PCDC Awards $23,000 in Scholarships

By Grace Maloley

PCDC has awarded $23,000 to 11 college students to encourage future careers in Phelps County.

This scholarship is given to students pursuing a high-demand career for local employers such as nursing, agribusiness and technology, diesel mechanics, welding, tool and die making, injection mold technicians, construction trades and education.

To be chosen for the scholarship, the recipient must be willing to return to Phelps County after graduation in their field.

This year, the award amounts ranged from $1,000 to $3,000. Every $1,000 a student receives signifies another year they are willing to return to Phelps County for. 

McCartney Elliott, who graduated from Holdrege High School in 2022, received $1,000 from the program to study healthcare and eventually return to Phelps County one day.

“I am extremely grateful to be receiving such a generous scholarship,” Elliott said. “This scholarship means a lot to me, not only does it help me with the financial burden of my tuition and fees, but to also feel the support of Phelps County is something I love about this scholarship!”

Elliott will be a senior at the University of Nebraska at Kearney this fall. She is majoring in health sciences and technologies with an emphasis in pre-pharmacy and a minor in healthcare management. She is also on the UNK Cheer team and works as a certified pharmacy technician at Tibbals Street Pharmacy in Holdrege.

“I chose to pursue pharmacy because I have always had a love for the healthcare field as I grew up with my mom working as a respiratory therapist,” Elliott said. “After doing some research I loved the idea of getting to help others through the medication side of healthcare.”

Elliott hopes to move back to a rural town like Holdrege after her graduation from pharmacy school.

“I love the relationships I have made after growing up in Holdrege and the support the community has given me,” Elliott said.

The 2025 recipients are: 

• Alexis Billeter, 2021 Loomis High School, UNK, Elementary Education, $3,000 
• Ashlea Booe, 2024 Loomis High School, Fort Hays State University, Medical Technology, $2,000 
• Sierra Burrows, 2007 Holdrege High School, UNO, Education, $2,000 
• Lane Conway, 2025 Franklin High School, Northeast Community College, Engineering Technology and Drafting, $3,000 
• McCartney Elliott, 2022 Holdrege High School, Health Sciences and Technologies, UNK, $1,000 
• Sydney Harris, 2025 Loomis High School, Health Sciences and Technologies, UNK, $1,000 
• Jersie Hermanson, 2023 Loomis High School, UNK, Pre-Medicine, $2,000 
• Tea Kroese, 2023 Holdrege High School, UNK, Education, $3,000 
• Bethany Pelton, 2024 Bertrand High School, Oral Roberts University, Elementary Education, $2,000 
• Hanna Swearingen, 2023 Holdrege High School, Education, Fort Hays State University, $3,000 
• Trey Weaver, 2024 Holdrege High School, Northeast Community College, Electrical Engineering, $1,000