All students and prospective students are encouraged to apply for the Martens Family Scholarship. Interested applicants can obtain a scholarship application online at https://www.nebcommfound.org/give/martens-family-scholarship-fund/. Scholarship applications are due Monday, April 15, at 5 p.m. Additional information and details regarding the scholarship guidelines are also available online.

The scholarship was made possible by the generosity of Helen Martens and her family. Helen was a longtime educator in the Holt County area, teaching for many years in various schools in Holt County. Education was extremely important to Helen, as were the character and integrity of her students. Upon Helen’s death, part of her estate was placed into a permanent endowment to create the Martens Family Scholarship.

Scholarships, each year, are awarded annually to students who graduated or are graduating from schools in Holt County. All persons desirous of attending college, or who are currently attending college, are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to those applicants expressing a sincere desire to return to the area, as well as students who have been longterm participants in 4-H and/or are active members of the Methodist churches in Atkinson or O’Neill; however, these activities are not required of any scholarship recipient. Previously awarded applicants are encouraged to reapply.

In 2024, the Martens Family Scholarship Committee will award 15 $2,000 scholarships, a total of $30,000 in local scholarships. Over the life of the Martens Family Scholarship, Helen and her family have made nearly $400,000 in scholarship funds available to many local students.