Two students in the University of Northern Iowa real estate program are among 15 women who will receive a total of $75,000 in scholarships awarded through the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network Foundation.

Art Cox, the UNI associate professor of finance who launched the school’s real estate program, said the scholarships send an important message to women.

“There are lots of opportunities out there that are different from residential brokerage. There is so much more,” he said. “I think women are missing opportunities that they would really enjoy.”

Madeline O’Donnell, a senior majoring in finance, real estate and Spanish, is working this summer as an intern for Principal Global Investors. Rachel Smith is a junior majoring in real estate.

The scholarships were awarded to 12 undergraduate and three graduate students.

Cox said that women make up about 55 percent of the UNI student population and about 45 percent of the students in the UNI real estate program.

“We want to get women more engaged,” he said.

The CREW program has awarded $685,000 in scholarships since it was launched in 2008.

CREW Network is a business networking organization dedicated to advancing the achievements of women in commercial real estate. Learn more about the organization and its Iowa affiliate here.