BEATRICE – Forty-four scholarships were handed out to 33 graduating Beatrice seniors Sunday, at an annual Beatrice Educational Foundation event.
The organization held their spring scholarship and Hall of Fame presentation at Beatrice High School in the commons area. 

Foundation Board Member Andy Carrothers says the foundation currently manages $2.5 million in donated funds for scholarships and other programs. Last year, $90,000 in scholarships were handed out.


"Our hope is that we're able to build the amount of scholarships that we give out, not only for kids that excel in the classroom, but we're really hoping to be able to fund more need-based scholarships for kids that may not be in the top percentages of their class, but want to go on to either a two-year or four-year institution."


Foundation Board President Sandi Hoffman said Sundays’ presentations are a surprise to the recipients and board members.  "Each application has only a number assigned to it, with all names removed. So, the students remain anonymous until the process is completed and names are assigned to each number. No one on the committee at this point knows any of the scholarship winners...except they sent me a list. It's a surprise to everybody."


The total amount of scholarships awarded this year comes to $93,600….with the individual awards ranging from $250, to $7,000.


The two top monetary scholarships….the $7,000 Frances Reed Scholarships, went to seniors Grace Ideus and Jordan Zhang. Five awards of $6,000 each…the Fred and Virginia Vette Scholarships….were presented to seniors Tayla deKoning, Avery Barnard, Luke Feist, Breanna Chapman and Olivia Achtemeier.


A $5,000 Robert Taylor Scholarship was presented to Abigail Trantham.