Mid-Rivers Awards 130 Scholarships, more to be Awarded in May

Mid-Rivers Communications is pleased to announce the award of 130 scholarships to students from the Cooperative’s service area, an increase of 94 scholarships over the original 36 planned. Last fall, the Cooperative announced the availability of 30 Higher Education Scholarships of $3,000 each, and six Dawson Community College/Miles Community College Scholarships of $3,500 each. However, following a review of the applicants and funds available for scholarships, the Mid-Rivers Board of Trustees voted to expand the awards to include scholarships for every eligible applicant.

A $3,500 Dawson Community College/Miles Community College Scholarship has been awarded to:

• Adilyn Elverud of Richey, daughter of Nathan & Bernice Williams, will pursue Agricultural Leadership - Extension at Miles Community College.
• Starr Larson from Glendive, daughter of Cynthia Larsen, will attend Dawson Community College where she will pursue Nursing.
• Aubrey Moos from Brockway, daughter of Jeff & Bettinna Moos, will attend Miles Community College for Elementary Education.
• Wyatt Ree of Glendive, son of Scott & Jenny Ree of Wibaux, will study Welding Technology from Dawson Community College.
• Kordt Smith from Miles City, son of Shannon Smith, will study Health Sciences at Miles Community College.
• Averi Sparks of Lewistown, daughter of Scott Sparks, plans to attend Dawson Community College for Business.

A $3,000 Mid-Rivers Higher Education Scholarship has been awarded to:

• Shaylie Ahlgren, Winnett, daughter of Charlie & Reba Ahlgren, will go to Montana State University for Agricultural Business with a Finance minor.
• Kaydree Anderson, Baker, daughter of Scott and Michelle Anderson, plans to attend the University of Michigan for Psychology.
• Aliese Arthur, Miles City, daughter of Aaron & Amber Arthur, will study Nursing at the University of Mary.
• James Bergin, Melstone, son of William & Jennifer Bergin, plans to attend Montana State University for Agricultural Business.
• Alec Christensen, Glendive, son of Tom & Melody Christensen, will continue his studies at West Virginia University for a PhD in Natural Resource Science.
• Rhett Comes, Lewistown, son of Kevan & Annette Comes, will study Welding at MSU-Northern.
• Avery Crouse, Lewistown, son of Kenneth Crouse, plans to study medicine at Montana State University.
• Siena Gambee, Glendive, child of Luke & Meghann Gambee, will go to Brigham Young University of Idaho for Biology.
• Quinn Hoffer, Glendive, son of Vaughn & Desiree Hoffer, will attend Montana Technological University for Civil Engineering.
• Tylee Huft, Miles City, daughter of Hope Huft, will go to school at Eastern Wyoming College to study Veterinary Technology.
• Mya Jorgensen, Savage, child of Jeff & Keri Jorgensen, will study Radiology Technology at MSU-Billings.
• Madison Kapp, Sidney, daughter of Jeri Chapman, will go to Minot State University for Early Education.
• Evie Karren, Sidney, daughter of Ryan & Carli Karren, will attend Brigham Young University for Elementary Education.
• Kiarra Kennedy, Roundup, child of Michael & Amy Kennedy, will attend Montana State University-Bozeman for Animal Science/Pre-Vet.
• Kaelen Krumwiede, Lewistown, son of Layne & Mari Krumwiede, will study Business Administration at Montana State University-Northern.
• Corlan Laughery, Ekalaka, child of Carl & Camille Laughery, will attend Weber State University for Radiologic Sciences.
• Landry Larson, Sidney, child of Tim & Kristin Larson, will go to New Mexico State University for Criminology/Pre-Law.
• Katherine Maxwell, Lewistown, daughter of Brett & Jennifer Maxwell, will continue her studies at North Dakota State University for Animal Biomedical Science.
• Maggie McDonald, Jordan, child of Donald & Amber McDonald, will attend Black Hills State University for Business Administration.
• Jerrick Moser, Baker, son of Justin & Michelle Moser, will go to Dickinson State University for a Bachelors in Exercise Science with plans to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
• Bridger Muri, Miles City, son of Troy & Jackie Muri, will attend the University of Mary for Business Administration, Finance.
• Bailey Muscha, Miles City, daughter of Miles & Keeli Muscha, will go to the University of Oregon to study Political Science/Pre-law.
• Caleb Nicholls, Glendive, son of Tricia Nicholls, will go to Concordia University, Nebraska for Pre-Seminary.
• Wyatt Ramage, Billings, son of Kelly & Bonnie Ramage, will go to Montana State University-Northern where he will study Diesel Technology and Welding.
• Shyanne Ricks, Lewistown, daughter of Britney & Jason Ricks, plans to study Accounting at Brigham Young University.
• Lainey Smith, Miles City, daughter of Shannon Smith, will go to Montana State University to study Kinesiology.
• Karen Thomas, Glendive, will continue to study Early Childhood Education at the University of Phoenix.
• Hugo Thielen, Plevna, son of Samuel & Desiree Thielen, will go to Dakota State University, Madison for Cyber Leadership and Intelligence.
• Megan Varner, Baker, daughter of Gye & Chayni Varner, will attend the University of Montana for Psychology.
• Aubree Whiteman, Sidney, daughter of Wade & Hannah Whiteman, will go to Montana State University for Interior Design and Business.

