25 Jun Foundation Awards First Reverse Scholarship
The McPherson County Community Foundation has awarded its first reverse scholarship through the McPherson County Professional Recruitment (CPR) initiative.
Taye Retter, an incoming teacher in the Smoky Valley School District, received the $1,000 McPherson County CPR Scholarship. The scholarship can be used to pay down a portion of his student loans or help cover relocation expenses as he moves to McPherson County.
As part of the award, Retter will be eligible to reapply for additional funding after one and two years of living and working in McPherson County.
The McPherson County CPR reverse scholarship was created to help attract and retain talented professionals in the county. Eligibility is based on both employment and planned relocation to a community within McPherson County. Applicants must either be relocating to the county for employment or be a recent college graduate who is accepting a first full-time position in McPherson County after graduating in May of the current year.
Retter, a graduate of Kansas State University and a native of Concordia, accepted his first full-time position as a business instructor at Smoky Valley High School in Lindsborg.
“I heard about it from my new boss,” Retter said. “He told me this would be an opportunity available to me.”
Retter said the funding will help ease the transition into his new community, especially as he prepares for his first year of teaching.
“It really means a lot to me,” Retter said. “Having something this significant to help with moving into a community is incredibly helpful.”
The McPherson County Community Foundation continues to accept applications for two McPherson County CPR opportunities. Applications are reviewed as they are received. The McPherson County CPR reverse scholarship currently has funding to release one more scholarship in 2026.
For more information about McPherson County CPR opportunities: https://www.mcphersonfoundation.org/mcpherson-county-cpr/