Even though we are in the dead of winter, it’s just a few short months before students will be done with the 2025-2026 school year. For high school seniors, the next few months will be a whirlwind, these last days of school will be just a memory soon. This is also a final stretch where decisions are critical.

Succeeding after high school graduation takes many forms. All require money on one level; whether it is some form of continuing education or finding a job, the next steps in life are important ones. The cost of continuing education in any form has continued to rise, and determining a path is often based on the finances.

Can I really afford to continue my training?

Many of the graduating class will be looking at some form of continuing education, whether it is through a trade school, a community college or a university.

According to information through the Iowa Board of Regents, annual tuitions are nearing $10,000 per year even for the state colleges. The base undergraduate tuition rates proposed by the Iowa Board of Regents for 2025-2026 is as follows: $9,565 for Iowa; $9,530 for Iowa State and $8,792 for the University of Northern Iowa. Non residents pay nearly three times as much to attend these schools.

Iowa Central Community College and other community colleges base their fees on the credit hours that enroll with them. According to the Iowa Department of Education, the average cost per credit hour is $228.72 for 2026.

The tuition alone is not the only expense of any additional education. Room and board, books and materials charges also adds to the cost of additional education. Choosing to attend any type of school has many hidden expenses, and very few families are able to write a check to pay for it all at once.

Webster City is unique in many ways, with over 50 different scholarships available to their graduates. In several cases, more than one applicant can be awarded a scholarship. These are local scholarships — not scholarships from colleges or other institutions. There are many memorial scholarships, and there are scholarships that encourage continuing education in a specific field.

Some of the largest scholarships take a bit more effort, but every dollar counts when students are facing an enormous bill at the end of their post-graduate studies. More than $60,000 in financial assistance will be awarded this spring, usually with the checks written directly to the institution where a student is attending.

“Local scholarships exist because our generous community believes in students,” Katie Sonsalla, Webster City High School guidance counselor said. “The advice? Apply even if you’re unsure, take your time on applications, and let others help you along the way … and students, don’t forget to write a thank-you note.”

Some of the scholarships are specific to professions, some require affiliations of some sort; that criteria is spelled out on the applications. There are a number of scholarships which can be used for any type of career choice, any trade school; such as electrical, plumbing, auto repair, cosmetology and many others.

The Cessna Scholarship is one of the few scholarships that will help any student who wants to continue their education. This scholarship was established by William Cessna in 1975. Every student who applies, regardless of their grade point average, can use the basic Cessna Scholarship towards their continuing education. In addition, those with grade point averages above 3.4 can get an additional scholarships awarded, in addition to departmental scholarships. The basic Cessna Scholarship can be also awarded up to eight semesters after graduation, but it doesn’t have to be consecutive.

William Cessna was a journalist who grew up in Webster City, but never finished high school. The Cessna scholarship involves filling out a new application each year. Students do need to be a full-time student wherever they attend.

Several large scholarships are more specific

The A.J. Julian Memorial Scholarship is a $4,000 scholarship awarded each year to a male graduate of Webster City High School. Applicants must demonstrate a combination of high academic achievement, financial need, and leadership as demonstrated through community involvement and participation. The A.J. Julian Scholarship Fund is managed and administered through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. It was established by Velda E. Klamet as a memorial to her family. This scholarship requires an application and an essay.

The Cleo Taylor Graham Art scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship, which can be reapplied for each year up to four years of college. The student must be majoring in an area which involves visual art. Examples are graphic design, architecture, art education, art museum management, photography, theatrical set design, fashion and merchandising and interior design amongst others. Cleo Graham was a self-taught artist, who graduated from Webster City High School in 1932, and used art in the one-room schools where she taught to help students understand other concepts in education. This scholarship requires an application and samples of artwork (photographs of work).

There are several scholarships that support students entering the medical field. The Van Diest Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship Fund gives six scholarships of $1,000 per person for students pursuing careers in health-related fields. The Charmaine Sharon Withers Book Scholarship also is focused on medical professions in addition to the Cynthia Warland Eddy which is to go toward nursing.

