A record $186,782 in scholarship funds was awarded this spring to graduating seniors from 11 area high schools by the Fremont Area Community Foundation. In addition, FACF administers scholarship funds for North Bend Central School which totaled $31,100 this spring.
This year, 1,840 applications were submitted from 161 area students. They were scored by nearly 130 area volunteer reviewers. Scholarships are available in many different areas of study and several are available for students currently attending two- or four-year colleges or universities. Some of these scholarships focus on academic achievement or areas of study. Others recognize extracurricular activities or financial need.
“Thanks to the generosity of many donors, hundreds of area youth have benefitted from scholarships administered by the Fremont Area Community Foundation,” said Melissa Diers, Executive Director of the foundation. “Whether students are heading to or currently pursuing a four-year university, community college, or trade program, scholarships help them focus on learning and worry less about finances.”
Scholarship recipients and their families will join fund donors and representatives for the foundation’s Annual Scholarship Luncheon on Sunday, June 14th at Noon at the Fremont Golf Club. The public is invited to attend. The meal cost is $35 per person. Call (402) 721-4252 to make your reservation(s) by May 31st.
Area students who received scholarships this year graduated from or are currently attending: Archbishop High School, Arlington High School, Cedar Bluffs High School, Fremont High School, Logan View High School, Lutheran High School-Fremont, Midland University, North Bend Central High School, Oakland-Craig High School, Schuyler Central High School, Southeast Community College, Tekamah-Herman High School, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Wayne State College, and Yutan High Schools.
The following students receiving scholarships from FACF this year are:
Arlington High School
Corinne Crosland: Arlington Education Foundation Scholarship, Tyler Walling Memorial Scholarship.
Katherine Douglas: Arlington Education Foundation Scholarship.
Jacob Flesner: AEF — John and Betty Anderson Scholarship, AEF — Cory Moravec Scholarship, Fremont Area Association of Retired School Personnel Fund — Trade, Verdell Gnuse Memorial Scholarship, VFW Post 854 Scholarship.
Wyatt Flesner: Arlington Education Foundation (AEF) — Ignas Kuksty Scholarship, AEF — John and Betty Anderson Scholarship, Verdell Gnuse Memorial Scholarship, VFW Post 854 Scholarship, Kenny Erickson Memorial Scholarship.
Dianna Flores: Arlington Education Foundation Scholarship.
Tate Johannes: Fremont Contractors Association Scholarship, Kenny Erickson Memorial Scholarship, Verdell Gnuse Memorial Scholarship.
Oliver Ladenhoff: Verdell Gnuse Memorial Scholarship, VFW Post 854 Scholarship.
Henry Lancaster: Bruce Gocken Memorial Business Scholarship, Verdell Gnuse Memorial Scholarship.
Lillian Lang: Verdell Gnuse Memorial Scholarship.
Savannah Lang: AEF — Matthew Purchase Scholarship.
Wesley Monke: AEF — Cory Moravec Scholarship, Hiram Lodge 52 AF & AM Masonic Lodge Scholarship, Jake Monke Achievement Scholarship, Verdell Gnuse Memorial Scholarship, VFW Post 854 Scholarship.
Luke Ott: Arlington Education Foundation Scholarship, Mike Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund, Friends of the Fremont Area Parks Scholarship.
Kallan Reed: Arlington Education Foundation Scholarship, Jake Monke Achievement Scholarship, Janet Ludwig Scholarship.
Lydia Schaapveld: Verdell Gnuse Memorial Scholarship.
Luke Sharp: AEF — Malverd Scholarship.
Elizabeth Stork: Verdell Gnuse Memorial Scholarship.
Emerson Timm: AEF — Paul Menking Scholarship, Kathleen M. England Scholarship.
Gwen VonBehren: AEF — Lila (Greunke) Scheer Scholarship, Mildred Hindmarsh Scholarship.
Bergan Catholic High School
Chesnie Bentley: Elvera Eckdhal Scholarship, George and Theresa Adams Scholarship Fund.
Kassie Brabec: Richard A. and Joyce E. Klebe Scholarship.
Zara Ericksen: Daniel Family Memorial Scholarship.
Erik Gildow: Fremont Noon Optimist Scholarship.
