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Commission narrows 2026 Ellis County scholarship to county employees’ families
Summary
Commissioners agreed by consensus to reduce the scholarship fund to $5,000 for 2026 and limit eligibility to Ellis County employees and their families attending local institutions (Fort Hays Tech, Fort Hays State, Fort Hays Academy), using the program as a recruitment/retention benefit rather than a general public award.
Commissioners discussed changes to the Ellis County scholarship program and signaled consensus to reduce the annual fund from $10,000 to $5,000 and limit eligibility to Ellis County employees and their family members attending local post-secondary institutions and workforce programs (Fort Hays Tech North Central, Fort Hays State University, and other in-county programs).
Darren Myers (speaker 12) said the change was proposed to better target the awards as a recruitment and retention tool for county employees after the commission reduced the program in the 2026 budget. "The commission currently has $10,000 a year set aside, and we would split that in between the Hays, Ellis, Victoria, and TMP schools... In 2026, the commission approved to reduce that amount... down to $5,000 a year," Myers said. Under the revised approach the awards would be renewable annually if recipients remain eligible, and a three-member review panel (HR director, health director and sheriff) would evaluate applications. The commission asked staff to post the updated eligibility information and application process on the county website.
Next steps: Staff will update the county website with eligibility and application materials and begin accepting applications from eligible employees’ family members.