There are also three scholarships specific to the auto mechanics field: Those include the Doug and Troy Youngdale scholarship, the Logan Baldwin scholarship and the Whit Hemingway scholarship.

In addition, Iowa Central Community College has additional scholarships for students who choose to attend their campus in either Webster City, Eagle Grove or Fort Dodge. The link to that site is: https://www.iowacentral.edu/financial_aid/general_scholarships.asp.

The list is long for available scholarships and is still in the process of being verified. Below is a partial list, and seniors need to access this with their Google password for the Guidance Classroom. Updates are still being made to the applications and amounts of scholarships and the deadlines vary from mid-March to mid-April.

A.J. Julian Scholarship

American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship

Anderson Family Scholarship

Annetta Woods/Winslow Stark Scholarship

Bev Oppold-Blessman Scholarship

Blairsburg Community Improvement Scholarship

Bob and Dorothy Hudson Scholarship

Bob Doerning Memorial Scholarship

Christensson Family Foundation Scholarship

Cleo Taylor Graham Memorial Art Scholarship

Conklin Family Scholarship

Cooperative Telephone Exchange Scholarship

Cynthia Warland Eddy Scholarship

Dorothy Englehart Scholarship

Dorothy Hill Scholarship

Doug and Troy Youngdale Scholarship

Effie McCollum Jones Scholarship

Halsne Memorial Scholarship

Hamilton County Conservation Pheasants Forever Bernie (Red Dog) Memorial Scholarship

Helen Richardson Wehrheim Memorial Scholarship

Jordan Leeper Scholarship

Joy Middletoon Niklasen Scholarship

Julie Eggers Memorial Scholarship

Kamrar Lions Club Scholarship

Kent Harfst Memorial Scholarship

Larry R. Nielsen Scholarship

Larry Ross Memorial Scholarship

Logan Baldwin Scholarship

Lynx Scholarship

Mason Family Farms Scholarship

Nick Seamonds Scholarship

Northeast Hamilton Foundation Scholarship

Oliver Gore Memorial Scholarship

Patricia Gatewood Memorial Scholarship

Paul Johnston Memorial Scholarship

Pioneer Brand Carden Seed Scholarship

Sons of American Legion Scholarship

Spencer Lane Scholarship

Stanley Mark Withers Scholarship

Stratford Lions Club Scholarship

Stratford Mutual Telephone Scholarship

The Messenger Scholarship

Town and Country Garden Club Scholarship

Van Diest Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship

Webster City American Legion Post 191 Scholarship

Webster City Education Association Scholarship

Webster City High School Class of 1971 Scholarship

Webster City Community Theatre Scholarship

Webster City Women’s Club Scholarship

Whit Hemingway Scholarship

Williams Lions Club Scholarship

Many of the scholarships above are in memory of teachers and graduates of the Webster City Schools, others are scholarships that are specific to where students live.

If you are a student or a parent, take the time to look through the list. Every scholarship has been established to ensure the students of Webster City have the best chance to study whatever field that they are interested in. Many are given in honor of a loved one. And if there is a family or a group which wants to establish a scholarship, or have given one in the past and it isn’t on the list, be sure to notify the Webster City High School Counselors office at 515-832-9210, and speak with either Katie Sonsalla or Shelly Powers.

Seniors can access the full list of scholarships and the application form that is required for each of them on the Google Guidance Classroom, according to Shelly Powers, Webster City High School counselor.

“By applying, seniors are able to decrease their costs for their post-secondary education and training.” said Powers. ” It’s important to remember that these scholarships are made possible due to the generosity of our local businesses and organizations.”

If students need assistance, both Sonsalla and Powers can assist students in accessing and understanding the application process.

And remember, the efforts to update the scholarship list is still in process, but some of the application deadlines are as early as March 16. Recipients will be announced during Senior Night which will be held May 13 at 6:30 p.m.