(Decatur County) – Scholarship season is now open for students across Decatur County.
The Decatur County Community Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2026 graduating class, offering access to roughly 70 different scholarships through a single online application.
Applications opened January 1 and are due February 1 at 11:59 p.m. Any graduating high school senior who resides in Decatur County is eligible to apply. In addition, a smaller number of scholarships are available to current college students and adults returning to school.
Students can begin the process by visiting dccfound.org, clicking the red “Further Your Education” link, and selecting “Apply for a Scholarship.” After completing one general application, the system automatically matches students with scholarships they qualify for, eliminating the need to search and apply individually.
DCCF Scholarship Program Manager Jenny Schebler said students should not assume they are disqualified based on grades or post-secondary plans.
“No, no. Anyone that’s out there needs to apply, and our process makes it extremely easy,” Schebler said.
Schebler explained that once the general application is submitted, eligible scholarships populate automatically. Some require nothing more than an electronic signature, while others may ask for a short essay or limited financial information. Scholarships vary widely, with options tied to specific high schools, career paths, colleges, trade schools, and vocational programs.
She also noted that some scholarships—particularly those aimed at vocational and trade-school students—often receive fewer applications than people expect.
“Please do, because a lot of those scholarships, we don’t have a lot of kids applying for them, so they need to get out there, complete this application, submit it, because they might be surprised,” Schebler said.
Schebler encouraged families to view the application as a low-risk opportunity that could result in meaningful financial support.
“Every dollar helps,” she said.
Questions about the scholarship process can be directed to the Decatur County Community Foundation at 812-662-6364.
