CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Morgan VanStaalduine was a featured speaker at the annual Iowa State P.E.O. Convention held recently in Des Moines. Pictured here from the left; Gena Graglia, Marshalltown P.E.O. Chapter NU president; Star Scholarship Recipient VanStaalduine; Martha Brestel, NU Projects chair; Christin Smith, Iowa Projects chair.

Among P.E.O.’s seven projects, one is known as the STAR Scholarship. It is open to young women in their senior year of high school who intend to study at a four-year institution. Local chapters nominate candidates who demonstrate high academic achievement, community service and significant leadership beyond the local level.

Marshalltown High School graduate Morgan VanStaalduine was nominated by Marshalltown Chapter NU and was a recipient of the STAR Scholarship in 2017. Due to her continued academic success and leadership at Iowa State University, she was selected to be the STAR Projects speaker at the 127th Annual Iowa Chapter P.E.O. Convention held in Des Moines in June.

VanStaalduine is majoring in Materials Engineering with a certification in Leadership Studies. She is a member of Kappa Delta and has volunteered with several community service projects. She hopes to one day belong to P.E.O. and help young women grow to reach their full potential.