefit for our students because it provides both financial support and valuable industry exposure. Principal exemplifies an employer-focused partnership with our institution through active leadership on our Board of Trustees, serving as guest speakers, attending on-campus events, hosting students for visits and selecting students for both internships and full-time positions.”

To be considered for the scholarship, students must meet certain criteria and complete a written application. Finalists are interviewed by a committee before recipients are chosen by Simpson faculty and staff.

The Principal Scholars program at Simpson has resulted in a total of $60,000 in scholarships for 12 students since 2018.

2021-22 Simpson College Principal Scholar

Emily King is a senior double-majoring in computer science and mathematics and minoring in computer information systems. A STEM scholarship recipient, King is a member of the women’s tennis team and attended Principal Financial Group’s Leadership Conference as a first-year student. King is originally from Friendswood, Texas.

Peter Walkwitz is a senior double-majoring in mathematics and computer science with minors in religion, computer information systems and Spanish. A STEM scholarship recipient, Walkwitz is a member of the men’s tennis team and is originally from Des Moines, Iowa.

Katie Oosterhuis is a sophomore majoring in accounting with a minor in business analytics. An accounting scholarship recipient, Oosterhuis is a member of the women’s swimming team and is originally from Des Moines, Iowa.

Spencer Moon is a junior double-majoring in accounting and business management with a minor in business analytics. An accounting scholarship recipient, Moon is a member of both the men’s cross country team and the men’s track and field team and is originally from Lake City, Iowa.

About Principal®

Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG) is a global financial company with 18,000 employees[1] passionate about improving the wealth and well-being of people and businesses. In business for more than 140 years, we’re helping more than 45.5 million customers[2] plan, insure, invest, and retire, while working to support the communities where we do business, improve our planet, and build a diverse, inclusive workforce. Principal® is proud to be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies[3], a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, and a Top 10 “Best Places to Work in Money Management[4].” Learn more about Principal and our commitment to sustainability, inclusion, and purpose at principal.com.

[1] As of June 30, 2021
[2] As of June 30, 2021
[3] Ethisphere Institute, 2021
[4] Pensions & Investments, 2020

About Simpson College
Simpson College is a private, liberal arts college located in Iowa with campuses in Indianola, West Des Moines and online. Founded in 1860, the college has 1,268 undergraduate and graduate students. Simpson offers 74 majors, minors and programs in addition to three graduate programs. Outside of the classroom, Simpson is a member of the NCAA Division III American Rivers Conference, hosts eight Greek houses on campus and sponsors many extracurricular options for student involvement.

Contact Information
Bryan Geelan, marketing communication director
Direct: 515-961-1608
Email: bryan.geelan@simpson.edu