Honoring Service and Leadership at Iona University through the General Frank R. Schwengel/ANAVICUS Scholarship
Celebrating service and excellence, this award supports outstanding students
Iona University’s Nestrin Nuredin, a sophomore psychology major, has been awarded this year’s General Frank R. Schwengel/ANAVICUS Scholarship, which recognizes outstanding students who demonstrate service to the community and exceptional leadership abilities.
Established in 1989, this annual award is funded by The American Legion’s Army, Navy, & Air Force Veterans in Canada, United States Unit (ANAVICUS) in honor of one of its principal founders, General Frank R. Schwengel. It is awarded to sophomores and juniors.
“This scholarship is such an honor to receive,” said Nuredin. “Knowing that I can get the most out of my college experience thanks to this generous support makes me proud. My parents and I are deeply grateful.”
A first-generation college student from Connecticut, Nuredin exemplifies the scholarship’s mission through her diverse contributions to campus life, serving as a Residential Assistant while performing with Iona’s Instrumental Ensemble as a violinist. Looking ahead, she aspires to earn a Ph.D. in psychology and pursue a career as a psychiatrist.
General Frank R. Schwengel
Schwengel’s military career spanned over three decades, beginning in 1903 when he enlisted as a Private in the National Guard. He served on the Mexican border in 1916 before deploying to France during World War I, where he distinguished himself as a field artillery captain in major offensives. His wartime service earned him three citations and promotion to Colonel in 1919. As the war drew to a close, Schwengel served as an aide to General Pershing and attended the historic Paris Caucus that gave birth to The American Legion.
After returning home, Schwengel maintained deep involvement in American Legion activities at both local and national levels. His military career culminated in his promotion to Major General in 1936. Beyond his military service, Schwengel achieved success in the private sector, joining J.E. Seagram & Sons Corp. in 1934 and eventually rising to serve as the company’s president and board chairman.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.