Student Scholarships
The SEF administers scholarships to graduating seniors of Salina Central and South High Schools yearly. Individuals and groups may set up a scholarship for many reasons, including honoring the life of a person, honoring their graduating class, or helping a deserving student to succeed.
Completed applications and references are due by 5:00 pm on March 1 annually unless otherwise posted. (The 2026 deadline is Monday, March 2 at 5:00 pm)
Updates will be made to this page throughout the fall semester to have it ready for the 2026 spring semester.
CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Honors the members of the Class of 1933 and the fine teachers who provided them a quality education during the Depression years.
Initiated by the class president, Jack Moore, who encouraged other members of his class to donate to provide a scholarship as a “payback” from graduates of 1940 to future graduates of Salina Central High School.
Eloise Hodson Lynch was a social sciences teacher in Salina. She was awarded the Kansas Master Teacher Award in 1987, the same award her father and lifelong mentor, Owen E. Hodgson, received in 1960. At the end of her teaching career, Eloise embarked on a political career and served three terms in the Kansas House of Representatives. This scholarship will award a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior from Central High School and South High School and a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior from Central High School and South High School.
Ethan was a gifted, kind, and humble student who graduated from South High School in 2020. His life was an adventure that ended too soon. Ethan aspired to be somebody, and his positivity and ambition were infectious. Ethan’s family wished to honor Ethan and how he lived by establishing this scholarship in his memory. The Ethan Michael Sankey Scholarship will award a graduating senior from South High a $500 scholarship annually.
This scholarship honors the memory of Loan T. Nguyen, a Salina resident, and mother of a Salina South High School graduate. The Loan T. Nguyen Scholarship will be awarded to a Salina South High graduating senior who has overcome adversity and demonstrated the willingness to give back to others and the determination to succeed.
Honors the memory of a long-time educator whose exemplary career as a teacher and administrator spanned nearly forty years and touched the lives of thousands of students.
Reuben Montoy was a lifelong Salina resident. He taught and was an administrator for over 30 years and touched the lives of thousands of USD 305 students. His family and friends have established the scholarship in loving memory of Reuben, hoping to carry on his positive influence. In 2024, the scholarship will award $1,000 each to a graduating senior from both Salina Central and Salina South high schools.
Rick O’Neill’s career as a teacher and coach spanned 43 years. He retired in May 2022 after 40 years as a teacher and coach in Salina, most of which was spent at Salina Central High School. Rick’s wife and sons established this scholarship to honor Rick upon his retirement. The scholarship will award $750 to a graduating senior from Salina Central.
The Miss N Scholarship honors Anne Nettleton, a beloved artist and teacher. The $500 scholarship recognizes a current USD 305 graduating senior planning to major in art education or visual arts from an accredited degree-granting institution.
The 1998, 1999, and 2000 classes created this scholarship to honor the memories of their Central High classmates whom they lost. Adam Burnham Hulstine came up with the idea to create a scholarship as part of the preparations for the 20th reunion of the 1999 class. When Adam passed just before the reunion, his classmates organized to bring his idea to life. At least one $250 scholarship will be awarded annually.
