Local students earn scholarships

 Brianna Rae Helfrich and Elizabeth Ann Ginther were among 183 students from the U.S. and Canada chosen to receive an academic scholarship from the Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation for the 2008-2009 academic year.
    Brianna is the daughter of Brian and Kathleen Helfrich and will be attending Manhattan Christian College. Elizabeth is the daughter of Clay and Becky Ginther and will be attending Seward County Community College. Both are dependents of an employee of Koch Nitrogen Co.
    Scholarships are awarded yearly to applicants demonstrating a strong academic record, extracurricular involvements, leadership and service.  The recipients, all of whom are dependents of employees of Koch Industries Inc. or its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States and Canada, are selected by an independent panel of judges with expertise in the field of education.
    The academic scholarship program was initiated in 1970 by the Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation for dependents of Koch employees. Since that time, more than $2 million in scholarships has been awarded.