Foundation awards $142,000 in scholarships to 74 PHS seniors

For 74 seniors at Pittsburg High School, their goal of earning a college degree has been made a bit easier thanks to $142,000 in scholarships awarded Sunday at the Pitzer Family Scholarship Event.

Organized each spring by the USD 250 Foundation, the event is named for George and Billie Pitzer. In 2000, the couple had a vision to create a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the students and staff of the Pittsburg school district and the Foundation was born.

The scholarship recipients were chosen based on evidence of academic, athletic, artistic, or extracurricular achievement; community involvement or volunteer service; and career aspirations.

Sunday’s event at PHS brought recipients together with donors who gave scholarships in their own names, gave memorial scholarships as a tribute to family members, or gave scholarships as representatives of a school class or a business. 

The Foundation awarded three academic scholarships of its own, including Medallion Scholarships, Technical Scholarships, and the Night of Dragons Scholarship, to 34 students. Those scholarships were funded by the Foundation’s annual social event, silent auction, and other fundraising activities throughout the year led by board members.

“These scholarships recognize the goals they’ve achieved and help inspire them to keep reaching for their dreams,” said Foundation President Dawn McNay.

In coming weeks, recipients and donors will be featured on the Foundation Facebook page.

Each year since 2010, Al Yarcho has traveled to Pittsburg from Ohio to award the Wayne B. Yarcho Memorial Scholarship in memory of his father, whose grandfather was the postmaster in Pittsburg in the early 1900s. Wayne was achampion runner and in later years, became a champion race walker. This scholarship is given to a student on the PHS Track and Field Team who shares his passion. This year's recipient was Joshua Hamilton.

Scholarship recipients included:

Shelby Barrager: $9,000 Galvani Memorial Scholarship. Shelby will attend Pittsburg State University and major in chemistry.

Cyra Beeson: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Cyra plans to attend PSU and major in actuarial science.

Jay-Lynn Bingham: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Jay-Lynn will attend PSU and major in business administration.

Tristan Blanken: $500 Timmons Scholarship.

Ben Bolinger: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship and $750 Greg Shaw Memorial Scholarship. Ben plans to attend Wichita State University where he will major in musical theater.

Lucy Brooksher: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Lucy will attend PSU where she will major in communication.

Mercedes Burns: $500 Class of 1956 Scholarship and $250 Brandon Leroy Smith Scholarship. Mercedes is undecided as to a university and field of study.

R.J. Burns: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. R.J. will attend PSU and major in mathematics.

Grace Cho: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship.

Mia Conrad: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship and $500 Marilyn Noble Memorial Education Scholarship. Mia plans to attend PSU and major in accounting.

Alycia Cosens: $1,000 Class of 1943 Scholarship, $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship, and $1,000 Collinson Family Scholarship. Alycia plans to attend PSU and major in biology.

Alyssa Cosens: $1,000 Class of 1943 Scholarship and $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship, and $1,000 Collinson Family Scholarship. Alyssa plans to attend PSU and major in biology (pre-med).

Chloe Costello: $500 Susan Laushman Vocal Music Scholarship and $250 Friends of PHS Performing Arts Scholarship. Chloe will attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to major in vocal performance and hospitality and tourism management.

Kendall Crager: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Kendall will attend PSU and major in English.

Jhon DeLeon: $8,000 Galvani Memorial Scholarship. Jhon will attend PSU to major in construction management.

Jaxx Erwin: $500 Susan Laushman Vocal Music Scholarship and $500 Webb Family Scholarship. Jaxx plans to attend PSU and major in finance with a minor in music.

Addi Foster: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship and $500 Altricia Misse Memorial Scholarship. Addi will attend PSU and major in nursing.

Allison Frech: $500 Webb Family Scholarship and $500 Elliott Family Scholarship. Allison plans to attend Ozark Christian College and major in intercultural studies.

Isys Galindo: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship and $500 Webb Family Scholarship. Isys will attend PSU and major in astrophysics.

Brock Gambill: $750 Class of 1968 Scholarship.

Sahara Garcia: $1,000 Night of Dragons 4-Year Renewable Scholarship and $500 Webb Family Scholarship. Sahara plans to attend PSU and major in biology (pre-med).

Urias Gomez: $1,000 CDL Scholarship, $500 Kaleb Konek Scholarship, and $500 Class of 1956 Scholarship.

Hailey Gray: $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship and $500 Elliott Family Scholarship. Hailey will attend NEO A&M College where she will major in nursing.

Joshua Hamilton: $1,250 Gold Medallion Scholarship and $1,000 Wayne Yarcho Scholarship. Joshua will attend the University of Kansas and major in mechanical engineering.

Emmery Harless: $500 Webb Family Scholarship. Emmery will attend PSU where she will major in family and consumer science education.

Chloe Hart: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship and $500 Webb Family Scholarship.

Akela Hawkins: $500 Patrick Family Fine Arts Scholarship and $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship.

Ava Heardt: $500 Megan Mallat Memorial Scholarship, $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship, and $500 Lee Nelson Scholarship. Ava is undecided on a university but plans to major in biology.

Brayan Heraldez-Salas: $500 Class of 1956 Scholarship and $500 Elliott Family Scholarship. Brayan will attend PSU but is undecided on a major.

Emily Hoag: $500 Timmons Scholarship. Emily will attend PSU where she will major in psychology (clinical therapy).

Lillian Hughes: $1,000 Class of 1943 Scholarship. Lillian will attend PSU and major in accounting.

Makenzie Hurlbert: $8,000 Galvani Memorial Scholarship. Makenzie will attend PSU and major in family and consumer sciences.

