CFSEK announces 2024 scholarship program recipients

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) and its affiliates, the Columbus Area Community Foundation, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, and the Girard Area Community Foundation are proud to announce the granting of scholarship funds and awards to 72 students totaling just under $165,000 for the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholarships administered by the Community Foundations are funded by donors who believe in the youth of our area and support their pursuit of higher education.

2024 CFSEK scholarship recipients

Congratulations to the following 2024-2025 CFSEK Scholarship Program award recipients:

Ad Astra Scholarship

  • Eve Moss – Pittsburg High School – Washington University in St. Louis
  • Ava Wilson – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – Missouri Southern State University

Albright Family Healthcare & Human Services Scholarship

  • Debra Pilgrim – Neosho County Community College

Albright Family Scholarship

  • Kinzey Cassidy – Southeast High School – University of Arkansas
  • Elizabeth Miller – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Oscar Ruiz – Pittsburg High School – PSU

Bill House Hereford Foundation Scholarship

  • Regan Ast – K-State
  • Aidan Bartholomew – K-State
  • Madyson Broce – K-State
  • Kaitlynn Buxton – Dexter High School – Cowley County Community College
  • Jerin Cobb – Northwestern Oklahoma State University A&M
  • Robert (Luke) Hert – Sedan High School – K-State
  • Bryce Hoeltzel – Allen Community College
  • Kaylee Lunsford – Oklahoma State University
  • Shaden Mahnken – Fort Hays State University
  • Braden Norwood – Oklahoma State University
  • Haley Phillips – Girard High School – K-State
  • Abigail Reid – Winfield High School – K-State
  • Jenna Richardson – K-State
  • Kara Riffel – K-State
  • Reygan Schrock – Ell-Saline High School – K-State
  • Katherine Stevens – K-State
  • Sage Toews – K-State
  • Kiser Wiatrak – NEO A&M College
  • Grace Young – K-State

Charles & Jane Maxwell Memorial Scholarship

  • Chesney Dobkins – Columbus Unified High School – Labette Community College

Charles L. McColm American Legion Memorial Scholarship

  • Presley Tedlock – Columbus Unified High School – PSU

Class of 1986 Friendship Scholarship

  • John Smith – Columbus Unified High School – KU

Columbus Cares Scholarship

  • Chesney Dobkins – Columbus Unified High School – Labette Community College

Commerce Bank – Pittsburg Scholarship

  • Ava Steier – Pittsburg High School – University of Saint Mary 
  • Isabella Piccini – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – KU

Craig Crespino Scholarship

  • Kayleigh Leadstrom – Girard High School – Fort Scott Community College
  • Alex Carson – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – PSU

Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ Scholarship

  • Lily Brown – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – PSU
  • Kassidy Fox – Southeast High School – K-State
  • Indiana Grotheer – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Savannah Grotheer – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Jacqueline Hall – Pittsburg High School – Missouri Southern State University
  • Eve Moss – Pittsburg High School – Washington University in St. Louis
  • Kiran Navaratnam – Pittsburg High School – Evangel University 
  • Cole Niederklein – Frontenac High School – KU
  • Ainsley Norton – Girard High School – University of Missouri
  • Noah Rogers – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Oscar Ruiz – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Cooper Simmons – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – PSU

Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ PHS Dragon Award

  • Webb Fern – Pittsburg High School – Coffeyville Community College

Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ KPREPS Player of the Year Award

  • Dawson Kindler – Gardner-Edgerton High School – Emporia State University

Gabriel John Ison Memorial Scholarship

  • Jane Tholstrup – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Kinzey Cassidy – Southeast High School – University of Arkansas

Haberbosch Family Scholarship

  • LesLeigh Cary – Marmaton Valley High School – K-State
  • Kody McVey – Marmaton Valley High School – Allen Community College
  • Payton Scharff – Marmaton Valley High School – PSU

Joe & Margarita Sauer Scholarship

  • Kayleigh Leadstrom – Girard High School – Fort Scott Community College
  • Ainsley Norton – Girard High School – University of Missouri

