NORFOLK, NE – A day on the golf course will pay dividends for students at Northeast Community College. A check for $16,500 has been presented to the College to be used to assist students with scholarships.

Arlan Kuehn, Northeast board of governor’s vice chairperson, accepted a check for $16,650 from representatives of the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) at the regular monthly meeting of the College Board of Governors in Norfolk Thursday.

The funding, which is used for scholarships awarded to students enrolled in the state’s community college system, was part of $185,000 raised during the 28^th annual Wells Fargo Nebraska Open golf tournament held at the Elks Country Club in Columbus in September. Scholarships are distributed to eleven college campuses in the Central, Mid-Plains, Northeast, Southeast, and Western Nebraska Community College systems. Each year, sponsorship money and entry fees from golfers are divided between the tournament purse and the Nebraska Community College Foundation.

Over the 28 years, more than $ 1.5 million dollars in scholarship money was raised as a result of the Nebraska Open and its Pro-Am event. Northeast Community College has received over $331,000 in that time.

Mary Honke, Northeast interim co-president, said the funding will assist several Northeast students in meeting their career objectives.

“These scholarship dollars will certainly impact many of our students in achieving their academic goals. We would like to extend our gratitude to Wells Fargo and all of the other sponsors in providing these funds, and to Nebraska Public Power District for coordinating the tournament. These generous people understand the importance of making these scholarship dollars available to our students.”

“In the 28^th year of the tournament, support has continued to grow from sponsors across the United States. The scholarship funds raised will help community college students get started on their path towards earning a degree or will help already enrolled students get closer to completing their education,” said NPPD President and Chief Executive Officer Pat Pope. “The Nebraska Open is one of the state’s largest golfing events and has provided NPPD a great opportunity to work with the Nebraska Section of the PGA, the Nebraska Golf Association, and the Central Community College Foundation, towards a great cause.”

The Nebraska Section of the PGA and Nebraska Golf Association endorsed and sponsored the tournament that has been in Columbus since its creation in 1991. The Nebraska Open kicked-off with a Pro-Am event, where members of over 52 sponsoring businesses, competed alongside a tournament professional in an 18-hole scramble. The following two-days included the 54-hole Nebraska Open, concluding with an awards ceremony.

Wells Fargo has served as the main sponsor of the tournament for 16 consecutive years. Behlen Mfg. Co. is among the sponsors of the Columbus area for the tournament along with Eakes Office Solutions, Mike’s Auto Sales, Nebraska Energy Federal Credit Union, US Bank, Kelly Supply Co. and Seward Hughes Brothers.