Another cohort of the Snow-Redfern Foundation Root2Rise program has concluded, and four brilliant young ladies successfully completed the workshop series and earned a $2,000 scholarship that will be used to promote their future career goals established during the program.

The participants of this fall cohort included Kaylee Henthorn of Alliance, Grace Dean of Bridgeport, Regan Anderson of Lakeside, and Mandie Ylander of Alliance.  They attended 6 virtual workshops and completed their own growth map, outlining plans for their future, which aligned with scholarship funds each received.

Snow-Redfern Foundation’s founder, Arvilla, was a strong, independent, female leader who believed that there is great worth in every young person; and as such, each one is a community asset with vast potential for self-defined success.  We celebrate her through this program.

This program is a priority experience for young women interested in growing their leadership potential through exposure to important topics affecting women in leadership roles today. The virtual six-workshop series creates space
for 16-19 year old female-presenting participants to engage in valuable group discussions with other professional women.

The workshop is facilitated by Dr. Maya Chilese, an organizational anthropologist and the founding principal of Blue Agate Collaborative, LLC. Dr. Chiles.  She has over 20 years’ experience in health and human service systems of care at the local, regional, state and national level and uses her gifts and talents to guide the R2R participants through a unique experience, with learning opportunities provided by various guest speakers, all of whom are strong women leaders in their fields of practice.

Another successful grant cycle concludes for us here at Snow-Redfern Foundation, and we are honored to recognize the incredible non-profit partners and outstanding individuals across Nebraska that were selected to receive funding support this year.  All of the selected organizations demonstrated commitment and dedication to improving the lives of children and youth, through various strategies.

Here is a list of all of the non-profit partners and individuals included in this year’s funding cycle, by grant program.

Project Grants

  • Lexington Public Schools
  • CASA of South Central Nebraska
  • Panhandle Public Health District
  • United Way of Western Nebraska
  • Lexington Public Schools
  • The Briggs and Barrett Project
  • Banister’s Leadership Academy
  • YWCA of Adams County
  • Camp Scott Summer Program
  • Carnegie Arts Center
  • Central Plains Center for Services
  • Panhandle Partnership, Inc.
  • Omaha Conservatory of Music
  • Alliance Public Schools
  • Prairie Loft
  • Bridgeport TeamMates
  • Alliance Recreation Center
  • Nebraska CASA Association
  • Spouse Abuse Sexual Assault Center
  • TeamMates of Scotts Bluff County
  • Carpenter Center
  • LyonHeart Equine Assisted Learning
  • Girl Scout Spirit of Nebraska
  • Families CARE, Inc.

Career Pathways Grants

  • Twin Cities Development
  • Western Nebraska Community College
  • Gering Public Schools

Priority Community Grant- Box Butte County

  • Panhandle Public Health District

Developing Communities Grant

  • Panhandle Public Health District

Capacity Grant

  • Nebraska CASA Association

Root2Rise Administration and Support

  • Panhandle Partnership, Inc.

Individual Grants- Scholarships

Hempel Family Scholarship
  • Carver Hauptman
  • Tegan Rice
  • Arielle Lawrence
K.M. Dahlstedt Scholarship
  • Avery Davies
  • Kason Loomis
  • Delaney Childers
  • Cambree Schmaltz
  • Tyler Cotton

Root2Rise Scholarships will be awarded to participants in December, 2023.

Grant opportunities for 2024 are forthcoming!

Graduation is just around the corner, and with the preparations for closure of the high school days also comes planning for all the great things that will happen AFTER the big day!  A big part of planning efforts includes determining if college is on the horizon, and, if so, mechanisms for paying for it.

Fortunately, if seniors take the time to scour the web and partner with their parents, school counselors, or others that can guide them, they will find that there are actually many options available to assist with funding a college education.

Our scholarship programs are among those available this year!  Thanks to two very generous and caring donors, Snow-Redfern Foundation will be selecting and awarding eligible seniors with scholarship funds this spring.

