Thirty-five college students from Atchison County were presented with the Esther A. and Bruce S. Gibbs Charitable Trust Scholarship Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Rock Port United Methodist Church. Pictured, from left to right, are: front row – Claire Martin, Tessa Rolf, Alex Barnett, Abbie Harms, Addison Noland, Katelynn Ottmann, Aubrey Watkins, Payten Shrader, Jenasey Mace, and Jaysa Green-Welch; middle row – Sydnee Bruns, Alissa Hurst, Lizzie Schlueter, Claire Spiegel, Phillip Herron, Carter Gebhards, Tarver Muntz, Cali Driskell, Haley Hall, Mackenzie Lager, and Morgan Cofer; and back row – Ian Stepp, Daniel Lesher, River Dow, Luke Morey, Cole Anderson, Clayton Vernon, Bracton Cook, Trenton Kingery, Malachi Skillen, Luke Swinehart, Bannack Skillen, Kendall Kingery, Natalie Hedlund, and Braden Graves.

Citizens Bank & Trust, Trustee of the Esther A. and Bruce S. Gibbs Charitable Trust, hosted the annual Gibbs Trust Scholarship luncheon Friday, June 26, 2026, at the United Methodist Church in Rock Port. This was the 37th year the Esther A. and Bruce S. Gibbs Charitable Trust has awarded scholarships to college students who have graduated from Atchison County, Missouri, high schools. The trust has awarded 1,159 scholarships since 1990, with a grand total of $1,833,705.00 having been awarded to students to help with their higher education expenses.

Students receiving scholarships this year, their parents, the college they are attending, and major are:

Cole Anderson, son of Ryan Anderson and Krystal Anderson, University of Missouri, Computer Science

Alex Barnett, daughter of Jamie and Melody Barnett, Peru State College, Secondary Social Science Education

Sydnee Bruns, daughter of Jeffrey and Shannon Bruns, Park University, Social Work

Morgan Cofer, daughter of Mark and Shelly Cofer, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Business Marketing

Bracton Cook, son of Adam and Ashley Cook, Stacie Barbee and Rick Meyer, State Technical College of Missouri, Heavy Equipment Operations and Management

River Dow, son of Tommy and Blu Dow, Iowa Western Community College, Aviation Maintenance

Cali Driskell, daughter of Kyle and Carrie Driskell, Missouri Western State University, Nursing

Carter Gebhards, son of Tad and Michelle Gebhards, Northwest Missouri State University, Digital Media

Braden Graves, son of Jon and Beth Graves, Kansas State University, Athletic Training and Rehabilitation Sciences

Jaysa Green-Welch, daughter of Jennifer Welch, Northwest Missouri State University, Early Childhood Education

Haley Hall, daughter of Brian Hall, Des Moines Area Community College, Nursing

Abbie Harms, daughter of Ryan and Lee Harmes, University of Missouri, Agricultural Education

Natalie Hedlund, daughter of Chris and Marisa Hedlund, Washburn University, Nursing

Phillip Herron, son of Corey and Kristi Herron, University of Missouri, Health Sciences with an Emphasis in Rehabilitation

Alissa Hurst, daughter of Brooks and Lydia Hurst, University of Missouri, Nursing

Kendall Kingery, son of Ryan and Jill Kingery, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Pharmacy

Trenton Kingery, son of Ryan and Jill Kingery, University of Missouri, Civil Engineering

Mackenzie Lager, daughter of Alan and Jill Lager, Creighton University, Pharmacy

Daniel Lesher, son of Corey and Jennifer Lesher, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Biblical Studies

Jenasey Mace, daughter of Jeff and Angela Mace, Northwest Missouri State University, Early Childhood Education

Claire Martin, daughter of Casey and Jackie Martin, University of Missouri, Communication

Luke Morey, son of Brian and Darci Morey, State Technical College of Missouri, Electrical Technology

Tarver Muntz, son of Tim and Shannon Muntz, University of Missouri, Biochemistry

Addison Noland, daughter of Donny and Kristi Noland, Northwest Missouri State University, Therapeutic Recreation

Katelynn Ottmann, daughter of Chad and Amanda Ottmann, University of Kansas, Biochemistry

Tessa Rolf, daughter of Mike and Cindy Rolf, University of Missouri, Occupational Therapy

Lizzie Schlueter, daughter of Matt and Ann Schlueter, University of Missouri, Food Science

Payten Shrader, daughter of Jordan Shrader and Kayti Hayes, Peru State College, Business Administration and Marketing

Bannack Skillen, son of Jim and Amy Skillen, University of Missouri, Journalism

Malachi Skillen, son of Jim and Amy Skillen, Northwest Missouri State University, Economics

Claire Spiegel, daughter of Andy and Molly Spiegel, University of Missouri, Child Life Specialist

Ian Stepp, son of Tony and Eryn Stepp, University of Missouri, Human Development and Family Sciences

Luke Swinehart, son of Scott and Holly Swinehart, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Pharmacy

Clayton Vernon, son of Garret and Jennifer Vernon, University of Missouri, Computer Science

Aubrey Watkins, daughter of Jason and Sarah Watkins, University of Pittsburgh, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology