BEATRICE – Checks for scholarships were presented to officials of Southeast Community College Tuesday….this year’s share of support generated by the annual Nebraska Open Golf Tournament, held in Columbus.


Nebraska Public Power District has been conducting the yearly fundraiser for community colleges for the past 31 years. NPPD Board member Gary Thompson, of Beatrice presented three checks for $5,000 each, which will go to provide student scholarship support on the Beatrice, Milford and Lincoln Campuses.


"We have raised a little over $1.8 million for the scholarship funds of the community college system here in Nebraska over those 31 years. A couple of years ago, we had been limited because of the Covid pandemic, so the generation of revenue was a little short at that time. But, we're building that back up....and this year, the total for the community colleges is some $75,000."


Thompson will be wrapping up a 30-year stay on the NPPD Board of Directors at the end of this year, opting not to see reelection. He said both the public power industry and SCC have seen great changes over that time span.