The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2023-2024 school year. CFSEK is home to more than 20 different Southeast Kansas scholarships established by local residents, businesses, and organizations to help area students pursue a postsecondary education.
Applications are due by March 31. Be sure to read the scholarship instructions carefully before completing or submitting your application.
Please contact Program Coordinator Sherri Stephens with any questions.
Good luck, students!
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How to Apply for the CFSEK Scholarship Program
We’ve launched a new online application process for our scholarship program this year! Now it’s easier than ever to apply to as many CFSEK scholarships as you are eligible for. Here’s the basic application process:
- Visit SoutheastKansas.org/scholarship-app. This will open our online scholarship portal on GrantInterface.com.
- Register for a new account if you haven’t already. Otherwise, sign in.
- Click the “Apply” button in the top-right corner to begin your application. You will complete and submit a general application.
- Based on the information you provide in the general application, you will receive a confirmation message identifying which specific scholarships you are eligible for. It will also ask you any supplemental questions required by those scholarships.
- Complete the specific scholarship requirements.
- Submit your scholarship applications by March 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
Check out the SLM Applicant Tutorial or contact Program Coordinator Sherri Stephens for more information.
Southeast Kansas Scholarships for 2023
Each Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas scholarship has its own eligibility requirements. We’ve included a brief description of those requirements below, but remember that our online scholarship application will automatically determine which scholarships you may be eligible for based on your answers to a general application.
Ad Astra Endowed Scholarship
The Ad Astra Endowed Scholarship assists students in achieving their life goals, providing an annual $1,500 scholarship to a Pittsburg Community Schools USD 250 and St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools current or former graduate.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must have graduated from or be graduating seniors of Pittsburg High School or St. Mary’s Colgan High School.
- Enrollment status: Applicants must be planning to attend college full-time.
- GPA: Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.2.
Albright Family Scholarship – Healthcare/Human Services
The Albright Family Healthcare/Human Services Scholarship provides financial assistance to encourage and support students entering their last two years of study in a healthcare- or human-services-related field at an accredited educational institution.
Basic Eligibility
- Enrollment status & major: Applicants must be entering their last two years of full-time undergraduate study in a healthcare- or human-services-related field.
- Past work experience: Preference will be given to applicants who have worked or volunteered in a position demonstrating care, compassion, and service to others.
- Need: Financial need may be taken into consideration.
Albright Family Scholarship – PHS & SEHS
The Albright Family Scholarship – PHS & SEHS provides scholarships to encourage and support students graduating from Pittsburg High School and Southeast High School who have demonstrated involvement in school or community activities, academic success or other achievements, and a general desire to build character and self-sufficiency.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be graduating seniors of Pittsburg High School or Southeast High School.
- GPA: Applicants must have a current GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale.
- Enrollment status: Applicants must be enrolled full-time in an accredited postsecondary institution.
- Need: Financial need may be taken into consideration.
M.L. (Lee) & Noretta Caldwell Education Fund Scholarships
The M.L. (Lee) & Noretta Caldwell Education Fund offers three distinct scholarship programs, one each for students of Fort Scott Community College, Labette Community College, and Neosho County Community College.
Basic Eligibility
- Residency: Applicants should be from Southeast Kansas, with preference to students from Neosho County School District #101 (Erie & St. Paul); Crawford County (Girard, Southeast, Northeast, Frontenac, excluding Pittsburg); and students from Labette and Bourbon County. Students from Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma may also apply.
- Field of study: Applicants must be pursuing a degree program studying business, science, technology, or teaching.
- GPA: Applicants must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.5. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in the previous semester is required for renewal of funds.
- Need: Financial need will be considered in awarding the scholarship.
Commerce Bank Scholarship
The Commerce Bank-Pittsburg Scholarship is awarded to one graduating senior each from St. Mary’s Colgan High School and Pittsburg High School. The student must be pursuing further education by enrolling full time at a 4-year college or university.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be a graduating senior of St. Mary’s Colgan High School or Pittsburg High School.
