Mackenzie Swanson, a senior from Harlan High School, has been named the 2015 recipient of the E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship Award. Mackenzie was selected from 111 applicants from high schools across Iowa. She will be honored at halftime of the Class 2A state championship game Friday, March 6.

The scholarship, in the name of longtime Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union Executive Secretary E. Wayne Cooley, is worth $15,000 over four years to assist the recipient as she attends the Iowa college or university of her choice. Mackenzie plans to attend the University of Iowa or Northern Iowa.

Miss Swanson was one of six finalists for the award. Other finalists included: Emily Knuth, Bondurant-Farrar; Meredith Cunningham, Knoxville; Evan Hundley, North Scott; Jaycie Owens, Norwalk and Alexandra Petersen, Ballard. The five runners-up all receive $1,000 scholarships.

Mackenzie is very active at Harlan. She ranks first in her class of 114 with a 4.00 GPA and is president of her senior class. She is a two-year member of the National Honor Society and is president of the Harlan chapter of Business Professionals of America while staying busy with drama and choir. Off the court, she has spearheaded several cancer fundraisers and volunteers at the Little Cyclones youth basketball and volleyball programs.
Mackenzie has enjoyed success in her athletic endeavors. She was an all-tournament team selection on the Cyclones back-to-back state volleyball teams and is a key reserve on Harlan’s state championship basketball squad.