Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES—The Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) is now accepting applications for college scholarships for the 2014-15 academic year, including six scholarships exclusive to the Meramec Region.

These six scholarship funds are associated with the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF), and will be awarded to graduating high school seniors in the eight-county Meramec Region including Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties in amounts of $500 and up.

While five of these scholarships are open to students residing in specific Meramec Region cities or counties only, the Richard and Jeanne Cavender Scholarship is open to any graduating senior in the area. Two $500 scholarships will be awarded from this fund.

High school seniors living in Pulaski County have an additional opportunity through the Cole-Mahan Scholarship Fund. One $500 scholarship will be awarded from this fund.

Graduates of Belle High School also have additional scholarship opportunities in the Kaeding-Winter ScholarshipFund, the Ruth and Gene Ridenhour MD Scholarship Fund, the Alan D. and Yvonne L. Skouby Scholarship Fund and the Belle Lions Club Scholarship Fund in memory of David Sassmann. Multiple scholarships may be awarded in various amounts from the Kaeding-Winter Scholarship Fund. Each of the remaining scholarships will be awarded to one college-bound 2015 graduate of Belle High School in the amount of $500.

Students interested in specific scholarships should complete a Federal Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) and contact their high school’s guidance counselor.

Several other scholarships areavailable to students throughout the CFO’s service area, which includes all eight Meramec Region counties. To search available scholarships by city or to apply for any of the MRCF scholarships, visit CFO’s website at www.cfozarks.org and click the link thatsays “scholarships.”

MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of CFO in Springfield. The regional affiliate was formed June 4, 2010.

Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC. WayneParry, a Rolla banker, serves as MRCF’s chairman.

Currently, MRCF has 38 funds totaling more than $628,000.

CFO is a public foundation serving the Missouri Ozarks. The Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region through resource development, community grant-making, collaboration and public leadership. Formed in 1973, CFO has since grown toinclude 45 affiliate community foundations and more than 2,750 charitable funds totaling approximately $257 million in assets.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 19, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.