Sandhills Area Foundation Scholarships Announced

The scholarship reception will be Tuesday, June 10

Valentine, Neb. — The Sandhills Area Foundation (SAF) invites the public to attend its annual Scholarship Reception on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Mid-Plains Community College. The reception will recognize this year’s scholarship recipients and celebrate the generous donors who make these awards possible.

SAF will award $68,000 in scholarships this year, bringing the organization’s total scholarship support to more than $1,035,500 over the past 29 years. Thanks to the support of SAF donors, along with round-up contributions from Scotty’s Ranchland Foods and The Outback Screen Printing and Embroidery and their customers, additional scholarships were made possible this year.

2026 Scholarship Recipients

CapRock Scholarships

Katherine Cox, Aubree Johnson, Jessa Klabenes, Lauren Schoonveld, Anna Perrett, and Samantha Sprenger.

SAF College Scholarships

Taylor Battershaw, Courtney Billings, Katherine Cox, Lauren Ferguson, Jenalee Garwood, Brady Haake, Jessa Klabenes, Connor Kreutner, Emma Kreutner, Doc Lancaster, Jack Lancaster, Lex Larsen, Alexis Long, Caitlynn Mack-Claypool, Mataya Morrison, Ayden Naslund, Dylan Naslund, Quinton Nelson, Cooper Phillips, Samantha Phillips, Lauren Schoonveld, Ashlyn Simonson, Grant Springer, Cadence Swanson, and Marybelle Ward.

SAF High School Scholarships

Jekhi Williams — In honor of Brian Keech

Christen Malard Larson — In honor of Shirley Sibert

Kynzee McConaughey, Elliah Wolff, Kayleigh Ravenscroft, Blake Lancaster, and Cash Cooper — In honor of Paul Bass

Evelyn Rolfe, Aubrey Benson, Samantha Sprenger, Ethan Rabou, Aiden Hand, and Caden Stankowski.

SAF Non-Traditional Scholarships

Carrie Ford, Anna Hollopeter Swan, Jennifer Janssen, Amanda Long, Anna Perrett, and Michelle Witt-Moore.

Chet VanWinkle Memorial Scholarships

Hesston Fay and Blake Lancaster.

Cherry County Hospital & Clinic Scholarship

Samantha Sprenger.

Kevin Reece Memorial Scholarship

Sutton Schrunk.

SAF also invites community members who are interested in creating a lasting legacy to consider establishing a scholarship fund in their own name or in honor of a loved one. For more information, individuals may visit with a member of the SAF Board of Directors or contact Executive Director Carolyn Moore.

Sandhills Area Foundation is a public charity dedicated to strengthening the Sandhills of Cherry County through philanthropy, education, and community investment, with a mission to invest in the Sandhills of Cherry County for future generations to prosper by supporting education, encouraging growth, and sustaining generosity.

About The Sandhills Area Foundation:

Board of Directors

Kim Marlatt, President

Rob Lee, Vice-President

Katie O'Kief, Secretary

Chris Douglas, Treasurer

Members: Morgan Arnold, Kari Bargen, Kirk Barnes, Talia Benson, Kylee Hesseltine, Monty Neiffer, Krista Schoonveld, and Marshall Simmons

Executive Director: Carolyn Moore. sandhillsareafoundation@gmail.com 402.322.0031