- GPA: Applicants must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.5 and a minimum ACT of 23.
- Enrollment status: Applicant must be planning to enroll full time at a 4-year college or university.
Craig Crespino Scholarship
The Craig Crespino Scholarship was established in 2006 in memory of Craig Crespino, a successful educator and high school coach. The many donors who have given to the fund hoped help keep Coach Crespino’s spirit alive by recognizing students who demonstrate the potential to follow in his footsteps.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be a graduating senior of Girard High School or St. Mary’s Colgan High School.
- GPA: The student must maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4-point scale.
- Enrollment status: The student must carry a minimum of 12 hours each semester in an academic program.
Nancy Evans Community Health Nursing Scholarship
To honor Nancy Evans, RN, BSN, for her 17 years of service to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and a lifetime dedicated to nursing, CHC/SEK has established the Nancy Evans Community Health Nursing Scholarship at CFSEK. The purpose of the Nancy Evans Scholarship is to provide support to a student entering his or her final year of study in the field of nursing at an accredited nursing program in the region. For 2023, this scholarship is only open to students at Fort Scott Community College.
Basic Eligibility
- Enrollment Status: For the 2023-2024 school year, applicants must be entering the last year of the nursing program at Fort Scott Community College. Applicants can be enrolled on a part-time or full-time basis.
- GPA: The student must have at least a 2.7 grade point average on a 4-point scale.
- Financial need: Financial need may be taken into consideration.
- Employment: Preference may be given to current CHC/SEK employees.
Pat Forbes Scholarship
The Pat Forbes Scholarship was established in 2005 by students, colleagues, and friends of Pat Forbes upon his retirement as principal and former teacher and coach at St. Mary’s Colgan High School. This scholarship opportunity provides scholarships to encourage and support postsecondary education at an accredited postsecondary educational institution.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be graduating seniors of St. Mary’s Colgan High School.
- GPA: Applicants must have earned at least a cumulative 3.5 GPA.
- ACT score: Applicants must have scored at least a 25 on the ACT.
- Exclusion: The class valedictorian is not eligible for this scholarship.
Get Busy Livin’ Scholarship
The Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ Foundation was established in 2011 to provide support for individuals or groups that embody the values that Dylan pursued: adventure, fitness, curiosity, generosity and a daily zest for life. Scholarships will be awarded to high school graduating seniors attending Pittsburg, St. Mary’s Colgan, Frontenac, Girard, Northeast, or Southeast high schools that have shown through their actions excellence in academics, school and community involvement, athletics, or the arts, and a general desire to create self character and leadership.
In addition to receiving a GBL Scholarship, some recipients may be selected to be the GBL Volunteer Abroad representatives to travel internationally during the summer following graduation. Circumstances permitting, the individuals will participate in a volunteer-abroad program.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be a graduating high school senior currently attending Frontenac, Girard, Northeast, Pittsburg, St. Mary’s Colgan or Southeast.
- Enrollment status: Applicant will be required to carry a minimum of 12 hours each semester in an academic program.
- GPA: The student must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Stacy Goedeke Scholarship
Stacy Goedeke was raised on a small farm in Southeast Kansas. When she was not in school, she participated in various 4-H activities. In 2008 she graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Milling Science. The value of hard work that Stacy learned on the farm was evident in the way she approached her career. Stacy wanted to be the best she could be no matter what challenge was in her path. She worked tirelessly toward that goal until her unexpected death in 2017 at the age of 31.
During her life, Stacy always felt that the objective criteria used by most scholarships caused students with non-classroom skills to be overlooked. She believed that students should be rewarded for investing time not only in school, but also for engaging in and improving their world through community outreach programs such as church and 4-H. Objective standards also ignore students who are committed to earning their college degrees despite enduring adversities not generally faced by college students, such as the death of a close relative, medical or mental illness, or substantial economic hardship.
