HAYS – In its fifth year, the Northwest Kansas Learn and Live Scholarship at Fort Hays State University is providing a successful pipeline for educated and credentialed college graduates to work within the region, helping maintain the population and ensure vibrant rural communities throughout Northwest Kansas.

The scholarship, which covers tuition and fees for 12 new students each year, has been allocated to 81 students representing multiple academic disciplines, with recipients representing 24 counties in the Dane G. Hansen Foundation service area. The scholarship is funded by the Hansen Foundation.

Of the 48 students who have completed degree programs, 42 now live in, or provide professional services in, the Hansen area.  FHSU graduates continue to fill professional roles throughout Northwest Kansas that may not be filled otherwise.

Former FHSU scholarship recipients are filling high-needs positions, including accounting, agriculture, banking and finance, computer science medical professions, school counseling, teaching and social work.

As recruiting, training, and retaining professionals becomes more difficult, the best recruitment tool available is to invest in students driven to become this area’s next generation of professionals.

Joel Struckhoff, physical education teacher and head football coach at the Thunder Ridge School District in Kensington, was one recipient of the scholarship. He’s in his seventh year with the district. He said he’s thankful for the scholarship, which helped him achieve his lifelong goal of gaining a master’s degree.