As tuition costs continue to climb rapidly at our state's community colleges and four-year educational institutions many of our students are struggling with ways to generate the funds for a post secondary education.  Many students and their families, after spending all their possible resources available for education, still borrow sizable sums to fund their student's education.  Many students graduate from college and start their careers carrying an extremely large and many times unmanageable debt load from financing their education.

However, Dollars for Scholars is helping! We encourage all graduating students to further their education, and it is our goal that every senior who applies will receive some monies to help pay for this education. Our local chapter provides an effective way for our community to work together to assist local students achieve their educational goals.

Independence Area Dollars for Scholars Chapter was organized October 2002.
Each year an Awards Reception is held the second week in May to honor graduating
seniors. We awarded 138 scholarships at our last reception to 105 seniors that totaled
over $63,000.

Our investment committee manages endowment funds exceeding $400,000 and
several more donors fund scholarships annually.

Bret Adams
Connie Arend
Erik Bohlken
Marty Brown
Debbie Curry
Nancy Dodge
Brian Eddy
Steve Kilgard
Jean Peterson