2 Iowa students receiving Butler scholarship

Northwest Missouri State University has again awarded scholarships this fall to students in honor of an Iowa native who left lasting impressions on his community.

Sophie Dorsey

Brianna Wilson

Sophie Dorsey, of Wiota, Iowa, and Brianna Wilson, of Atlantic, Iowa, are recipients of the C. Lee Butler Scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year.

Dorsey, a sophomore animal science major who is the daughter of Brett and Stephanie Dorsey, is receiving the scholarship for the second consecutive year.

Wilson, a senior elementary and special education major, is the daughter of Renee and Jim Wallace and Mark Wilson. She is receiving the scholarship for the fourth consecutive year.

At Northwest, endowed scholarships like the C. Lee Butler Scholarship provide a financial boost to students, allowing them more time to concentrate on their academic pursuits and engaging in campus activities that help them build additional skills.

“This scholarship will help me succeed at Northwest by easing the financial burden placed on my family in order for me to work towards my bachelor’s degree in animal science,” Dorsey said. “This scholarship also allows me to spend more time on my studies, rather than having to work a part-time job during the week to help pay for my tuition.” 

Established in 2012 by an anonymous donor, the C. Lee Butler Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate or transfer student at Northwest with preference given to students who are graduates of high schools in Cass County, Iowa. Academic achievement and financial need are leading criteria for the scholarship.

Charles Lee Butler – or Lee, as he was known to friends and family – was born in 1902 in Fontanelle, Iowa, where he attended elementary and high school. He enrolled at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, for one year but dropped out to help support his family.

After working in a Fontanelle bank, he moved with his wife, Florence, to Atlantic in the early 1930s to purchase a general lines insurance agency. He also served as secretary of the Cass Mutual Insurance Association, a county mutual fire and windstorm company. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Directors for Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company for many years. Butler died in 1968.

For more information about the C. Lee Butler Scholarship or to make a tax-deductible gift to benefit the University, contact Northwest’s Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248 or visit eval.dbctl.com/GiveOnline.