Krehbiel creates scholarship to assist graduates with furthering education

As the school year draws to a close, graduates are exploring their options and pursuing future careers.

Former Lind and Ritzville resident Carol Lee Krehbiel hopes to relieve some of the financial burden of college for area Lind-Ritzville High School students by creating a gratitude scholarship: the Carol Lee Krehbiel-Jennie Jantz Scholarship.

The scholarship is geared towards aspiring in-need students who intend on continuing their education after high school by granting $2,500 for expenses.

As a child, Krehbiel said her parents emphasized the importance of education and the opportunities it can provide.

Krehbiel’s mother, Jennie Jantz, served as a school teacher in the Lind, Ritzville and Odessa area for 12 years. She taught in a one-room classroom and received her teaching certificate at Cheney Normal.

At the time, Krehbiel explained teachers were not allowed to marry. Determined to continue being an educator, Krehbiel said her parents were engaged for 10 years in order for her mother to pursue her passion to be a teacher.

Krehbiel said her mother’s motivation allowed her to realize how crucial education is for females to support their families and themselves.

After graduating from Ritzville High School in 1954, Krehbiel married after her sophomore year in college and did not receive a college degree until 1975.

Despite leaving school, her childhood dream of completing college did not diminish, she explained.

At the age of 41, she completed her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Oklahoma. She worked as a psychotherapist in the mental health field until the age of 65.

When the Lind and Ritzville schools consolidated, Krehbiel said she felt inspired to give back and decided to start the scholarship fund.

She hopes the money will encourage area students to further their education after high school.

Growing up in the communities, Krehbiel said she felt the financial burden of school expenses for farm families and low-income individuals.

To Krehbiel, a college education not only opens doors for opportunities, but also gives an individual the upper hand when applying for employment.

In a fast moving economic world, she said having a college education showcases drive and determination to employers.

She believes it is especially important for females to be able to support their families by receiving a college education and pursuing a career.

For the recipients of the scholarship, Krehbiel said she hopes to be a voice of encouragement to further their education and strive to pursue their passions.

She also hopes the scholarship will encourage other individuals to donate in order to support students in receiving a college education.

Krehbiel said she believes it is important for the older generation to support and encourage local youth to pursue a secondary education after high school.

Those applying for the scholarship must be a graduating senior from Lind-Ritzville High School and maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or above. The applicant’s financial needs will be considered, and preference will be given to females.

Applicants must attend an academically accredited, not-for-profit two-year or four-year college, university or vocational school.

Additional criteria for the scholarship include submitting an essay on the advantage of growing up in rural communities and why going to college is important to the applicant.

Applicants must also submit one letter of recommendation from a high school teacher, counselor or athletic coach, along with a resume and a transcript.

Recipients will be selected by a committee from the high school as designated by the Lind-Ritzville Public School Foundation.

Krehbiel said she will be working with school officials on the future of the scholarship and allowing applicants to reapply for a second year.

She hopes to attend the graduation ceremony this year on June 3 to present the first Carol Lee Krehbiel- Jennie Jantz Scholarship.