Three area students receive Molz scholarship

The GCCC Endowment Association recently announced that three area students were selected for the 2026-2027 Otis and Mary Lee Molz Cooperative Scholarship. The Molz scholarship recipients will receive full tuition and fees for up to 16 credit hours per semester at GCCC.

The 2026-27 Molz Cooperative scholarship recipients are:

• Gabriella Biernacki, current GCCC student
• Grady Gleason, current GCCC student
• Quinter Weatherred,  Lakin High School

The scholarship fund, established in 2014, is made possible by the largest donation made by a living donor to the GCCC Endowment Association. The fund provides full tuition and fees (up to 16 credit hours/semester) for Garden City Co-op employees, members, and their spouses, children, and grandchildren. A committee comprised of members from the Garden City Co-op selects the final recipients of the award each year.

Karlie Oller, Director of Annual Giving, Events, and Alumni Relations at GCCC, highlighted the significance of the award>

“The Otis and Mary Lee Molz Cooperative Scholarship is a powerful investment in local students, removing financial barriers and creating opportunities for them to succeed right here in our community,” she said.

About the Otis & Mary Lee Molz Cooperative Scholarship

In 2014, the Molz couple committed to continue making contributions to the endowed scholarship fund until it met maturity at $500,000. As these were the largest academic scholarships that GCCC’s Endowment Association would award each year, the Garden City Co-op also committed to contributing an additional $15,000 per year through 2024, to keep up with inflation and tuition increases. The Molz’ affiliation with CoBank also resulted in the bank’s additional $10,000 contribution to the scholarship fund.

For more information or to create your own scholarship, contact the GCCC Endowment Association at 620-276-0412.