As Madelyn Reum ’29 searched for her perfect college, she toured several universities and explored a wide range of options. She knew what she was looking for – a place where she could grow, feel supported, and step into her future.
When she received her invitation to Scholars Day something stood out to her. Her mom encouraged her to attend the event, and from the moment she stepped on to campus, she felt something click.
“Ten minutes in I thought, ‘I really like it here,’” she said. “The people, the atmosphere, the campus, everything just felt right.”
At St. Ambrose University‘s Scholars Day, students with an unweighted GPA of 3.25 or higher are invited to be recognized for their achievements in academics, leadership, and service. While they are on campus, students interview with faculty and staff for a variety of scholarships, including awards worth up to full tuition.
“My interviewers were amazing. They made me so comfortable. It didn’t feel like an interview at all, more like a conversation with people who truly wanted to get to know me.”
At the time, Reum was deciding between three schools and thinking about how far from home she wanted be. She wanted to find a school that offered the independence that comes with college, but also liked the idea that she could return home for a weekend if she wanted to. At just over an hour and half away from her hometown, St. Ambrose offered her the perfect in-between.
A few weeks later, Reum received a phone call from SAU – the kind of call that changes everything.
“I answered, and they told me I received the full-tuition scholarship. I started crying immediately,” she said. “My dad put me on speakerphone in a room full of people, and everyone clapped. Then I called my mom, and she started crying too. It made my day.”
From the moment Reum arrived on campus as a first-year student, everything she had hoped for during Scholars Day became her everyday experience.
She began at St. Ambrose as a criminal justice major, but within her first month on campus, she discovered another major.
“I fell in love with my psychology class,” Reum said. “I’m now a double major and I’m excited to keep progressing through both.”
She found a strong sense of community and friendship through the Honors Program, which quickly became one of her favorite parts of campus.
“At the start, none of us knew each other. During our first trip into Davenport, everything clicked for our group. Now, all of us are friends.”
For any student who receives an invitation to Scholars Day, her advice is easy:
“Go! You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
