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Barbara Thronson Scholarship

PARK COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Foundation One-time Grants for Education

Funding Amount

$2,000 per student (four awards in 2026)

Deadline

Closed

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Barbara Thronson Scholarship

Overview: Special one-time scholarship application period offering four $2,000 awards to 2026 high school graduates from Park County high schools. This special offering is from residual scholarship dollars available from Barbara Thronson's bequest.

Award Details:

  • Amount: $2,000 per student

  • Number of Awards: Four $2,000 scholarships available in 2026

  • Recurrence: One-time special offering (special application period for 2026 graduates)
  • About the Scholarship: Barbara Thronson was a fourth-generation Montanan, lifelong learner, teacher, and administrator. She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's degree in special education, and pursued doctoral studies at the University of Montana. She worked in rural schools across Montana, California, Idaho, Michigan, and Wyoming and was nationally recognized for educational advocacy in Washington, D.C. Between 2015 and 2022, the Barbara Thronson scholarship awarded multi-year scholarships benefiting 43 students from all three Park County high schools. Early graduations, changed majors, and minor deviations in academic plans left residual scholarship dollars to award in 2026.

    Geographic Scope: Park County, Montana

    Contact Information:

  • Program Manager: Keva Ward

  • Email: keva.ward@pccf-montana.org

  • Phone: (406) 224-3920
  • How to Apply

    Application Process

    Application Period: February 10 - April 10, 2026

    Recipients Announced: May 2026

    Eligibility Requirements:

  • Graduate from Gardiner, Park, or Shields Valley High School in 2026

  • Maintain cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale) or above

  • Plan to attend a post-secondary institution as a full-time student beginning Fall 2026
  • Required Application Materials:

    1. Online Application:
    - Complete online form
    - Include responses to two essay questions:
    - Please describe a time in your life that has shaped who you are as a person.
    - Please describe the most significant challenge you've had during high school. How did you overcome that challenge and how will you benefit from it in the future?

    2. Letter of Recommendation:
    - One letter of recommendation required
    - Can be completed either:
    - Online using the PCCF letter of recommendation form
    - Paper format delivered to PCCF office at 104 S. Main St., Livingston, MT
    - Both online and paper versions available on website

    Submission:

  • Applications submitted online

  • Paper letters of recommendation delivered to: 104 S. Main St., Livingston, MT
  • Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    education

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