17 Students Awarded 2026 High-Demand Jobs Scholarships

Seventeen students will receive a share of $35,000 in scholarships to pursue future careers in Phelps County.  

The High Demand Jobs Scholarships are part of the Phelps County Development Corporation’s efforts to create a quality local workforce. The students will return to Phelps County after graduation to work. This year, scholarships ranged from $1,000-$5,000 each. The recipients were chosen from a record pool of 29 applicants.  

Grady Ganser graduated from Holdrege High School this year, and he plans to attend Central Community College in Hastings to study automotive technology. He received a $3,000 high-demand jobs scholarship to help pay for his education.

Ganser said his interest in this field was first sparked by helping his parents, Justin and Traci Ganser, fix their cars.

He then enrolled in CCC’s Janssen Auto Tech class in high school. PCDC is a funding partner in this program designed to encourage careers in this high-demand field.

Ganser said he enjoyed the class and learned a lot, and he completed the entire two-year program.

He is looking forward to attending CCC in the fall and then seeking “a good stable job” after graduation, with his goal being to open his own repair shop.

He enjoyed growing up in Holdrege, and he sees it as a good future home.

“I’ve enjoyed living in Holdrege the entire time,” Ganser said. “It’s a small town, and it’s close to bigger towns like Kearney. I like the size of Holdrege, and I like the people in Holdrege.”

Scholarship winners sign a contract stating their intention to return to Phelps County to work after their education. The scholarships are funded through LB840 sales tax funds, private donors, and matching funds from the Phelps County Community Foundation.

The scholarships are intended to encourage students to pursue work in local high-demand jobs: nursing, agri-business and technology positions, diesel mechanics, engineer technologists, mechatronics engineers, injection mold technicians, electro-mechanical technologists, machinists, tool and die makers, construction trades, welders, and education.  

The 2026 recipients are:

• Addison Andersen, 2026 Bertrand High School, Nutrition and Health Sciences, UNL, $1,000
• Aldyn Hadley, 2026 Holdrege High School, Agribusiness, Southeast Community College Beatrice, $3,000
• Alyssia Kruger, 2026 Holdrege High School, Nursing, Central Community College Kearney, $3,000
• Angela Young, Non-Traditional, Nursing, UNK, $3,000
• Chase Brinkman, 2025 Holdrege High School, Utility Line, Northeast Community College, $3,000
• Clay Maloley, 2026 Holdrege High School, Animal Science, Fort Hays State University, $1,000
• David Yepez Morales, 2026 Holdrege High School, Electrician, Southeast Community College Milford, $5,000
• Elizabeth Pelster, 2026 Holdrege High School, UNL, Nutrition/Exercise and Health Sciences, $1,000
• Grady Ganser, 2026 Holdrege High School, Automotive Technology, CCC Hastings, $3,000
• Jett Johnson, 2026 Holdrege High School, Northeast Community College, Precision Ag, $1,000
• Keeley Vaughn, 2025 Holdrege High School, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Bryan LGH College of Health, $1,000
• Kinsey Lauby, 2026 Loomis High School, Nursing, Wayne State College, $3,000
• McCartney Elliott, 2022 Holdrege High School, Pharmacy, UNK, $1,000
• Sydney Harris, 2025 Loomis High School, Exercise Science with a minor in Healthcare Management, UNK, $1,000
• Tea Kroese, 2023 Holdrege High School, Early Childhood Inclusive, UNK, $2,000
• Tegan Weaver, 2026 Holdrege High School, Collision/Refinishing Technology, Other, $1,000
• Zane Veal, 2024 Holdrege High School, Education, UNK, $2,000