VALENTINE, Neb. - A simple act of generosity at the checkout line is making a big difference for students in Cherry County. Thanks to a round-up program at Scotty’s Ranchland Foods in Valentine, eight additional students received scholarships from the Sandhills Area Foundation (SAF) this year.

The program, which began on August 30, 2024, allows customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with the extra change going directly to the SAF Scholarship Fund. In less than a year, the initiative has helped boost scholarship awards significantly.

“Next year, the scholarships should see an even greater boost due the round up program being in effect for a full calendar year,” said SAF Executive Director Carolyn Moore. “The Sandhills Area Foundation wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to Scott and Tammy Millard and Samantha Hand at Scotty’s for partnering with us in this program, as well as each and every person who has contributed their change toward the scholarship program”.

In total, SAF awarded more than $45,000 in scholarships for 2025. Awards were given across multiple categories, including the CapRock Scholarship, SAF High School, College, and Non-Traditional Scholarships, and the Cherry County Hospital & Clinic Scholarship.

Scholarships are based on academic achievement, community involvement, and future educational goals. A public reception for scholarship recipients will be held Wednesday, June 11 at 7 p.m. at Mid-Plains Community College (MPCC) in Valentine.

Scholarship recipients for the 2025–2026 academic year include:

CapRock Scholarship – $2,000
Katherine Cox, Aubree Johnson, Jessa Klabenes, Lauren Schoonveld

SAF College Scholarship – $1,500
Jadyn Andersen, Taylor Battershaw, Lindsey Boes, Lauren Ferguson, Hayes Hammond, Aubree Johnson, Jessa Klabenes, Connor Kreutner, Alexis Long, Lee Major, Logan Muirhead, Lauren Schoonveld, Grant Springer, Grace Wolff

SAF High School Scholarship – $1,000
In honor of Brian Keech: Jenalee Garwood
In honor of Shirley Sibert: Jocelyn Jordan
In honor of Paul Bass: Katherine Cox, Allison Heath, Ayden Naslund
Olivia Beel, Courtney Billings, Brady Haake, Emma Kreutner, Doc Lancaster, Cinch Miller, Quinton Nelson, Cadence Swanson, Marybelle Ward

SAF Non-Traditional Scholarship – $2,500
Anna Perrett

Cherry County Hospital & Clinic Scholarship – $1,000
Emma Kreutner