Joe F. Zakowski & Mary Alice Gilmore Zakowski Scholarship

  • Abigail Harding – Northeast High School – Labette Community College
  • Indica Holloway – Northeast High School – Central Christian College 
  • Abigale Merida – Northeast High School – PSU
  • Shelby Underwood – Northeast High School – Crowder College
  • Joseph Cronister – Pittsburg High School – Undecided
  • Savannah Grotheer – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Avery Harrison – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Shaleigh Kunkler – Pittsburg High School – Columbia University
  • Ryland Martin – Pittsburg High School – KU
  • Alexis Miller – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Elizabeth Miller – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Eve Moss – Pittsburg High School – Washington University in St. Louis
  • Alexandrea Muckala – Pittsburg High School – Stephens College
  • Kiran Navaratnam – Pittsburg High School – Evangel University 
  • Joshua Ozbun – Pittsburg High School – WSU
  • Noah Rogers – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Oscar Ruiz – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Kali Terry – Pittsburg High School – University of Central Missouri
  • Jane Tholstrup – Pittsburg High School – PSU
  • Kysen Bennett – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – PSU
  • Alex Carson – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – PSU
  • Connor VanBecelaere – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – PSU
  • Hailee Varone – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – PSU
  • Ava Wilson – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – Missouri Southern State University

Larry & Regina Weaver Scholarship

  • Joshua Ozbun – Pittsburg High School – WSU
  • Amy Adamson – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – PSU

M.L. (Lee) and Noretta Caldwell Scholarship

  • Kayleigh Leadstrom – Girard High School – Fort Scott Community College
  • Josephine Conner – Cherryvale High School – Labette Community College
  • Sydney Foster – Labette County High School – Labette Community College
  • Elle Kreighbaum – Chanute High School – Neosho County Community College
  • Leila Messer – Columbus Unified High School – Labette Community College

Maureen H. Paulsen Memorial Scholarship

  • Taryn Billings – Columbus Unified High School – Allen Community College
  • Chesney Dobkins – Columbus Unified High School – Labette Community College

Mullendore Butler Endowed Scholarship

  • Cutler Forman – Cherryvale High School – Washburn University 
  • Devonte Harris – Cedar Vale High School – Coffeyville Community College
  • Robert (Luke) Hert – Sedan High School – K-State
  • Jeremiah Prince – Sedan High School – Epic Flight Academy 
  • Bethany Umbarger – Cherryvale High School – PSU
  • Brayson Voss – Field Kinley High School – KU

Nancy Evans Community Health Nursing Scholarship

  • Kylie Coble – Labette Community College

Pat Forbes Scholarship

  • Ava Wilson – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – MSSU

Sandra B. Houser Memorial Scholarship

  • Presley Tedlock – Columbus Unified High School – PSU

Short Family Fine Arts Scholarship

  • Alexandrea Muckala – Pittsburg High School – Stephens College
  • Hannah Sandford – Pittsburg High School – PSU

Stacy Goedeke Scholarship

  • Grace Young – K-State

Thomas J. Restivo Memorial Scholarship

  • Kayleigh Leadstrom – Girard High School – Fort Scott Community College

Tyler Jeck Scholarship

  • Cooper Simmons – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – PSU
  • Ava Wilson – St. Mary’s Colgan High School – Missouri Southern State University

VetLinks.org – Brian Kavanagh Scholarship – Pittsburg State University ROTC

  • Olivia Presley – PSU

VetLinks.org – Brian Kavanagh Scholarship – PSU Clinical Psychology Graduate Program

  • Jeyny Zavala Lopez – PSU

Vinylplex/Sanderson Pipe Scholarship

  • Abigail Harding – Northeast High School – Labette Community College
  • Ryland Martin – Pittsburg High School – KU
  • Cole Niederklein – Frontenac High School – KU
  • Oscar Ruiz – Pittsburg High School – PSU

William F. Lehman American History Scholarship

  • Makenzie Robertson – Fort Scott High School – KU
  • Jersee Wood – Fort Scott High School – PSU

William Sollner Family Scholarship

  • Samantha Bestor – Labette Community College
  • Abigail Harding – Northeast High School – Labette Community College
  • Abigale Merida – Northeast High School – PSU

About CFSEK scholarships

A scholarship fund established with CFSEK or its affiliate foundations is one way a family can leave a legacy and impact the future of our community. If you would like to know more about establishing a scholarship fund, contact the CFSEK office for more details at 620-231-8897.

CFSEK thanks the donors who have established scholarship funds and congratulates the 2024-2025 scholarship and award recipients!