Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is home to more than 20 different scholarship funds established by local residents, businesses, and organizations to help area students pursue a post-secondary education. You can read more about our scholarship funds, including recent recipients, below.

A scholarship fund established with the Community Foundation is another way that families, friends, students, teachers, or colleagues can leave a legacy or establish a memorial and impact the future of our community.

Contact us today for more information about our current funds or to discuss establishing a new scholarship fund.

Current scholarship funds

Ad Astra Endowed Scholarship

In keeping with the spirit of the motto of the State of Kansas, “To the Stars,” the Ad Astra Endowed Scholarship has been established to assist students in achieving their life goals. The Ad Astra Endowed Scholarship has been established by a local family that has been fortunate to study, learn, and work in a diverse variety of fields and believes knowledge, creativity, passion, and motivation are essential for lifelong success. This scholarship provides an annual $1,500 scholarship to a Pittsburg Community Schools USD 250 and St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools current or former graduate.

Albright Family Scholarships

CFSEK is home to two Albright Family Scholarships. The first is open to students entering their last two years of study in a healthcare- or human-services-related field. It awards two $5,000 scholarships payable at $1,250 per semester for four semesters.

The second is available for seniors of Pittsburg High School and Southeast High School. It awards two $4,000 scholarships per high school payable at $500 per semester for eight consecutive semesters.

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 who are pursuing a degree program studying business, science, technology, or teaching.

The number of scholarship(s) awarded and amount(s) are determined each year.

Commerce Bank Scholarship

The Commerce Bank-Pittsburg Scholarship awards $500 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.

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 to help keep Coach Crespino’s spirit alive by recognizing students who demonstrate the potential to follow in his footsteps. This scholarship provides $500 in support to one graduate each from Girard High School and St. Mary’s Colgan High School.

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 the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas. 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.

This scholarship awards $500 annually.

Pat Forbes Scholarship

The Pat Forbes Scholarship was established in 2005 by students, colleagues, and friends of Pat Forbes when he retired as principal and former teacher at St. Mary’s Colgan High School (SMC). The scholarship awards $500 to $600 to one SMC graduating senior.

Dylan Meier 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 are available for seniors graduating from 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. Typically, nine $900 scholarships are awarded in memory of Dylan’s jersey number.

Circumstances permitting, in addition to receiving a GBL Scholarship, some recipients will be selected to be the GBL Volunteer Abroad representatives to travel internationally during the summer following graduation.

Stacy Goedeke Scholarship

Stacy Goedeke was raised on a small farm in Southeast Kansas and participated in multiple 4-H activities. She attended K State and in 2008 graduated with a degree in Milling Science. Stacy always wanted to be the best she could no matter what challenge was in her path. She worked tirelessly toward that goal until her tragic death in 2017 at the age of 31.

The Stacy Goedeke Scholarship was established in Stacy’s memory and embodies her belief that students should not be judged just on traditional classroom-performance standards. It is open to graduates of Kansas high schools currently enrolled at Kansas State University with a declared major of Milling Science. It provides one $500 scholarship annually.

Haberbosch Family Scholarship

Audrey Haberbosch Ellmer, a 1948 graduate of Marmaton Valley High School (MVHS) in Moran, Kansas, established the Haberbosch Family Scholarship to carry on the family name. The Haberbosch Family Scholarship is awarded to two MVHS graduating seniors to be used for tuition to a university or community college.

The number of scholarship(s) awarded and amount(s) are determined each year.

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.

The number of scholarship(s) awarded and amount(s) are determined each year.

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 is available to seniors graduating from SMC or PHS. The number of scholarship(s) awarded and amount(s) are determined each year.

Tyler R. Jeck Scholarship

The Tyler R. Jeck Scholarship was established in memory of Tyler Jeck, a much-loved 2010 graduate of St. Mary’s Colgan High School (SMC). The scholarship recognizes SMC graduates who have maintained a 3.0 GPA, been involved in at least one school co-curricular activity each semester for two years, and reflect Tyler’s values of friendship, acceptance of others, faithfulness, academic drive, and responsibility toward one’s siblings, family, friends, school, church, and community.

The number of scholarship(s) awarded and amount(s) are determined each year.

William F. Lehman American History Scholarship

The William F. Lehman American History Scholarship is available for graduates of Bourbon County, Kansas, high schools. Recipients 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.

The number of scholarship(s) awarded and amount(s) are determined each year.

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 Southeast Kansas residents. It provides $500 to $600 in support to one student annually.

Joe & Margarita Sauer Scholarship

The Joe & Margarita Sauer Scholarship provides scholarships for graduating seniors of Girard High School who have shown excellence in academics, school and community involvement, athletics, or the fine arts.

The number of scholarship(s) awarded and amount(s) are determined each year.

Short Fine Arts Scholarship

The Short Fine Arts Scholarship was established in 2007 in memory of Nicholas and John Patrick Short. It is designed to encourage young people in their pursuit of artistic excellence at the college level. The scholarship is open to graduating seniors from Pittsburg High School who plan to major or minor in the arts, art education, or an art-technology field.

The number of scholarship(s) awarded and amount(s) are determined each year.

William J. Sollner Family Scholarship

William “Bill” J. Sollner was a 1943 graduate of Crawford County High School. Following training as a naval aviator and time in the naval ready reserve, Bill’s life was filled as a teacher, journalist, playwright, puppeteer, and self-described “gadfly.” Bill returned to Arma in 1991, where he lived until his death in 2017.

The William J. Sollner Family Scholarship helps Northeast High School students who have talent and initiative, but who may not have financial resources, to pursue a degree. The number of scholarship(s) awarded and amount(s) are determined each year.

Vinylplex/Sanderson Pipe Scholarship

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 Pittsburg-area students in their pursuit of a post-secondary education. This scholarship is open to students who live in or around Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awards five $500 scholarships annually.

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 graduating seniors from Pittsburg High School or St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools who have shown excellence in academics, school and community involvement, and service to others. Preference is given to those who have demonstrated caring and compassion toward others.

One $1,000 scholarship is awarded per high school.

Past scholarship recipients

Each year, we announce the recipients of our scholarship funds on our blog, in our newsletter, and on our Facebook page. You can follow the links below to read our announcements going back to 2014.