Hiawatha, Iowa — February 5, 2026 — ICAN has awarded 25 Iowa high schools with Step 1 Scholarship Implementation Grants, providing $2,000 per school to support efforts that expand access to scholarship information and strengthen FAFSA completion initiatives for students across the state.

The Step 1 Scholarship Implementation Grant supports high schools in listing local scholarships on the Step 1 Scholarship platform, a free scholarship search tool available to Iowa students. Through this grant, participating schools will work to increase awareness of local, state, and national scholarship opportunities while promoting financial aid literacy and FAFSA completion.

“Local scholarships are one of the most underutilized financial aid resources available to students,” said Rob Miller, CEO of ICAN. “By partnering with schools through the Step 1 Scholarship Implementation Grant, we are helping ensure students and families have clearer access to the opportunities available in their own communities while supporting schools’ efforts to improve FAFSA completion.”

Step 1 Scholarship Search is a partnership between ICAN and ISL Education Lending, a nonprofit lender serving Iowa students and families.

“We have a long-standing relationship with ICAN and are pleased to work with them to offer this free scholarship tool,” said Steve McCullough, president and CEO of ISL Education Lending. “As a nonprofit, we encourage students and families to take steps to borrow less for college. Through Step 1, families have more funding options for college.”

Grant funds may be used for activities such as collecting and submitting local scholarship information, promoting scholarship searches among students, hosting financial aid or FAFSA-related events, and implementing school-based initiatives that support postsecondary planning. These efforts are designed to reduce financial barriers and help students better prepare for education or training after high school.

The Step 1 Scholarship Search database connects students with scholarships that align with their background, interests, and goals. Increasing the number of locally listed scholarships helps ensure students are aware of opportunities that may otherwise go undiscovered.

The following schools were awarded Step 1 Scholarship Implementation Grants and represent communities across Iowa:

• Akron-Westfield High School
• Audubon High School
• Center Point-Urbana High School
• Centerville High School
• Columbus High School
• Danville High School
• Davis County Community High School
• Eagle Grove High School
• East Buchanan High School
• Glidden-Ralston High School
• Iowa Valley High School
• Kingsley-Pierson High School
• Logan-Magnolia High School
• Louisa-Muscatine High School
• Missouri Valley High School
• MMRCU High School
• Panorama High School
• Riverside High School
• Sigourney High School
• South Winneshiek High School
• Southeast Valley High School
• Southeast Warren High School
• Springville Secondary School
• West Burlington High School
• West Fork High School

For more information about the Step 1 Scholarship Search or how schools and students can access the platform, visit www.Step1Scholarships.org.

About ICAN

ICAN (Iowa College Access Network) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students and families navigate career, college, and financial aid planning through free tools, resources, and advising services. Step 1 Scholarship Search is a partnership between ICAN and ISL Education Lending, a nonprofit lender based in Iowa.

About ISL Education Lending

Established in 1979 as Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation, a private, nonprofit organization, ISL Education Lending helps Iowa students and families obtain the resources necessary to succeed in postsecondary education. ISL has helped more than 400,000 students pay for college, offering educational loans and other products under the name ISL Education Lending. The organization, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, also provides an array of borrower benefits, financial literacy tools and community reinvestment programs, including support for free college planning services for students and their families. For more information, visit www.IowaStudentLoan.org.