The Transfer for Excellence Scholarship is awarded annually to one outstanding transfer student and provides full tuition coverage at the tuition rate of the student’s first year at 91ֱ��. The competitive program is designed for students who demonstrate strong academic achievement, leadership potential, and a commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom.

“Transfer students bring valuable experience, perspective, and ambition to our campus community,” said C-SC Director of Admission Eric Kniel. “This scholarship allows us to remove financial barriers while rewarding students who have already demonstrated strong academic performance and leadership potential.”

To be eligible, applicants must be admitted to 91ֱ�� as a transfer student, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and complete the C-SC Leadership Form through MyCulver.com. Transfer applicants must also be in the process of completing two full-time semesters at a transfer institution or anticipate completing an associate degree prior to enrollment.

All eligible candidates will be invited to participate in a competitive selection process, which includes a campus visit with a Wildcat Ambassador, participation in a session with the Scholar Committee, and submission of a written essay addressing a multi-faceted current event topic assigned by the committee.

In addition to the Transfer for Excellence Scholarship, high-performing transfer students may also be eligible for Culver-Stockton’s Honors Scholars Program, which offers enhanced academic and co-curricular opportunities focused on leadership, creativity, service, and research. Students are encouraged to engage in fine arts, athletics, student life, and Greek life as part of their overall collegiate experience.

Candidates who are not selected as the Transfer for Excellence Scholarship recipient may still qualify for up to an additional $1,000 in scholarship aid.

For more information about how to apply for the Transfer for Excellence Scholarship Competition contact the C-SC Admission Office at 800-537-1883 or admission@culver.edu.

Through this program, approved students will have 100% of their tuition paid, enabling them to pursue eligible degree programs that prepare them to serve Missouri communities in public safety roles. This includes approved associate and bachelor’s degrees aligned with fields such as criminal justice, psychology, biology, chemistry, public relations, homeland security, emergency management, disaster management, and other eligible subjects.

“Culver-Stockton is proud to support the individuals who serve and protect our communities,” said Seth McBride, Director, Center for Public Safety at C-SC and chair of the C-SC Criminal Justice department. “Through this partnership, we hope to expand educational access for public safety personnel and their families while continuing to prepare future leaders committed to strengthening the safety and well-being of Missouri communities.”

Scholarship Eligibility

To qualify for the 2026-27 academic year, applicants must:

• Apply by Dec. 15, 2025. (Students must reapply each academic year to be considered for funding.)
• Be Missouri residents.
• Be public safety personnel with at least six years of service, or the dependent child of eligible personnel with at least 10 years of service.
• Meet admission requirements and be enrolled in an approved degree program.
• Not already hold a bachelor’s degree.
• Complete the FAFSA and provide required verification documents.

Eligible applicants may be current or former police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, or advanced emergency medical technicians, as defined by Missouri statute. Verification may include state-issued licenses, certificates, or employer documentation supporting full-time service.

Application Deadline

Applications for the 2026–27 academic year must be completed by December 15, 2025. Students must reapply each academic year to be considered for funding.

��How to Apply

Prospective students may begin the application process by visiting the following resources:

• Public Safety Recruitment & Retention Act Scholarship Information & Eligibility Requirements:
• Access the Scholarship Employment Verification Form:
• Complete the FAFSA to Get Started:

For more information, contact McBride at smcbride@culver.edu.

The Pillars for Excellence Scholarship is the college’s premier award, designed to recognize and support exceptional students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and a commitment to success both on campus and beyond. To be considered, applicants must be admitted to C-SC as a first-time freshman, hold a minimum 3.75 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, and complete the C-SC Leadership Form on MyCulver.com. Eligible candidates will be invited to campus to participate in the selection process, which includes a visit with a Wildcat Ambassador, a session with the Pillars Scholar Committee, and submission of an essay on a current event assigned by the committee.

