Scholarships available through Oregon Trail Community Foundation

Application forms are now available for college scholarships provided through the Oregon Trail Community Foundation.

The Oregon Trail Community Foundation annually awards dozens of scholarships to regional high school and college students. The scholarships have been established by regional families and organizations, which entrust endowment funds and program management to the foundation. In 2015, the foundation awarded $64,450 in scholarships to regional students.

Downloadable applications are available online at http://www.otcf.org. The application deadline is April 1.

Oregon Trail Community Foundation scholarship funds include the following:

• The Dorothy Bronson Memorial Scholarship is available to area high school students who wish to attend summer camp for the study of art, music, dance or theater. Applications are available at guidance-counseling offices.

• The Clara E. Muehlberger Scholarship is available to residents of the 11 panhandle counties and Goshen County in Wyoming who pursue undergraduate study in education or a health care-related field. It provides $1,000 per year for up to four years and may be used at either two- or four-year institutions. The scholarships are available to high school seniors, non-traditional college students and college upper classmen. Application forms are available through high school guidance-counseling offices and on the OTCF website.

• The Panhandle Drug-Free Youth Scholarship is available to Nebraska panhandle-area high school seniors who are currently involved in a local drug-free youth group. One $500 scholarship will be awarded annually. Applications can be obtained at high school guidance-counseling offices.

For more information about these scholarships, contact your high school guidance counselor, college financial aid advisor, or the Oregon Trail Community Foundation at (308) 635-3393.

The Oregon Trail Community Foundation was established in 1977 to serve the philanthropic needs of residents of western Nebraska, Goshen and Platte Counties in Wyoming. As a community foundation, OTCF offers grants, scholarships and other services to organizations and individuals through funds provided by donations, bequests, trusts and other sources.