Scholarships - scholarships

Kansas Rural Voices Youth Contest

Scholarship Sponsored by North Central Regional Planning Commission

Value: $1,000
Awards Available: 2

The North Central Regional Planning Commission sponsors the Rural Voices Youth Contest each year to engage high school seniors of North Central Kansas in thoughtful reflection on rural Kansas and to promote a discussion among citizens based on their insights. We are proud to have awarded nearly $30,000 to high school seniors from the region since the contest began in 2006.

2023-2024 Theme:  Rural Kansas Success Through Innovation

The NCRPC invites high school seniors in North Central Kansas (NCRPC 12-county primary service area) to prepare an original essay or video based on this year’s theme of Rural Kansas Success Through Innovation.

Entries should address the following: Rural Kansas residents, community leaders and business owners have a history of being innovative. Examples of innovation and successful entrepreneurs are all around us. Discuss how a great idea was turned into a creative solution to a community problem or a unique tradition that serves a purpose in your town or a successful business in your community. What more can be done to encourage and support innovation in North Central Kansas?

Students submitting the top two entries will each receive a one-time cash award of $1,000 and be recognized with the John R. Cyr Rural Voices Award. The award is named in honor of Cyr who served for 22 years as NCRPC Executive Director. Winning entries will also be published on the North Central Regional Planning Commission website. 

Registration Form

A registration form is to be completed and returned by the contest deadline (February 1, 2024).

Eligibility Criteria

The contest allows one entry per person.

Eligible: The contest is open to any senior in high school who lives in and/or attends a public or private high school whose district falls within the 12-county NCPRC service area* — including the counties of Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Ottawa, Republic, Saline and Washington. Home school students in this same area may also enter.

*A student is eligible to enter if any portion of their school district’s official boundaries falls within the 12-county NCRPC service area.

Not Eligible: NCRPC employees and their immediate family members may not participate.

Go to Scholarship Application
Easy Scholarship Applications
Sallie Mae "No Essay" Scholarship - $2,000

The $2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship is only open to legal...

View Details
Be Bold Scholarship - $25,000

The "Be Bold" Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will...

View Details
Niche Scholarship - $10,000

Covering the cost of college expenses for four years without...

View Details
ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship - $1,000

ScholarshipOwl is your source of relief from the dreaded application...

View Details
SP Scholarship - $2,500

The SP College Scholarship program was created to help students...

View Details
10 Words or Less Scholarship - $1,000

Scholarship Eligibility:A) Anyone who is between the ages of 14-25...

View Details