The Custer County Foundation held its annual Scholarship Award Ceremony on Sunday, March 22, at the Ansley Public School in Ansley. Rilee Daffer, Executive Director of the Custer County Foundation, welcomed the estimated 350 people who attended.

Rilee introduced the guest speaker, Mike Bailey, who grew up in Ansley, and graduated from Ansley Public School in 1989. Mike attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Economics and Farm and Ranch Management. Mike is currently self-employed with Bailey Crop Insurance and AgCurate Technologies. In his spare time, Mike instructs EMTs, paramedics, and volunteers at his local fire department.

The speech ended with Mike having the graduates stand up and look around at those who were there to support them. He reiterated that “this generation” is not alone, and those in attendance “will always have their back.” It ended with a round of applause for those who will continue to support them on their educational journey!

The scholarship ceremony continues to be successful because of the donors who travel from places like Kansas City and Lincoln, as well as many from Custer County. Not only are they in attendance to present their scholarships, but to share great stories about their families and offer words of advice and encouragement. Their presence also gives them an opportunity to meet the students whose lives they are directly impacting.

Another unique aspect of the ceremony is the element of surprise for the students who are receiving the scholarships. Until their name is called, they are neither aware of the scholarship they are receiving nor the amount. This anticipation makes the event even more enjoyable.

Board Members, Logan Govier, Lizzie Bartak, Chris Wickham, and Brent Custer, announced 109 scholarships for a total amount of $153,950. Scholarships offered through the Foundation are for various fields of study, including nursing, veterinary medicine, journalism, lineman, and cosmetology, to name a few. Scholarships are available for four-year and two-year degrees.

Govier went on to explain the selection process and thanked the scholarship committee for their hard work and dedication in selecting the recipients. More than 1,200 applications were received, and selecting the recipients was not an easy task. After all the awards were presented, the guidance counselors were thanked for all the assistance they offered the students with the application process. The ceremony closed by inviting attendees to enjoy refreshments and cookies, while thanking those in attendance and wishing the graduates the best of luck as they begin new chapters in their lives.

Callaway High School students and the scholarships they received are: Aubrie Birkel - Nic Ostergard Memorial Scholarship; Chenney Dishman - Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Broken Bow Lodge #119 Scholarship; Angel Johnson - DK Get Going | Angie Brown Miller Spread Kindness Scholarship; Dylan Pandorf - Nebraska State Bank Hometown Scholarship; Conner Paulsen - Hazelle Jacobsen Headley Scholarship; Bindi Peters - Custer County Board of Directors; Joslyn Reiff (2025 graduate) Custer County Home Extension Scholarship; and Kaygan Witthuhn #livelikePat Memorial Scholarship.

The Custer County Foundation was established 35 years ago. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $2.01 million in scholarships to Custer County students. If you would like to learn more about establishing a scholarship through the Custer County Foundation, please contact the office at 308-872-2232 or Rilee@CusterCountyFoundation.org.

The Custer County Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization that was created in 1991 to promote charitable giving for the good of the communities of Custer County. The steady growth of the Foundation is driven by donors’ generosity and the ideas and beliefs that the Custer County Foundation can make a difference in the lives of the people who live and work in Custer County.