A $1,000 Mid-Rivers Scholarship has been awarded to:

• Joey Barnick, Glendive
• Brianna Barnick, Glendive
• Jacqueline Barnhart, Richey
• Molly Basta, Glendive
• Jace Bantz, Grass Range
• Caden Barth, Baker
• Katherine Bertrand, Sidney
• Weston Buerkle, Plevna
• Isabelle Boyt, Miles City
• Danica Rutten, Lewistown
• Shoei Davis, Lewistown
• Faron Deason, Miles City
• Jade Dengel, Lewistown
• Maya Dengel, Lewistown
• Karlee Dyke, Baker
• Anna Elam, Lewistown
• Emily Enos, Baker
• Cade Erlenbusch, Miles City
• Tyler Erickson, Circle
• Aaron Filler, Sidney
• Natalie Foxley, Ekalaka
• Simon Futrell, Miles City
• Payton Geiger, Glendive
• Erik Goffena, Roundup
• Lucas Golik, Lewistown
• Eli Graham, Wolf Point
• Laura Guldborg, Brockway
• Conner Guldborg, Brockway
• Luke Harper, Roundup
• McKenna Haralson, Sidney
• Tyler Hauck, Billings
• Emmett Hauck, Billings
• Natalie Heidner, Glendive
• Brynne Hill, Lambert
• Sydney Hinck, Crane
• Callie Hoenke, Ismay
• Madison Johnston, Lewistown
• Olivia Johnson, Bloomfield
• Charlie - Jo Johnson, Mosby
• Samantha Jimenez, Lewistown
• Morgan Kindopp, Sidney
• Caleb Kleinke, Sidney
• Cora Lacquement, Terry
• Liam Lancaster, Miles City
• Rhys Larson, Sidney
• Breanna Lowrey, Sidney
• Logan Lowrey, Sidney
• Ryder Lufborough, Miles City
• Cathryn Lyons, Savage
• Josi Maier, Lewistown
• Justin Maier, Lewistown
• Colt McCord, Lewistown
• Addison McHenry, Roundup
• Amanda Miller, Miles City
• Brooklyn Miller, Baker
• Madeline Moline, Brockway
• Ora Neves, Glendive
• Nasya O'Connor, Ekalaka
• Jace Pardee, Ekalaka
• Jake Phalen, Miles City
• Bree Peterson, Lewistown
• Gracie Phipps, Brusett
• Clea Rapson, Miles City
• Turk Rieger, Ismay
• Julia Schallenberger, Baker
• Morgan Schiffer, Melstone
• Makayla Schenk, Lewistown
• Aiden Scheer, Circle
• Jordan Schriver, Fairview
• Ashton Smeltzer, Glendive
• Madison Smith, Glendive
• Lina Smith, Richey
• Bella Strasheim, Sidney
• Kally Strohm, Richey
• Shelby Thomas, Roundup
• Jaeger Tombre, Savage
• Jeffrey Tjelde, Fairview
• Macy Tjelde, Fairview
• Landon Tveit, Fairview
• Morganne VanDyke, Glendive
• Addison Vanek, Lewistown
• Cade Verschoot, Lambert
• Andrew Vihauer, Terry
• Jenna Vaughn, Lewistown
• Kyra Wahl, Glendive
• Ashley White, Lewistown
• Sydney Wichman, Lewistown
• Theresa Willert, Lindsay

In addition to the competitive awards, Mid-Rivers will draw for 15 $1,000 scholarships at the Cooperative’s Annual Meeting on May 27, 2026, at the Circle Country Market in Circle, MT. To qualify for the scholarship drawing, the student must:

• attend the Annual Meeting with a parent or guardian who has active telephone or Internet services with the Cooperative
• be enrolled to attend a higher education institution in the fall of 2026
• pre-register for the drawing by 11:59 PM on May 22, 2026 using the online registration form located on the Mid-Rivers website at midrivers.com/scholarships/
• check in at the Scholarship Registration table at the Annual Meeting
• be present during the Business Meeting when the drawing takes place

Registration for the meeting and scholarship check-in will begin at 10:00 AM and close at the start of the Business Meeting at 11:00 AM. Scholarship recipients will be drawn at random from the list of eligible students in attendance at the meeting.

“Mid-Rivers is proud of the commitment we’ve made to the people we serve, and the impact of the Higher Education Scholarship Program is significant,” said General Manager/CEO Michael Candelaria. “With $220,000 in scholarships awarded this year—the largest direct contribution the Cooperative has ever made to area youth—we’re able to positively impact 145 students and their families in Eastern and Central Montana.”