Gage Knoell: Freeman Vocational Fremont Kiwanis Club Scholarship, VFW Post 854 Scholarship.
Ryker Koenig: Andy Mruz Memorial Scholarship, VFW Post 854 Scholarship.
Alex Kruse: Jim A. Hoshor Scholarship.
Matthew Pospisil: Fremont Area Association of Retired School Personnel Fund — Trade, Fremont Noon Kiwanis Harold Anderson Scholarship, Marty Williamson Memorial Scholarship, VFW Post 854 Scholarship.
Avery Ridder: Ray Mitchell Golf Scholarship.
Grace Steel: Grace Cunningham — First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Scholarship Fund.
Ella Weitzenkamp: Fremont Area Association of Retired School Personnel Fund — Education, Fremont Rotary Youth Scholarship, Mary Ellen Wieland Scholarship.
Cedar Bluffs High School
Avery Ranslem: Cedar Bluffs Alumni Association Scholarship, Robert Tookey Music Scholarship.
Fremont High School
Cruz Aufenkamp: VFW Post 854 Scholarship.
Alex Avila Gomez: Jason Bechtel Memorial Welding Academy Scholarship.
Addison Bateman: Anne Crofton Sidner Memorial Scholarship.
Ayden Bohaboj: E.V. "Vic" and Lois Nielsen Fremont Noon Optimist Scholarship.
Adilynn Brown: Altrusa of Fremont Scholarship, Jamie Charleston Memorial Scholarship - Girl.
Austin Cash: Rodney and Amy Mueller Johnson Memorial Scholarship — Fremont, Sam Heineman Business Student of the Year Scholarship.
Jocelyn Cerritos: Emily Brown Memorial Scholarship, RVR Bank Hometown Scholarship.
Cristal Compuzano-Salas: Valerie Gnuse Memorial Scholarship.
Max Cooper: Al and Patti Bahe Memorial Scholarship, Martha Wicklund Velasco Memorial Scholarship - Business, Landon McGee, Allyssa, Sheldon and Mariah Johnson Memorial Scholarship.
Easton Cyza: Martha Wicklund Velasco Memorial Scholarship — Health.
Myles Darmento: Cecil Anderson Midland University Kiwanis Club Scholarship.
Blake Dixon: Terry J. McClain Scholarship.
Jenna Ellsworth: Pat Murphy Track and Field Scholarship.
Daxton Graham: Pat Murphy Track and Field Scholarship.
Hannah Henderson: Arbor Vitae Eastern Star Scholarship.
Claire Hughes: Fremont Rotary Youth Scholarship, Richard A. and Joyce E. Klebe Scholarship.
Davis Jones: Freeman Midland University Fremont Kiwanis Club Scholarship.
Kailey Klingsick: James Ebers Scholarship.
Lauren Knuppel: Ruth I. Frederiksen Memorial Scholarship.
Jackson Larsen: Robert Tookey Music Scholarship.
Keyli Lopez Rosales: Fremont Noon Kiwanis Harold Anderson Scholarship, RVR Bank Hometown Scholarship.
Tolon Manka: Don and Jan Hinds Educational Scholarship, Fremont Area Association of Retired School Personnel Fund — Education, Fremont PTA/PTSA Council Scholarship.
Emily Meiergerd: Robert Yanike Music Scholarship.
Devan Melton: Robert Tookey Music Scholarship, TeamMates of Fremont Scholarship, Arthur Charles Hoffman Jr. Memorial Scholarship (TeamMates of Fremont).
Lillian Mitchell: Fremont PTA/PTSA Council Scholarship, Kim Koski Memorial Scholarship.
Levi Navarro: VFW Post 854 Scholarship.
Garrett Nielsen: Martha Wicklund Velasco Memorial Scholarship (Trade)
Luke Olson: H.M. "Micky" Krupinsky Scholarship.
Juan Peraza: LaVern F. Lueschen Scholarship.
Chloe Phillips: Dave Williams Memorial Scholarship.
Jaxon Pleskac: Jake Monke Achievement Scholarship.
Lucia Pleskac: Fremont High School Alumni Student Aid (College)
Shaylee Robinson, Fremont Noon Optimist Scholarship.
