Listen to the full interview on our Kubota Podcast
The North Platte Public Schools Foundation continues to expand opportunities for North Platte High School students as they prepare for life after graduation.
Foundation Executive Director Terry Burchell says the organization works to support students no matter what path they choose — whether that includes college, technical careers, military service or entering the workforce.
One of the biggest ways the foundation supports students is through scholarships funded by generous donors.
Burchell said the foundation currently manages 28 scholarships totaling more than $45,000 in support for graduating seniors each year.
“Some of those scholarships are set up that they're every four years because they actually pay out every four years that students are in school,” Burchell said. “We also have some that do freshman and sophomore year, some that are totally just dedicated to a specific career choice.”
Scholarship applications opened in November and closed March 1. Foundation board members and committee members are now reviewing applications with awards expected to be announced in April.
Beyond financial support, the foundation also highlights the importance of hands-on experiences that help students explore career paths.
Local businesses partner with the high school through internship opportunities coordinated through the school’s career programs. Burchell said those partnerships give students valuable real-world experience.
“Internships can really change a life,” Burchell said.
Businesses interested in further supporting students can also partner with the foundation to establish scholarships for interns.
“We’d be happy to help them set up that scholarship,” Burchell said. “Maybe it only goes to people that have interned with that business.”
Students also have opportunities to explore careers through military visits in the high school’s Career Exploration Center, as well as job fairs and other career-focused programs.
Classroom grants funded through the foundation also provide hands-on learning experiences across the district. Programs supported through these grants include initiatives like “Take the Stage to the Students,” which introduces elementary students to theater, and the Bulldog Banter Podcast, which allows students to gain experience in media production.
Partnerships with Mid-Plains Community College also allow some students to graduate with certifications, such as becoming a certified nursing assistant, giving them valuable work experience while pursuing additional education.
Burchell said those opportunities help students graduate with more than just a diploma.
“They're able to take that out into the real world and maybe it's just a part-time job while they're in college getting a medical career or something like that,” Burchell said.
The foundation’s scholarship programs are also strongly supported by alumni and educators.
Of the 28 scholarships currently offered through the foundation:
- 13 were started by alumni
- 13 were created by parents of alumni
- Two were established by former educators
Retired educators have also provided legacy gifts that support programs across the district, including funding for the music program and projects benefiting elementary schools.
Burchell said those contributions reflect a shared commitment to helping the next generation succeed.
“It wouldn't be that we would have so many scholarships if it wasn’t for the alumni and previous educators,” Burchell said.
Listeners will hear more about those opportunities next month when a student intern from North Platte High School joins the program to share her perspective on the foundation’s work.
More information about scholarships and opportunities through the North Platte Public Schools Foundation can be found online at nppsf.org.