Lutheran Family Services has received a $3,000,000 gift to establish the Coyner and Donna Smith Diversity Scholarship Fund to provide a college education for graduating high school seniors from low-income, minority families who are residents of Nebraska.
$25,000 scholarships will be awarded toward funding the recipients college education regardless of where they have been accepted and are renewable for four years. The selection committee intends to fund at least five students in its first year. Students who are interested in trade or vocational schools are also eligible to apply. Trade school applicants will receive $12,500, or one-half of the $25,000 grant, renewable for two years.
This application process is to coincide with the college admissions cycle for the 2021-22 academic year.
Applicants must be residents of Nebraska at time of high school graduation and show financial need (Financial need is defined as a low-income family whose household annual income is less than $65,000 annually). Preference will be given to applicants from disadvantaged ethnic backgrounds that do not identify as Caucasian. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.