Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
If you are a paid subscriber to the printed edition of the Branson Tri-Lakes News, use this verification process to setup your free digital access included with your paid subscription. The account number can be found on the label of your mailed copy of the paper. Note: The account number and last name field must exactly match what is printed on the label.
Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.
Promotional Rates were found for your code.
Sorry, an error occurred.
do not remove
Luke Jackson and Katie Neil, both from the Class of 2025, have been awarded a rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship.
Luke Jackson and Katie Neil, both from the Class of 2025, have been awarded a rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship.
Two Hollister students will be able to further their secondary education a little more as the recipients of a rootEd Scholarship.
On Monday, Sept. 29, Hollister High School announced Luke Jackson and Katie Neil, both from the Class of 2025, have been awarded a rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship of up to $12,000 annually, renewable for up to five years, to support their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.
The rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship is a “last dollar” award, designed to fill critical financial aid gaps after all other sources are considered, ensuring that rural students can attend college and graduate with little to no debt.
Hollister High School Principal Kristina Smith said the scholarship offered by rootEd will help both Neil and Jackson build their future success.
“We are thrilled that Luke and Katie are being recognized for their hard work and commitment to their education,” said Kristina Smith, HHS Principal. “This rootEd Scholarship provides life-changing support as they take the next step in building their futures, and we are excited to celebrate all that lies ahead for them.”
rootEd Alliance, a national nonprofit, partners with rural high schools across Missouri to ensure every student graduates with a plan for what’s next – whether college, career training, military service or entering the workforce. Since launching in Missouri in 2018, rootEd advisors have supported more than 54,000 students across the state in defining and pursuing their goals. Now, thanks to a significant increase in state funding through Missouri’s fiscal 2026 budget, signed in July 2025, rootEd is serving 174 schools statewide and reaching approximately half of all rural high schools in Missouri with a dedicated college and career advisor.
“These rootEd scholarships recognize both the hard work these students have already demonstrated and the tremendous potential they hold for the future,” said Noa Meyer, Chair of rootEd Alliance. “Congratulations to Luke Jackson and Katie Neil. rootEd is honored to be in your corner as you take this next step.”
These recipients join HHS Class of 2023 graduate Rachel Robinson, who also received this scholarship.
The scholarships are administered by The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, which has more than 100 years of experience supporting Missouri students through last-dollar scholarships, mentoring, and other services.
Your comment has been submitted.
Reported
There was a problem reporting this.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today!
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: