SIDNEY, Neb. — A nonprofit based in Nebraska donates $200,000 to 24 different schools.

Sidney High School along with many other Panhandle schools received a college access grant from EducationQuest Foundation.

Sidney Associate Principle and School Counselor Tess Plummer applied for the grant.

“I applied for the EducationQuest grant last Spring and we were awarded $30,000 over four years for Sidney High School,” Plummer said.

According to Plummer, the grant money will mostly go to junior and senior students going on college tours.

“It’s to focus on college activities like college visits, college fairs, financial aid nights, and different things like that,” Plummer said.

Plummer said the students will be visiting trade schools, and four-year universities.

“The goal would be to go to Lincoln and possibly stop at Southeast or Kearny and if you go to Kearny then also go to Midplains Community College,” Plummer said.

Plummer said being in rural Nebraska can make college visits difficult, and financially challenging for students.

“We’re super excited to have the extra finances to do this,” Plummer said. “We already do a lot of great college exploration activities systematically built within Sidney Public Schools, but a little extra funding can help us with a few more college visits to hopefully catch all students, not just some.”

Plummer said she hopes to get Sidney students prepared for their next steps after high school.

“I would say the main thing is that we are going to be able to amp up some of the college preparation stuff that we already do,” Plummer said.

All of the schools who received the college access grant are:

Bellevue West High School

Callaway High School

Cozad High School

Crawford Public Schools

Elba High School

Fremont High School

Gering High School

Kearney High School

Keya Paha County High School

Lawrence-Nelson Public Schools

Lewiston Consolidated Schools

Lincoln Northwest High School

Lincoln Southwest High School

Logan View Public Schools

Nebraska City High School

Northwest High School (Grand Island)

Omaha Bryan High School

Omaha North High School

Pawnee City Public Schools

Plattsmouth High School

Sidney High School

Scottsbluff High School

Southern High School

Wood River Rural High School

The application process for the next grant cycle will begin in fall 2023.