Frida Ibarra: $1,000 Class of 1974 Scholarship, $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship, and $500 Kaleb Konek Memorial Soccer Scholarship. Frida plans to attend PSU and major in construction engineering.

Nia Imhof: $5,000 Galvani Scholarship.

Kaidyn James: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Kaidyn plans to attend PSU and major in biology (pre-med).

Shadie Jarwan: $500 Timmons Scholarship.

Alex Johnston: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship and $500 Ron’s Supermarket Scholarship.

Isabel Johnston: $1,000 Jake Fincher Memorial Scholarship. She plans to attend PSU and major in Interior Design.

Megan Johnston: $500 Dragon Mentor Scholarship and $500 Pepsi-Cola Scholarship. Megan plans to attend the University of Kansas-Kansas City and major in business.

Kayleigh Keller: $1,000 Night of Dragons 4-Year Renewable Scholarship and $750 Class of 1967 Scholarship. Kayleigh will attend PSU and major in biology (pre-veterinary medicine).

Norah Kermashek: $1,000 Roy Davis 4-Year Scholarship and $500 Susie and Babs Tims Scholarship.

Conner King: $500 Elliott Family Scholarship and $500 Webb Family Scholarship. Conner plans to attend College of the Ozarks and major in agronomy.

Gabe Kimzey: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship, $1,000 Lee Nelson Scholarship, $1,000 Coach Garman Legacy Scholarship, $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship, and $500 Joan E. and Steve Lewis Memorial Scholarship.

Sandy Lara-Bail: $500 Timmons Scholarship. Sandy plans to attend PSU and major in teaching (special education).

John Lee: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. John is undecided on a university but plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Logan Mantooth: $500 Class of 1956 Scholarship and $500 Lee Nelson Memorial Scholarship. Logan will attend PSU and major in mechanical engineering.

Oliver Merida: $1,000 Class of 1974 Scholarship and $500 Dragon Mentor Scholarship. 

Caleb Miller: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship and $500 Derek Brumbaugh Scholarship. Caleb plans to attend the University of Kansas and major in economics.

Joaquin Miranda Diaz Gill: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Joaquin will attend PSU or KU and major in biochemistry.

Nate Mitchell: $1,000 Caiden Barber Memorial Scholarship, $500 Lee Nelson Memorial Scholarship, and $250 Brandon Leroy Smith Memorial Scholarship. Nate will attend Dodge City Community College and major in business finance.

AnaSofia Moss: $500 Webb Family Scholarship. AnaSofia will attend PSU where she will major in business management.

Heather Mowdy: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship, $500 Derek Brumbaugh Memorial Scholarship, and $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship. Heather is undecided on a university but plans to major in radiology or biology (pre-med).

Chloe Nickelson: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship and $250 Brandon Leroy Smith Memorial Scholarship. Chloe plans to attend PSU and major in communication.

Carsen Nickselon: $1,000 Coach Larry Garman Legacy Scholarship, $1,000 Lee Nelson Memorial Scholarship, $750 Steve Ward Community Service Scholarship, $500 Class of 1956 Scholarship, and $250 Brandon Leroy Smith Memorial Scholarship. 

Noah Oliver: $500 Pepsi-Cola Scholarship and $500 Webb Family Scholarship. Noah will attend the University of Arkansas where he will major in history.

Gwendolyn Oulette: $750 Fine Arts Summer Camp Scholarship, $250 Friends of PHS Performing Arts Scholarship, and $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Gwendolyn plans to attend PSU and major in music education.

Stone Peery: $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship and $750 Foundation Technical Scholarship. Stone will attend PSU and major in construction.

Addison Phifer: $500 Timmons Scholarship.

Andrew Phillipp: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Andrew plans to attend PSU and major in English.

Versnique Raymundo: $750 Foundation Technical Scholarship.

Brenda Rojo: $500 Timmons Scholarship. Brenda will attend PSU and major in communication.

JazLynn Rose: $500 McQuade Family Scholarship and $750 Class of 1968 Scholarship. JazLynn plans to attend PSU and major in nursing.

Mela-Nicole Ross: $5,000 Galvani Scholarship. Mela-Nicole will attend Fort Scott Community College and major in HVAC.

Caroline Sharbutt: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Caroline plans to attend KU and major in astronomy and physics.

Katherine Sipaque DeLeon: $1,000 Dave Turnbull Girls Athletic Memorial Scholarship. Katherine will attend PSU and major in business administration.

Colin Sullivan: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship. Colin plans to attend KU and major in biology (health science). 

Joseline Tebalan-Gomez: $500 McQuade Family Scholarship and $500 Webb Family Scholarship. Joseline plans to attend PSU and major in nursing.

Nolan Turnbull: $1,000 Medallion Scholarship, $500 Class of 1978 2-Year Renewable Scholarship, and $500 Lee Nelson Scholarship.

Cooper Vaughn: $500 Joan E. and Steve Lewis Memorial Scholarship and $500 Dragon Mentor Scholarship. Cooper plans to attend PSU and major in biology (pre-physical therapy).

Treeman Wesley: $1,000 Class of 1974 Scholarship, $250 Brandon Leroy Smith Scholarship, and $250 Adam Newbery Track and Football Scholarship. Treeman will attend Washburn University and major in nursing.

Gabrielle White: $1,000 Lee Nelson Memorial Scholarship and $1,000 Medallion Scholarship.

Landen Williams: $750 Foundation Technical Scholarship. Landen will attend Butler County Community College and major in culinary.

Sarah Winzer: $1,250 Gold Medallion Scholarship. Sarah is undecided on a university but plans to major in history or history education.

Daniel Younger: $1,250 Gold Medallion Scholarship.