(KNZA)--A recent Hiawatha High School graduate has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Kansas Sheriff’s Association.

According to a press release from Executive Director Sandy Horton, Kyle Tollefson, of Hiawatha,  is among thirteen awarded a $1,000 scholarship for 2017.  In addition, there was one $2,000 Sheriff Matt Samuels scholarship recipient.

Sheriff Samuels was killed in the line of duty in January 2005, and shortly thereafter, a scholarship was established.

Each year the Kansas Sheriffs Association awards up to $15,000 worth of
educational scholarships to eligible members or family members.  

An eight-member committee, chaired by Osborne County Sheriff Curtis
Miner, receive the written applications and conducts interviews with all
applicants.  This year, thirty-one scholarship applications were considered.

Tollefson’s application was sponsored by his grandmother, Paula Segrest.  She has worked for the Brown County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 30 years.