National Willa Cather Center Scholarship
Offered by National Willa Cather Center
About this scholarship
The National Willa Cather Center Scholarship is a $1,000 local award for a graduating Red Cloud High School senior who will continue into college, trade school, or an apprenticeship. The program recognizes a student who combines postsecondary plans with community service and thoughtful engagement with the National Willa Cather Center’s role in the region. Unlike the Center’s English- and history-specific awards, this scholarship is open to any intended field and includes vocational or apprenticeship pathways. Applicants complete the official downloadable form and write the required essay about how Willa Cather, the National Willa Cather Center, or the preservation of rural culture has affected them or their community. The application also documents the student’s education plans, activities, service, and other information requested by the selection committee. The award is one-time rather than renewable. Applications are due May 1 annually, making May 1, 2027 the next verified deadline. Students should obtain the form directly from the Center’s official page, complete every section, attach the essay and supporting materials, and follow the form’s submission instructions. The local-school restriction is essential: students from elsewhere in Nebraska should consider the Center’s other awards instead.
Eligibility
- Be a graduating senior at Red Cloud High School in Nebraska
- Plan to attend a college or trade school or enter an apprenticeship
- Demonstrate participation in community service
- Write the required essay about Willa Cather, the National Willa Cather Center, or rural-cultural preservation
- Complete every section of the official application
- Provide all supporting materials requested on the form
- Submit the complete application by May 1, 2027