MCFF Expands Scholarship Offerings

The McCook Community Foundation Fund has added another scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year in addition to several other scholarship opportunities.

New in 2026 is the George and Lois Tiller Memorial Scholarship for McCook and Southwest High School graduates. The scholarship will be awarded for the second to fourth year of a four-year school or any year of community college or vocational school.

Applications are also being accepted for the Bernard and Nelda Haag Memorial Scholarship, the Barbara Fassler-Neumann Nursing Scholarship and the Frank and Marion Weiland Memorial Scholarship. And the Learn and Return Scholarship is available on a rolling basis for those returning to McCook after graduating.

The $1,000 Haag Scholarship is available to graduating seniors (or students currently enrolled in an accredited college) who are from Red Willow, Furnas, Frontier, Hayes or Hitchcock counties. The recipient will be selected based upon leadership, extracurricular activities, dedication to agriculture or rural living, a desire to return to a rural area or to Southwest Nebraska, lifelong learning and financial need.

The Fassler-Neumann Scholarship is for graduating seniors of Southwest Nebraska high schools, graduates of an area high school currently pursuing study in a medical field, or practicing medical professionals in Southwest Nebraska who have resided in the area for at least four years. Preference will be given to applicants from McCook High School and to those expressing a desire to return or remain in Southwest Nebraska.

Started in 2025, the Weiland Scholarship was created by Frank’s grandson Doug Keith in honor of his grandparents. Weiland Field is also named in honor of Frank Weiland. The $1,000 scholarship is available to a graduating McCook High School senior or student currently enrolled in college who graduated from McCook High School. The applicant must live (or have lived) in McCook or Red Willow County. Each applicant must be entering or currently attending an accredited school of higher education.

The focus for selecting the recipient will be based upon leadership and self-motivation through involvement in extracurricular activities in high school; a dedication to education; a desire to return to a rural area or Southwest Nebraska; lifelong learning; and the personal essay. A recipient may reapply in subsequent years as long as he or she continues to meet the parameters of the scholarship.

The Tiller Scholarship is for McCook area residents pursuing post-secondary undergraduate education at an accredited community college, vocational school, college or university. The scholarship will be awarded to those who have already started their schooling at a four-year university or who are beginning at a community college or vocational school.

MCFF also oversees the McCook Learn and Return Scholarship, which is a collaboration between MCFF and the McCook Economic Development Corp., to encourage young people to get their education and then return to their hometown. The scholarship helps with tuition assistance with the promise of the recipient returning to McCook to work. Forgiveness of the scholarship is based upon the years worked in McCook.

Available on a rolling basis, the MCFF Scholarship Committee will award the scholarship, while MEDC will oversee the contract and possible repayment if the obligations are not met.

Application forms are available from area high school guidance counselor’s offices, McCook Community College Financial Aid Office, or by email at mcffund@gmail.com, The applications are also available on the MCFF website, mccookfoundation.org.

Applications for each of these scholarships must be submitted by Wednesday, March 31, 2026, to MCFF, PO Box 525, McCook, NE 69001 or emailed to mcffund@gmail.com.

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Jan. 2026 Volunteer of the Month Devoted to Church and Community

By Ronda Graff • January 22, 2026

To kick off the new year, Jo Beebe has been selected as the January 2026 McCook Volunteer of the month. While many people might know Jo for her years at the Sports Shoppe, she can be found giving hours of her time to the community, especially at St. Patrick Church. Whether during the weekly Mass or for a funeral or wedding, Jo shares her beautiful voice from the choir loft, as well as leading the choir members. Jo, along with her husband Harold, also has served as the St. Pat’s GALA host couple in the past and continues to help with set-up and cleanup of the annual event. Jo is also active with the Fall Festival, the Rosary Rally and the Wild Game Feed in Curtis every year. She attends every the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults class and helps students prepare for confirmation. And since retiring from the Sports Shoppe, she is active in the Altar Society, and volunteers at the Bargain Bazaar thrift store. According to her nomination, “The way Jo gives of her time and talents to our parish and community is a reflection of her faith,” and the community and the church are better because of her generosity. The McCook Philanthropy Council selects the monthly recipient for the McCook Volunteer of the Month award as part of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s McCook Volunteer program. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308.340.3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the MCFF website, mccookfoundation.org to complete a nomination form. The only requirement is that the nominee must be a resident of McCook or Red Willow County. Please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community.