The Volga German Centennial Association, is proud to announce the 2018 recipient of the Volga German Society Oktoberfest Scholarship: Alyssa Miller from Holdrege, Neb.

Alyssa is attending Fort Hays State University, majoring in elementary education.  Her Volga German ancestry goes back to Pfeifer and her great-great grandfather was Frank Pfeifer.  

Hays Oktoberfest promotes the rich heritage of the Volga German and Bukovina Germans who settled in Ellis County, Kansas. The Volga German Society of Ellis County and Rush County, along with the Sunflower Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, and the Ellis County Historical Society put on the event each year. It also celebrates the history of early settlers in Ellis County, which was created in 1867. The annual Hays Oktoberfest helps raise scholarship money for students of Volga German descent and promote the German Heritage. The booths at the Hays Oktoberfest also help support nonprofit organizations.

The Volga German Society Oktoberfest Scholarship has expanded this year to students attending North Central Kansas Technical College in addition to Fort Hays State University.  The scholarship is intended for students who attend or are planning on attending FHSU or NCK Tech full time and are a descendant of settlers from Ellis or Rush counties. A non-renewable $500 scholarship will be awarded to one student attending FHSU and one student from NCK Tech. All applications must be submitted to the Oktoberfest Scholarship Committee by Feb. 15.

For more information on applying for the Volga German Society Oktoberfest Scholarship visit http://haysoktoberfest.com or call 785.259.1425.

About the Volga German Centennial Society

The Volga German Centennial Association exists to promote and support surrounding Volga German Communities in the Ellis County Kansas Regional Area.

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