This scholarship was created to honor the memory of Stacy Goedeke.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be a graduate of a Kansas high school.
- Enrollment status: Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time or part-time at Kansas State University with a declared major of Milling Science.
- Priority considerations: Preference may be given to students satisfying additional criteria. Please review the scholarship application for more details.
Haberbosch Family Scholarship
Several members of the Haberbosch family lived and grew up in Moran, KS and graduated from Marmaton Valley High School (MVHS). It was the wish of Audrey Haberbosch Ellmer, 1948 graduate of MVHS, to establish a scholarship to carry on the family name. The Haberbosch Family Scholarship shall be awarded to two graduating seniors of Marmaton Valley High School in Moran, KS.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be graduating seniors at Marmaton Valley High School in Moran, Kansas.
- GPA: Recipients are required to have earned a 3.5 GPA at the time of application. In addition, a successful applicant must earn at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for the first semester of college study to receive funds for the second semester.
- Enrollment status: Applicants must show acceptance into a university or community college program at the time of application.
Bill House Hereford Foundation Scholarship
Mr. Swain William (Bill) House had a passion for agriculture and the cattle industry and wanted young people to have an opportunity to earn a career in agriculture. His legacy will continue through the Bill House Hereford Foundation Scholarship Fund, established to support students pursing an agricultural-related degree.
Basic Eligibility
- Major: Applicants must be majoring in an agricultural field of study, such as agribusiness, agricultural economics, agricultural education, animal sciences, conservation, feed science, veterinary medicine, or another similar major.
- GPA: Recipients are required to have earned a 2.5 or higher GPA at the time of application and for the first semester of college study to receive funds for the second semester.
- Regional preference: Preference will be given to applicants in the following order of priority: (1) graduating seniors from Cowley or Chautauqua County; (2) residents of Kansas or Oklahoma; (3) students attending a Kansas or Oklahoma college, university, or vocational school.
Gabriel John Ison Memorial Scholarship
As alumni of St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools (SMC) and Pittsburg High School (PHS), Gabriel’s family has established a scholarship in his memory to support graduating St. Mary’s Colgan and Pittsburg High School seniors pursuing higher education with a specific interest in studying Business or Education. The Gabriel John Ison Memorial Scholarship will award one $1,000 scholarship to a SMC graduating senior and one $1,000 scholarship to a PHS graduating senior.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be a graduating senior from St. Mary’s Colgan High School or Pittsburg High School with an interest in Business or Education.
- GPA: Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Enrollment status: Recipients are required to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester in an academic program.
- Activities: Applicants will be required to show involvement in activities.
- Financial need: Financial need may be taken into consideration.
Tyler Jeck Scholarship
The Tyler R. Jeck Scholarship was established in 2012 to continue Tyler’s dream of helping others. Tyler, a well-respected and much-loved member of the class of 2010, attended St. Mary’s Colgan from Kindergarten through graduation.
This scholarship recognizes St. Mary’s Colgan students who have maintained a 3.0 GPA, been involved in at least one school co-curricular activity each semester for two years, and reflect the shared values with Tyler of friendship, acceptance of others, faithfulness, academic drive, and responsibility toward one’s family, friends, school, church and community.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be graduating seniors at St. Mary’s Colgan High School.
- GPA: Applicants must have mantained at least a 3.0 GPA.
- Activities: Applicants must have been involved in at least one school co-curricular activity each semester for two years.
William F. Lehman American History Scholarship
The William F. Lehman American History Scholarship is awarded to a recent or past Bourbon County High School graduate. Applicants must be attending or planning to attend an accredited institution of higher learning as a full-time student enrolled in a course or coursework studying any aspect of American history.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be a graduate of a high school located in Bourbon County, Kansas
- GPA: Applicants must have earned at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA in high school.
- Coursework: Applicants must carry a minimum of 12 hours each semester and be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours of American studies.
