Frank and Marion Weiland Memorial Scholarship

McCook Learn and Return Scholarship

The McCook Learn and Return Scholarship is a collaboration with 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.

The MCFF Scholarship Committee will award the scholarship, while MEDC will oversee the contract and possible repayment if the obligations are not met.

Funds for this scholarship have generously been provided by Pam and Greg Wolford and MCFF. But to further the reach of the scholarship, donations are accepted to increase funds available.

There is not a deadline for this scholarship. Rather, it is awarded on as-needed basis and if funds are available.

For more information about receiving the Learn and Return Scholarship or donating to the scholarship, please contact MCFF at mcffund@gmail.com.

McCook Community Foundation Fund awarded 10 scholarships this spring for the 2025-26 academic year, including the Bernard and Nelda Haag Scholarship, the Barbara Fassler-Neumann Nursing Scholarship and for the first time the Frank and Marion Weiland Scholarship.

The Haag Scholarship was able to provide two $1,000 scholarships this year. Kendall McKinzie, a 2025 Hayes Center High School graduate, will attend South Dakota State University. Jalen Collicott is a 2025 McCook High School graduate, who will attend McCook Community College.

The Haag Scholarship selection is based upon leadership and self-motivation through involvement in extracurricular activities in high school; a dedication to agriculture or rural living; and a desire to return to a rural area or Southwest Nebraska. 

The Barbara Fassler-Neumann Nursing Scholarship provided six scholarships for a total of $6,000. The scholarship may be awarded to recent high school graduates as well as those currently practicing medical professionals who have resided in the area for at least four years.

One scholarships worth $1,500 was awarded to Candace Magnuson, a 2024 McCook High School graduate, who attends Fort Hayes State University.
Four students each received $1,000 to further their medical education. They are: Addison Knoll, another former MHS graduate, is now studying at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; Natalie Roberts, a 2024 MHS graduate, now attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Logan Barenberg, a 2020 MHS graduate, who attends Creighton University; and Sara Peterson, a former MHS grad, who will attend UNMC in the fall. 

And Leah Spencer, a 2023 MHS graduate, received $500 to further her education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

The Haag Scholarship has been given since 2006, while the Hassler-Neumann Scholarship is now in its ninth year.

New this year is the Frank and Marion Weiland Memorial Scholarship, started by their grandson Doug Keith of Cozad. Frank served many roles in McCook, including a teacher at the high school and the first pool manager for the original McCook city pool in 1938 and has Weiland Field named after him.

With a focus on education, the first recipient of the Weiland Scholarship is Grace Wilhelmson, a 2024 MHS graduate, who attends UNL.

MCFF has also started a new Learn and Return Scholarship with a focus on those who intend to return to return to McCook after their schooling. They will sign an agreement with the MEDC to stay in the community or they will have to pay back their scholarship funds. And the Tiller family also recently gifted funds to MCFF to form another scholarship, which will be available in the spring of 2026. Look for more information in the upcoming months.

All of the scholarships are distributed through the McCook Community Foundation Fund, an affiliate of the Nebraska Community Foundation.