CFO scholarships open for application

Students across the region can now apply for $1.7 million in scholarships administered by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. By starting at cfozarks.org/applyforscholarships, students can use the CFO’s universal application to efficiently apply for multiple scholarship opportunities. The universal application is a comprehensive online form with a series of questions unique to each student. …

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Jan 4, 2025 - 11:00

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Students across the region can now apply for $1.7 million in scholarships administered by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

By starting at The universal application is a comprehensive online form with a series of questions unique to each student. Based on their responses, the universal application will pair students with the scholarship opportunities for which they qualify.

In addition to scholarships for graduating seniors, the CFO has opportunities for current undergraduate students and students attending technical or graduate programs. Amounts range from $200 to $10,000, with many scholarships renewable for two to four years.

The CFO and its regional affiliate foundations hold about 450 scholarship endowments that will provide about 950 scholarships for students across central and southern Missouri for the 2025–26 school year. Scholarship endowments can be established with a minimum of $25,000 by individuals, families or organizations with a wide range of intentions, such as supporting students who graduate from the donor’s alma mater or pursue a certain field of study.

Information for both donors and students is available at The application period for CFO scholarships will close on Sunday, March 16. For more information, contact Beth Hersh at bhersh@cfozarks.org, or call 417-864-6199.

New for 2025

Donors establish new scholarship endowments every year with the CFO and its regional affiliate foundations. Basic criteria for new scholarship opportunities are listed below (affiliates indicated in parentheses) — find full criteria at

Aloyce and James Barnhill Scholarship: $900 for a student attending Mineral Area College, Three Rivers College or Southeast Missouri State University (Ozarks Foothills Regional Community Foundation)

Gisele Bauman Scholarship for Women in STEM Fund: $2,000 for a graduating Ozark High School female senior pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (Finley River Community Foundation)

Paul Dieckhoff High School Scholarship: $5,000 for a graduating Diamond High School senior (Neosho Area Community Foundation)

Dorothy and Gabby Gibbons Scholarship: $1,000 for a graduating Purdy High School senior (Monett Area Community Foundation)

Harold C. and Mabel Hackler Price Scholarship: $2,500, now renewable for three years, for a graduating Warsaw High School senior (Benton County Community Foundation)

George W. Hale/EPHS Class of ’63 Endowed Scholarship: $1,000, renewable for three years, for a graduating East Prairie High School senior (Bootheel Regional Community Foundation)

Jones/Goddard Scholarship Fund for Public Health: $750 for a postgraduate student in a master of public health program at a university in Missouri or Kansas

Bob and Jane Ellen Lazenby Scholarship: $2,000, renewable for a second year, for two graduating Caruthersville High School seniors (Bootheel Regional Community Foundation)

Marshfield Area Community Foundation Scholarship: $1,000 for a graduating Marshfield High School senior (Marshfield Area Community Foundation)

Missouri Beef Days Charitable Scholarship: $1,000 for a graduating high school senior pursuing an agricultural-related field (Bolivar Area Community Foundation)

Dr. Aubrey O. Pittenger STEM Scholarship: $4,000, renewable for three years, for a graduating Branson High School senior pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics at University of Missouri–Columbia or Missouri S&T (Community Foundation of Taney County)

Christian Russell Memorial Scholarship: $1,000 scholarship for a graduating Ozark High School senior majoring in education (Finley River Community Foundation)

Michael Vyrostek Musicians Fund: $1,000 to a graduating Camdenton, Miller County R-III, Morgan County R-II, School of the Osage or Warsaw High School senior who participated in a high school music program (Community Foundation of the Lake)

Martin Youngblood Linesman Scholarship: $2,000 for a graduating Diamond, McDonald County, Neosho or Seneca High School senior attending a lineman school (Neosho Area Community Foundation)

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is the region’s largest public charitable foundation serving donors, nonprofit partners and 55 regional affiliate foundations with assets totaling $494 million as of June 30, 2024. The CFO’s mission is to improve the quality of life for everyone in central and southern Missouri through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership.

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