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Scholarship Applications

Available for Download

Note(s): All scholarships on this page are for students in USD 260 (Derby, Kansas). Also, fillable forms will work better if you have a flash player installed on your browser. If you have any questions in regard to the forms, please contact us, and we will be happy to help. 

Ada Thoma and Melva Owens Memorial Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 31

The Ada Thoma and Melva Owens Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a USD 260 graduating senior who intends to pursue an education career and will be applied to expenses of his/her first year of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. The student must have a high school grade point average of 3.0 or an ACT score of 21. Students who receive full scholarships to college are not eligible for this scholarship.

Braxton Kooser Memorial Scholarship Application

Deadline: February 24

The Braxton Kooser Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a Derby High School graduating senior who plans to attend Kansas State University. The student must also have a high school grade point average of 3.0 (or higher) and must have participated in Derby High School athletics.

Decarsky Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 31

The Decarsky Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to a Derby High School graduating senior, either male or female, who has maintained a 2.75 grade point average, demonstrates a sincere affinity for entrepreneurship and a free enterprise system, and has been engaged in at least some level of gainful employment during high school. The recipient must meet performance requirements established by the DHS Selection Committee, which as a minimum shall include carrying a 12 hr semester load and maintaining a GPA of 2.75.

Decarsky Scholarship Renewal Form

Deadline: March 31

The recipient must meet performance requirements established by the DHS Selection Committee, which as a minimum shall include carrying a 12 hr semester load and maintaining a GPA of 2.75 at a Kansas Institution.

Derby Wrestling Club Tom and Iris Faust Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 29

The Derby Wrestling Club Tom and Iris Faust Scholarship will be awarded to a Derby High School graduating senior who has participated in the sport of wrestling. The scholarship will be applied to expenses of his/her first year of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. The student must have a high school grade point average of 2.8 or an ACT score of 21. Students who receive full scholarships to college are not eligible for this scholarship.

Diana Unkel Memorial Music Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 25

The Diana Unkel Music Scholarship Award will be awarded to a USD 260 graduating senior who participated in music at DHS and intends to continue to participate in music after high school graduation. The scholarship is to be applied to the expenses of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. The student must have a high school GPA of 3.0.

Mike Burr Memorial Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 28

The Mike Burr Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a USD 260 graduating senior who participated in the Derby Senior High School music program and intends to apply the scholarship to the expenses of their first year of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution in Kansas. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion or national origin. The student must have a high school grade point average of 3.0 or an ACT score of 21. Students who receive full scholarships to college are not eligible for this scholarship.

Multifaceted Student Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 25

This scholarship is designed to reward a student who pursued a well-rounded experience while attending Derby High School. Our family believes that a strong public education, volunteerism, and participation in extracurricular activities are critical building blocks in developing the future leaders of our community and our state. Derby Public Schools can provide many opportunities for learning both inside and outside the classroom. Students who took advantage of those opportunities are well on their way to success in the next stage of their education. Many of our family members, including Dan Stang (scholarship co-founder and retired USD 260 teacher), have had meaningful careers in public education and this is our family’s way of giving back.

Pat Paske Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: March 31

For more than 50 years, Pat Paske taught, coached and served as an administrator at several high schools and middle schools across Kansas. At the time of his death, he was in his 18th year as a science teacher at Derby High School. His belief in the importance of public education and the relationships he established with students and fellow educators continued to bring him back to the classroom. Mr. Paske not only wanted each of his students to succeed academically, but took a genuine interest in their personal achievements, challenges and future aspirations. The Paske family is proud to partner with the Derby Community Foundation to assist a Derby High School graduate who shares a similar calling in the field of education through the Pat Paske Memorial Scholarship.

Polk Family Scholarship

Deadline: March 31

The Polk Family has had five generations graduate from Derby High School and has been a part of the Derby community for over 100 years. This scholarship has been established by the Polk Family to assist deserving Derby High School graduates attend college. The Polk Family Scholarship will be awarded to USD 260 graduating seniors (or juniors, if eligible) who demonstrate financial need and meet the scholarship criteria. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. The student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0, must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, and must have participated in DHS extracurricular activities. To be eligible for renewal of this scholarship, recipients must have a cumulative college GPA of 2.75 and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. Recipients must annually complete a scholarship renewal form with proof of GPA (college transcript) and return by March 31 (available on Derby Community Foundation website).

Polk Family Scholarship - Renewal Form

Deadline: March 31

The Polk Family has had five generations graduate from Derby High School and has been a part of the Derby community for over 100 years. This scholarship has been established by the Polk Family to assist deserving Derby High School graduates attend college. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. To be eligible for renewal of this scholarship, recipients must have a cumulative college GPA of 2.75 and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. Recipients must annually complete a scholarship renewal form with proof of GPA (college transcript).

Re’Ana Mekaeil Memorial Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 31

The Re’Ana Mekaeil Memorial Scholarship is a one-time award of $500 for a graduating senior from Derby High School. The only requirements are that the student be a current graduating senior at Derby High School who will be furthering their education in the fall. Preference will be given to students who are able to demonstrate through their transcript and their essay that they are going to strive to make the world a better place.

Rod and Marilyn Caret Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 31

The Rod and Marilyn Caret Scholarships will be awarded to USD 260 graduating seniors (or juniors if eligible) who intend to pursue a technical certification and will be applied to expenses of first year of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. The student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.75 and must have held a job (no restrictions on type) during junior or senior years of high school.

Ross Hearn Vocal Music Excellence Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 25

The Ross Hearn Vocal Music Excellence Scholarship will be awarded to a USD 260 graduating senior who participated in the vocal music at Derby High School and intends to continue to participate in vocal music after high school graduation. The scholarship is to be applied to the expenses of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. The student must have a high school grade point average of 3.0 or an ACT score of 21.

Steve and Leanne Caret Scholarship Application

Deadline: March 31

The Steve and Leanne Caret Scholarship will be awarded to USD 260 graduating seniors (or juniors if eligible) who have demonstrated a willingness to put their best efforts forward and have shown integrity in their academic activities and community engagement. The student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0, must have held a job (no restrictions on type) during junior or senior years of high school, and must have participated in extracurricular activities.

Steve and Leanne Caret Scholarship Renewal Form

Deadline: March 31

The Steve and Leanne Caret Scholarship will be awarded to USD 260 graduating seniors (or juniors if eligible) who have demonstrated a willingness to put their best efforts forward and have shown integrity in their academic activities and community engagement. The student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0, must have held a job (no restrictions on type) during junior or senior years of high school, and must have participated in extracurricular activities.

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