Students interested in applying can do so by reaching out to their school guidance counselors for more information and for the link to complete the application.  All applications are due no later than March 31, 2023.  Below are the two scholarship programs offered in the spring:

K.M. Dahlstedt Scholarship

The family of KM Dahlstedt has established an annual memorial scholarship fund to provide support to high school students who are pursuing a degree in vocational training education. This one-year award can be used for education-related expenses if the candidate meets the established criteria. Up to five (5) scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000.00 in the 2023-2024 school years.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the M Dahlstedt Memorial Scholarship, students must meet the following requirements at the time of application:

  • Currently enrolled high school student who will graduate in the current year
  • Citizen of the United States
  • Resident of Box Butte County in Nebraska
  • Accepted to an accredited technical college as a full-time degree seeking student

Edward M. and Eda S. Hempel Family Scholarship

Through the generosity of the Edward M. and Eda S. Hempel and family, this scholarship fund integrates the vision and beliefs once taught to young people at the Nebraska Boys Ranch. Though NBR is no longer in existence, the Snow-Redfern Foundation manages Arvilla Snow-Redfern’s estate through grants and scholarships to youth. Mr. and Ms. Hempel were integral in sustaining the Boys Ranch over the years and were generous contributors. Mr. Hempel was a long-time board member and he and his family gave generously of themselves through service and contributions so that the lives of kids might be better.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Hempel scholarship, students must meet the following requirements at the time of application:

  • Citizen/ permanent resident of Nebraska
  • Motivated to successfully complete a college degree
  • Planning to attend a Nebraska college within the next year
  • Enrolled at a high school within Box Butte or Morrill County
  • Nominated by a school designee (such as school counselor)
  • Preference is given to applicants that have a FAFSA EFC between $7,000 and $12,00

In the spring of 2022, the KM Dahlstedt Memorial Scholarship was organized by the Dahlstedt family, after the death of Kevin Michael Dahlstedt in 2007.  Employed with BNSF for nearly was the vice-local chair for the UTU as well as serving as councilman for the Alliance City Council.

He was passionate for the culture, the history, and the work of railroading. For him, it was truly more than a job. Kevin was also a history enthusiast, and an avid reader.

His widow, Kevin Leigh, and their three children, Wren, Mara, and Conrad, want to extend Kevin’s generosity by encouraging students to pursue a career in high-demand trades, and possibly, find a lifelong passion.

Snow-Redfern Foundation received multiple scholarship applications for these funds, and ultimately awarded $5,000.00 scholarships to four students graduating from Alliance High School. The awarded students are all enrolled for fall classes at various colleges.  The majors include nursing science, powerline program, criminal justice, and veterinary science.

We are thankful to the Dahlstedt family for their commitment to the community and to the young people that are pursuing education, training and ultimately, careers in Nebraska.

“Honoring a family member through a scholarship fund is a wonderful way to not only extend a legacy, but also to have a positive impact on the life of a young person”, shared Snow-Redfern Executive Director, Sara Nicholson, who encourages more families to consider this charitable and loving option for giving.

Summer break is here and LyonHeart Equine Assisted Learning program in Kearney is taking advantage of the warm days to nurture connection between kids and horses while developing skills.

The Snow-Redfern Project Grant they received in 2020 has funded 20 full scholarships for children to participate in their equine-assisted learning program this summer.

The horses are ready and excited to help children and youth navigate a variety of emotional, behavioral, and educational challenges!

Summer Life Skills

Owner, educator, and Director, Nancy Lyons, shared:

“Each year we like to provide different and unique programs and this year is no exception. “Resetting Our Emotions” and “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it neighs” are just two of our life skills programs we are offering. Since safety is a horse’s number one concern, the children will be practicing (in real time) regulating their own emotions to help the horse feel safe in real time while developing critical relationship skills that naturally transfer outside the arena”.

No Horsing Around

Nancy stated that their newest educational program includes horse science.  This includes learning how to measure the height of a horse, detecting heart and respiration rates, and calculating weight will be just a few of the many skills they will encounter. They will also be learning some fun horse facts while playing equine-assisted games.

A parent of one of the children working with Nancy and the horses, April, shared her delight in the impact the program has on her son, Miles.

“As part of the program, children get to decide a name for their chosen horse. In the arena “Bruce” has impacted my son by teaching him patience, calmness, and soft feet when approaching horses. This skill has transferred to outside the arena. We have seen Miles use this same approach to other animals as well as people. He has also learned to ask permission to pet animals. “Bruce” has brought so much joy to my son. We thank LyonHeart Equine Assisted Learning for being a wonderful support to our children and blessing to our community”