Daniel & Jeannette Minnis Oral Health Scholarship
The Dr. Daniel and Mrs. Jeannette Minnis Oral Health Scholarship was established in 2008 in honor of the Minnis’ commitment to improving the health and well-being of residents of Southeast Kansas.
Basic Eligibility
- Enrollment status: Applicants must be third-year students enrolled in the pre-dental program at Pittsburg State University.
- GPA: The student must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Need: The student must exhibit financial need.
- Volunteering: The student must be willing to volunteer 10 hours per semester at the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Dental Clinic or at Accent Dental Clinic.
Joe & Margarita Sauer Scholarship
The purpose of the Joe & Margarita Sauer scholarship is to provide $1,000 in scholarship(s) to selected Girard High School graduating senior(s) pursuing higher education who have shown excellence in academics, school and community involvement, athletics, or fine art achievements.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be a graduating senior at Girard High School, Girard, KS.
- Enrollment status: Recipients are required to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester in an academic program. Recipients must provide proof of enrollment prior to release of funds.
- GPA: Recipients must maintain a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average for the first semester of college study to receive funds for the second semester.
Short Fine Arts Scholarship
The Short Fine Arts Scholarship was established in 2007 in memory of Nicholas and John Patrick Short. This scholarship opportunity is designed to encourage young people in their pursuit of artistic excellence at the college level.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be a graduating senior of Pittsburg High School located in Crawford County, Kansas.
- Major or minor: Applicants must be planning to major or minor in the arts, art education, or an art-technology field. Examples of qualifying programs include studio art, illustration, vocal or instrumental music, theatre, dance, graphic design, and photography. First preference will be given to students majoring in such a program.
William J. Sollner Family Scholarship
William “Bill” J. Sollner was a 1943 graduate of Crawford County Community High School. Following training as a naval aviator and time in the naval reserve ready, Bill’s life was filled as a “teacher, journalist, playwright, puppeteer, and gadfly”. Bill returned to Arma in 1991 where he lived until his death in 2017.
The purpose of the William J. Sollner scholarship is to provide Northeast High School students who have talent and initiative but may not have financial resources to pursue a degree. Scholarship funds will be distributed from the William J. Sollner Family Scholarship Fund through the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be graduates of Northeast High school USD #246.
- GPA: Applicants must have earned a GPA of 2.5 or higher in high school. In addition, recipients must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA for the fall semester or will not receive the scholarship the following semester.
- Enrollment status: Applicants must be enrolled full time in an academic or vocational program in an accredited institution of higher learning. Recipients must provide proof of enrollment prior to release of funds.
Vinylplex/Sanderson Pipe Scholarship Application
Bill Coleman was a proponent of education and his community. As the former President of Vinylplex, Inc., he established the Vinylplex/Sanderson Pipe Scholarship Fund to encourage and support the children of Vinylplex/Sanderson Pipe employees and students residing in the Pittsburg area to pursue postsecondary education.
Basic Eligibility
- Residency: Applicants must be residents of Pittsburg or the surrounding area.
- GPA: Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA at the time of application.
- Enrollment status: Applicants must be enrolled or plan to enroll in an accredited postsecondary educational institution at the time of application.
- Preference: If all applicants are equal based on eligibility criteria, then preference will be given to the children of Vinylplex employees.
Larry & Regina Weaver Scholarship
Larry and Regina, PSU alumni, dedicated their careers to education. Regina retired after a 30-year career as an educator with USD 250, and Larry was a 20-year PSU employee as an application developer. This scholarship seeks applicants who have shown excellence in academics, school and community involvement, and service to others. Preference will be given to those who have demonstrated caring and compassion toward others.
Basic Eligibility
- High school: Applicants must be graduating seniors from Pittsburg High School or St. Mary’s Colgan High School.
- Enrollment status: Applicants must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester in an academic program at Pittsburg State University.
- GPA: Applicants must have a GPA of 3.2 or above. They must also maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher during the first semester to receive funds for the second semester.