United Way of the Plains Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipients

WICHITA, Kan., April 28, 2025 — Each year, United Way of the Plains’ Aaron Joel Smith Memorial Youth Volunteer Scholarships reward three area high school students who actively volunteer with the organization or other area nonprofits. Scholarships are awarded in the amounts of $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000.

This year’s award recipients are from three area high schools.

• $25,000 scholarship: Zinnia Singh, East High School (Wichita USD 259)
• $15,000 scholarship: Austin Thieme, Sedgwick High School (Sedgwick USD 439)
• $10,000 scholarship: Omar Mousa, Northeast Magnet High School (Wichita USD 259)

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.

Students must meet these eligibility requirements to apply:

• Reside in Sedgwick, Butler, Barber, Cowley, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Pratt, Sumner or Reno counties.
• Enrolled as a junior or senior in high school.
• Demonstrate that they have volunteered a minimum of 200 hours (outside of school and organizations/societies that require volunteerism).
• Reported volunteer hours reflect volunteer work completed during the applicant’s high school career (freshman – senior).

The 2026 scholarship application will open later this year. Visit unitedwayplains.org/scholarship to learn more.

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MEDIA ASSETS: Photos and Video

MEDIA CONTACT: Stacy Ward Lattin, Manager of Public Outreach and Community Engagement, (316) 267-1321, ext. 4224, swardlattin@unitedwayplains.org

United Way of the Plains is a nonprofit and for-impact organization that focuses on health, education, financial stability and basic needs – the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Our mission is to improve lives by harnessing the caring power of our community to advance the common good in south central Kansas. Follow us on these social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.