To say we’re excited to celebrate 15 years in business is putting it mildly. Year after year, we continue to be humbled by the support we receive from the community on a daily basis, and after all this time it has only continued to increase. What many people don’t know about Webspec Design, however, is the unique way the company was born; as an organization, we wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the Hoover Presidential Foundation.
Back in 2001, owner and founder Jeremiah Terhark started Webspec Design after he was a recipient of the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award from the Hoover Presidential Foundation. This award, which is still in existence, is a $5,000 scholarship program for high school juniors in Iowa who choose their own projects (typically related to community service, conservation, technology, and/or entrepreneurship) to complete. The award winner is chosen by a committee of esteemed Iowans and the scholarship is to be used at the accredited two or four year college/university of the recipient’s choosing. After winning the award, Jeremiah put his energy into creating a web development company and, while studying at Evangel University, Webspec was born.
When asked what the support from the foundation meant to him, Jeremiah said, “It was an honor to be selected and to receive the support from the other students and mentors in the program. One of the biggest perks of being in the program was collaborating with everyone to transform ideas into action. The program inspired me to recognize potential in people and encourage them to follow through on big ideas.”
Take a trip with us down memory lane by flipping through old photos in Webspec History.
Photo courtesy of Hoover Presidential Association.
This year, as Webspec’s 15 year anniversary approached, giving back to the organization that had played such a key role in the company’s development was a no-brainer. On Thursday, September 15, Jeremiah will donate $5,000 to the foundation at Webspec’s anniversary celebration to support future students just like him. Webspec will also be donating an additional $10,000 to other local nonprofit organizations as part of their “Game On: Celebrating Our Community” contest.
About the Hoover Presidential Foundation
The Hoover Presidential Foundation was founded in 1939 and initially began as the Hoover Birthplace Society. It now operates as a nonprofit group providing support for the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum and National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa. The foundation is small but mighty, with five full-time staff members who help provide support to programs like the Uncommon Student Award, the Travel Grant, Humanitarian Award, and more. It also hosts respected speakers like Tom Brokaw, who is coming this November. Learn how you can get involved with the foundation and support local students by clicking here.