You’re never too young to make a difference. United Way’s Aaron Joel Smith Memorial Youth Volunteer Scholarship recognizes teens in south-central Kansas who are active volunteers, giving back to their community through their time and talents.
The memorial scholarships honor Aaron Joel Smith, along with three of his classmates, who tragically lost their lives in a 1991 car accident. The awards are a tribute to Smith’s spirit of volunteerism and his involvement as a coordinator for the 1991 United Way fundraising campaign at Northeast Magnet School in Wichita. The scholarships have been granted annually to outstanding youth volunteers since 1992.
The program rewards three high school students with scholarships in the amounts of $10,000, $15,000, and $25,000.
I think it can be so valuable to expand your worldview and your cultural awareness. It’s been really fun, and I’ve gained so much out of it.
– Annabella Shannon, Wichita East High School, Fall 2025 $25,000 Recipient
Congratulations to our fall 2025 recipients.
- $25,000 Recipient: Annabella Shannon, Wichita East High School
- $15,000 Recipient: Lauren Wise, Maize South High School
- $10,000 Recipient: Hunter Steele Heckart, Mulvane High School
APPLY NOW
Tell us about your work to transform our community as a volunteer for an opportunity at a scholarship worth $10,000, $15,000 or $25,000.
Eligibility
- Students must both attend school and live within the United Way service area, which covers Sedgwick, Butler (all ZIP codes except 67042), Barber, Cowley, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner Counties, and the following ZIP codes: 67025, 67035, 67068, 67108, 67135, 67147, and 67154.
- The applicant must be a senior in high school.
- The applicant must have volunteered a minimum of 200 hours outside of school and organizations/societies that require volunteerism.
- Hours reported should be reflective of volunteer work completed during the applicant’s high school years (freshman-senior).
How to Apply
Complete the application below by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Winners will be notified in November.
Download the Volunteer Log Template here. Add lines as needed. Please only include hours volunteered outside of school and organizations or societies that require it. Complete and upload as part of the application below. Applicants must use this template and upload it as an Excel document. Applications that upload their own log or provide a PDF will be considered incomplete.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Logan Bradshaw Schoech, Director of Community Impact, at lbradshaw@unitedwayplains.org or (316) 267‑1321, ext. 4210.
