Barbara J. Fackel Scholarship winners

Two Iowa college students are the recipients of this year’s Barbara J. Fackel Scholarship. The scholarship was named on behalf of Fackel, who was active in the USTA at the state, section and national levels. Both students will receive $1,000 to use toward their college fees.

Alli Hagness is a freshman at Coe College in Cedar Rapids where she plays on the tennis team. She has played tennis since she was eight years old, and started taking it more seriously as a teenager. She is thankful for the help this scholarship will bring. 

“This scholarship will help me pay for tuition and textbooks, allowing me to spend less time working and worrying about finances,” she said. “This gives me the opportunity to devote more time to my studies and tennis career.”

The Waterloo native is studying biochemistry and computer science. She hopes to attend either graduate school or medical school to pursue a career in the medical field or computer science. In the meantime, she is enjoying her time as a Kohawk tennis player. 

“Throughout the past few years I have really grown to enjoy how the game makes me feel and how it allows me to escape from reality for a little bit of fun time on the court,” she said. 

The other scholarship award recipient is Sophia Fain, also a Waterloo native who is a freshman on the Coe College Women’s tennis team.