“Our Pillars for Excellence scholarship awardees receive full-tuition coverage, awarded annually at the freshman value, and are selected from highly qualified students admitted as first-time freshmen,” said C-SC Director of Admission Eric Kniel. “This competitive program is intended for students who embody resilience, intellectual curiosity, and leadership, traits that will help them excel both in the classroom and in their careers after graduation.”

For students like Keri Schindler, C-SC Class of 2028, the award has been transformative.

“For me, receiving the Pillars for Excellence Scholarship was life-changing,” Schindler noted. “It lifted a huge financial burden and gave me opportunities, from global travel to the honors program, that enriched my education beyond the classroom. My advice to future applicants is to be unapologetically yourself. Your uniqueness is your greatest strength.”

Candidates who apply and are not awarded the Pillars for Excellence Scholarship may still qualify for up to an additional $1,000 in scholarship aid, making this opportunity an excellent path for academically gifted students committed to excellence.

For more information about the Pillars for Excellence Scholarship, including how to apply, please visit /admissions/pillars/ or contact the Admission Office at 800-537-1883 or admission@culver.edu

“We were certainly impressed with the essays submitted by participants of this year’s Pillars for Excellence competition,” said Dr. Lauren Schellenberger, president of C-SC. “The thought-provoking, intelligent responses to the given topic are a clear indication that they are ready to dive deep into Culver-Stockton’s academic environment as they prepare for an exciting and challenging world beyond college.”

Full-tuition Pillars for Excellence scholarships are awarded to highly qualified freshmen with exceptional intellectual ability. Outstanding competitors who do not receive the full-tuition scholarship receive a $1,000 C-SC scholarship.

All Pillars Scholars receive an increase of $500 in travel study grants in addition to the $1,500 in grants that all students can accrue during their four years at C-SC. Scholars can potentially receive $2,000 in travel study funding, which can be used for fees during domestic or international travel courses.

In addition to financial awards, Pillars Scholars are admitted into the college’s Honors Program, which features a comprehensive leadership course, a service-project course, academic mentorship with a research project, exclusive seminar and conference opportunities, and recognition during a congratulatory luncheon and during the college’s commencement ceremony.

This year’s C-SC Pillars for Excellence competition honorees are:

Aiden Abraham, Loveland, CO

Sydney Barkley, Chesterfield, MO

Zoah Beard, Sheman, IL

Marah Becks, Quincy, IL

Aiden Benda, Fort Madison, IA

Evan Best, Moscow Mills, MO

Emily Bishop, Mount Juliet, TN

Maddie Bradshaw, Payson, IL

Chloe Brown, Hannibal, MO

Gabriela Bryan, Abingdon, IL

Jasmine Burks, Clayton, MO

Alexis Clark, Pacific, MO

Karli Crandall, Palmyra, MO

Genna Evans, West Liberty, IA

Aubrie Ferguson, Quincy, IL

Kaitlyn Ferguson, Iowa Park, TX

Johan Fernandez, Decatur, AL

Marcella Frank, Mount Sterling, IL

Julian Garza, Houston, TX

Hailie Hark, Hannibal, MO

Lucas Henriquez, Katy, TX

Hannah Hill, Pleasant Hill, IL

Addison Holm, Lake Saint Louis, MO

Tagr Holmes, Carpenter, WY

Max Howerton, Fort Smith, AR

Sophia Lindall, El Cajon, CA

Michelle Marecki, Lombard, IL

Chloe Mashburn, Cibolo, TX

Rylie McNamee, Manchester, MO

Abagail Mooney, Silex, MO

Brady Mullen, Creighton, MO

Kaley Payton, Ewing, MO

Tristen Pitford, Kahoka, MO

Kolbe Poos, Lees Summit, MO

Elizabeth Reed, Washington, MO

Tennesyn Rohman, Bailey, CO

Ava Sanker, Lake St Louis, MO

Tailer Senn, Billings, MT

Elaina Smith, Quincy, IL

Colten Steiner, Godfrey, IL

Austin Strubbe, Beardstown, IL

Emily Vatterott, Festus, MO

Sydnie Willis, Draper, UT

Haylie Wortham, Hendersonville, TN

Zacchery Zrebiec, Las Vegas, NV

The scholarship is part of the organization’s IMA Memorial Education Fund (MEF), which is available to undergraduate and graduate students. For the 2023-24 academic year, 32 students applied, and four scholarships totaling $10,000 were awarded. Those who apply for the MEF scholarship are automatically considered for IMA’s $5,000 Stuart Cameron & Margaret McLeod Memorial Scholarship (SCMS).

While Reinertsen was not selected for the SCMS scholarship, the selection committee noted that they were impressed with his background and leadership skills as part of IMA’s student chapter as well as his involvement in other organizations.

“We encourage you to continue your dedication in serving IMA, whether this be as a student or as a future professional, including at the student chapter, parent chapter, and/or council level,” the committee told Reinertsen.

The College shared that significant efforts have been made in recent years to increase available support for first-generation students and those with substantial financial needs. Dr. Alissa Burger, Director of Student Success at C-SC, works with students each day to assist them in achieving their educational goals and recognizes the vital role scholarship dollars play in student success. She said, “College students will always have barriers to overcome, but removing a financial barrier will drastically reduce emotional stress to aid in their successes in and out of the classroom.”

91ֱ��’s President, Dr. Douglas B. Palmer, recognizes the impact of this significant donation and is directing the institution’s effort to support students of promise. He shared, “Our first-generation students usually require additional financial resources to complete their education, and this generous gift will help us bridge the gap for those individuals.” Palmer clarified that this gift will be added to the existing endowment for first-generation students and will be distributed immediately.

The scholarships are awarded to students who are interested in pursuing careers in insurance brokerage. The Foundation, formerly known as the Foundation for Agency Management Excellence (FAME), is based in Washington, D.C. It has awarded $2.85 million to 570 students across the country since 2006, including $1.6 million to 333 students in the last four years alone.

Riddle is a native of Lebanon, Ind., and is majoring in marketing and business administration. He also is a member of the men’s soccer team. He completed a summer internship at the Indianapolis office of Burns & Wilcox, an independent insurance wholesale broker and managing underwriter which nominated Riddle for the scholarship.

The Foundation’s Scholarship Program partners with the internship programs of member firms of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers in an effort to hire these students back into the firms they interned with and/or retain them in the commercial insurance brokerage sector.

The mission of The Council Foundation is to bring fresh, diverse talent into the brokerage sector by way of internships with Council member firms. Students must be formally nominated by the respective brokerages at which they worked. In awarding the scholarships, an independent selection committee looks for candidates who have the potential to excel as leaders and contributors to the industry post-graduation.

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To apply for the MBA program’s full tuition scholarship, candidates should:

1. Complete the MBA admissions application at��.
2. Create and submit a video approximately one minute in length while answering the following questions: Why do I want to pursue my MBA at 91ֱ��? Why do I need the scholarship?

Videos should be uploaded at��. The deadline for submission of videos and the online application is Sept. 27, 2019. For questions, contact Erica Mitchell, interim director of admissions, at emitchell@culver.edu.

Entries will be reviewed by a panel from Culver-Stockton.

“We are excited to offer this scholarship opportunity,” said Dell Ann Janney, professor of accounting and chair of the MBA program. “The Culver-Stockton MBA program is fully online and allows our students to advance their knowledge of business and potentially accelerate their careers. This scholarship will provide financial assistance to a deserving individual who desires to take the next step to achieve these goals.”

The scholarship covers the cost of tuition for MBA required coursework. It does not include the cost of books and materials. The student must pass all classes with a grade of B or better, and the student must take classes in the order advised. The MBA degree must be earned within five years.

The scholarship will be awarded on Oct. 11, 2019.

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