Danial & Joeanna Smith Education Scholarship

The Danial & Joeanna Smith Education Scholarship was established through a bequest from the estate of Danial and Joeanna Smith for the purpose of providing educational scholarships to permanent residents of Van Buren County who are planning to pursue a bachelor's degree at a four-year college or university. This one-time, non-renewable scholarship supports full-time students who demonstrate strong academic achievement, financial need, and participation in extracurricular activities. The scholarship amount varies and is not disclosed. Recipients must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA for high school seniors or 3.0 GPA for current undergraduates. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the educational institution and can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. The application process is streamlined through an all-in-one online application available from December 1 through March 1 each year, with award notifications sent between April and June, and payments disbursed by mid-July through August.