Isabel Sanchez: RVR Bank Hometown Scholarship.
William Schleicher: Haines Hill Memorial Scholarship.
Garrett Shreck: Dr. Darleen Ritter and Skip Anderson Class of 1962 Scholarship, Fremont Contractors Association Scholarship, VFW Post 854 Scholarship.
Elaine Steinbach: Jason Bechtel Memorial Welding Academy Scholarship.
Jordan Vachal: Coach Melcher Scholarship.
Alejandro Villagomez: Fremont High School Alumni Student Aid — High School, Fremont Rotary Youth Scholarship, Jamie Charleston Memorial Scholarship — Boy, Matthew Hartmann Memorial Scholarship, Trey Hansen Memorial Scholarship.
Madelyn Wagner: Coach Melcher Scholarship, Dr. Brian L. Anderson Memorial Scholarship, Matthew Hartmann Memorial Scholarship.
Johanna Winterlin: Marvin G. Welstead Scholarship.
Bode Young: Fremont Area Association of Retired School Personnel Fund/Dillon — Vehicle Maintenance.
Logan View High School
Cynthia Carter: Fremont Business and Professional Women's Scholarship (High School), Kristine Gale Leadership Scholarship.
Harlee Steele: Rodney and Amy Mueller Johnson Memorial Scholarship - Logan View.
Lutheran High School - Fremont
Breck Reznicek: Grand Passage Scholarship — North Bend.
Midland University
Emmalee Sheppard: Cecil Anderson Midland University Kiwanis Club Scholarship.
Jacob Vanek: Cecil Anderson Midland University Kiwanis Club Scholarship.
North Bend Central High School
Ryder Brabec: Grand Passage Scholarship — North Bend, Anne Simanek Memorial Career/Tech Scholarship.
Paige Bunn: Carol Wilson Memorial Scholarship.
Olivia Buresh: Jody (Flamme) Riemann Memorial Scholarship (renewal); Carol Wilson Memorial Scholarship.
Braxton Chvatal: LCF Scholarship (Vocational).
Samantha Cummings: Sherlock Nursing Scholarship, North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship, Callie Witt Memorial Scholarship.
Keagan Keating: North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship, Ladehoff Family Memorial Scholarship.
Hallie Mottl: Larry and Mary Flamme Scholarship Fund, North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship, Jeffrey Mines Memorial Scholarship.
Logan Ortmeier: North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship.
Reese Petersen: North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship; Darlene Ough Memorial Scholarship - 2026, Cheryl Feala Memorial Scholarship.
Bree Pojar: Jody (Flamme) Riemann Memorial Scholarship, North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship.
Mia Pojar: North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship, Jim and Sandra Kruger Scholarship.
Breauna Rasmussen: Janet Kavan Memorial Scholarship.
Elizabeth Stuenkel: North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship, Anne Simanek Memorial STEAM Scholarship.
Kylin Swanson: Darlene Ough Memorial Scholarship - 2025.
Trenton Tank: North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship.
Braxton Winsineski: Francis and Dorothy Conrad Memorial Scholarship, Jerome S. Main Agriculture Scholarship, Keith Hindmarsh Memorial Scholarship, North Bend Central School Board of Trustees/Kinman-Oldfield Scholarship, Thomas E. Wolf Memorial Scholarship.
Oakland-Craig High School
Sonya Guzinski: Lt. Col (Ret) David A. England Scholarship.
Madeline Pearson: Rhea Family Scholarship Fund.
Southeast Community College
Kylin Swanson: Andy Mruz Memorial Scholarship Renewal.
University of Nebraska-Omaha
Jackson Kiefer: Fremont Area Art Association Hazel Keene Memorial Scholarship, Jean M. Welstead Memorial Scholarship;
Wayne State College
Alexa Brodd: Fremont Business and Professional Women's Scholarship (College).
Yutan High School
Kylie Krajicek: Maddie Everitt Memorial Scholarship.
PHOTO CAPTION: RVR Bank Chairman Chuck Johannsen (left) and Jake Vanek, 2025 graduate of Arlington High School, pose for a photo during last year’s FACF Scholarship Luncheon. Jake received the RVR Bank Hometown Scholarship and is currently attending Midland University.
