Scholarship honors SA founders, prioritizes working with underserved populations
DES MOINES, Iowa (November 22, 2022) – Strategic America (SA), an integrated marketing agency with headquarters in West Des Moines, Iowa, has created a new scholarship intended to support students pursuing degrees in communications and marketing.
“We created this scholarship to give back to our community and support the next generation of communications and marketing leaders,” said John Schreurs, CEO of Strategic America. “We at SA firmly believe in community service and supporting those entering our profession.”
The Strategic America Endowed Scholarship is intended to recognize and support a full-time junior, senior or graduate student at the University of Northern Iowa’s (UNI) College of Business or the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences. Preference is given to students who participate in university, department or community organizations and exhibit potential for leadership. Special consideration is given to students who have demonstrated experience in or a commitment to working with underserved populations.
Strategic America leaders advanced the idea of a scholarship to honor the legacy of brothers Michael (Mike) and John Schreurs. Both UNI alumni, Mike founded the marketing agency now known as Strategic America 42 years ago. Mike currently serves as chair and chief strategist at SA, and John is the agency’s CEO. Both were honored this month with UNI’s Alumni Achievement Award honoring their significant professional accomplishments.
“John and I are honored by the creation of this scholarship, but – more importantly – are excited to build the future of the business we love by supporting students pursuing degrees in the profession,” Mike Schreurs said. “One of our strategic agency goals is to continually build upon our high-performing culture and leadership. This is one way we can help do this and encourage more diverse future leaders.”
The first recipient of the $2,000 SA scholarship is Eboni Springfield, currently a UNI graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in public relations.
“Eboni is exactly the kind of student this scholarship was created for,” said Ryan McGeough, Ph.D., UNI associate professor and head of the Department of Communication and Media. “Eboni is a strong student, an engaged community member, and has demonstrated strong leadership potential. She is continuing her education to further develop as a writer, and this scholarship helps her access the training to do so.”
“We are so excited about partnering with Strategic America,” McGeough said. “SA is one of the top strategic communication firms in the country, and we are proud that it was founded by two UNI alumni. This partnership will provide scholarships that make college more affordable and accessible as well as incredible internship opportunities that will allow our students to learn, work, and network with the outstanding team at Strategic America.”
The Strategic America Endowed Scholarship is designed to support marketing and communications’ students for years into the future as the gift continues to earn interest and grow over time. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please contact either Elaine Johnson or Dan Breitbach at the University of Northern Iowa Foundation:
Elaine Johnson elaine.johnson@uni.edu or (319) 273-4444
Dan Breitbach dan.breitbach@uni.edu or (319) 273-7727
To learn more about Strategic America, visit strategicamerica.com.
Featured in:
- Iowa Association of Business and Industry
- Our Quad Cities
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
- Waverly Newspapers
- Inside UNI
About Strategic America
Strategic America (SA) is an employee-owned, integrated marketing firm specializing in multi-location marketing, brand building and customer engagement. Based in West Des Moines, Iowa, and representing a diverse set of clients that span multiple industries and geographies, Strategic America builds brands by using strategy and insights to power engagement and results. SA has earned the 4A’s Workplace Enlightenment certification and is ranked in the top fifteen percent of all independent agencies nationwide. SA is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As), the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Association of National Advertisers (ANA). Learn more at www.strategicamerica.com.
