AMES, IOWA (June 24, 2025) — The Iowa Sports Foundation and Iowa Games are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Brian Pearson Memorial Scholarship: Braden Brooks of Boone High School and Rachel Ehlers of Davenport West High School.
Each year, this prestigious scholarship — sponsored by the Orr, Kenyon, and Skinner families — is awarded to one outstanding male and one outstanding female student-athlete in honor of Brian Pearson, a former Iowa State University basketball player who passed away from brain cancer in 1997. Recipients are selected based on their demonstration of strong character, leadership, academic achievement, and community involvement.
Braden Brooks, an accomplished student-athlete from Boone, will attend Iowa State University this fall, where he plans to explore his passion for sports and media through the College of Design. A participant in the Iowa Games Soccer tournament, Brooks has been active on both the soccer and basketball teams at Boone High. He also volunteers regularly through Sacred Heart Church services and dinners, and assists with Thanksgiving donation drives and deliveries.
Rachel Ehlers of Davenport West will also be attending Iowa State University, pursuing a degree in accounting. Ehlers has participated in Iowa Games Track and Field and plays high-school volleyball. She aspires to give back to youth sports as a track coach after college. Rachel is recognized not only for her academic excellence, but also for her leadership — she introduced the Bacon Buddies program, an initiative from the Iowa Pork Producers Association, to her home county and continues to advocate for its expansion.
The Brian Pearson Memorial Scholarship awards $1,000 to each recipient to support their post-secondary education.
Eligible applicants were 2024–2025 high-school juniors or seniors who have participated in or volunteered at an Iowa Sports Foundation event. Brooks and Ehlers will be honored at the 2025 Summer Iowa Games Opening Ceremony and Athlete Tailgate on July 18 on the south side of Jack Trice Stadium at Iowa State University.
For more information about the Iowa Games, please visit iowagames.org.
About the Iowa Games
The mission of the Iowa Games is to provide sports and recreation opportunities for all Iowans through Olympic-style festivals, events, and programs. The Iowa Games currently hosts the Summer and Winter Iowa Games presented by Grinnell Mutual.
About the Iowa Sports Foundation
The Iowa Sports Foundation (ISF) was founded in 1986 as a 501(c)3 non-profit entity with the mission to provide sports, recreation, health, and wellness opportunities for Iowans of all abilities. The ISF comprises the Iowa Games, Live Healthy Iowa, Adaptive Sports Iowa, Iowa Seniors Games, and the Corporate Games.
