2026 Chevron Scholarship Recipients Announced

Posted: Jul 21 2026


The Minot Area Community Foundation, in partnership with Chevron Corporation and the North Dakota State Fair, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Chevron Scholarships. This annual scholarship program supports North Dakota high school seniors involved in 4-H and FFA, whose academic and career goals aim to enhance the quality of life in their communities - whether through industry involvement or by strengthening the social, educational, or environmental fabric of North Dakota.

This year, $40,000 in scholarships have been awarded to eight deserving students across the state.

Three students were selected to receive scholarships of $10,000 each:

• Maksim Nelson from New Salem plans to study Mechanical Engineering at North Dakota State University.
• Emily Senger from Rolla plans to study Clinical Laboratory Science at Concordia College.
• Sam Simons from Carrington plans to study Precision Machine Technology at North Dakota State College of Science.

 
Five additional students have each been awarded a $2,000 scholarship:

• Malory Kemp from Cavalier plans to study Civil Engineering at Montana State University.
• Molly Hansen from Carrington plans to study Animal Science at Lake Land College.
• Olivia Follman from York plans to study Agriculture & Biosystems Engineering at North Dakota State College of Science.
• Lily Donahue from Pekin plans to study Animal Science at North Dakota State University.
• Nathan Pletan from New Salem plans to study Power Process Technology at Bismarck State College.

 “FFA and 4-H students are the future of North Dakota, and Chevron is proud to support young people who are investing in their education, leadership development and communities,” said Michael Bast, North Dakota Director for Chevron. “These scholarships recognize students who are already making a positive impact and will help shape North Dakota’s future for years to come.”

In addition to the scholarships, twenty North Dakota 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters were each awarded $500 grants earlier this year through the same partnership. The grants are being used for community service projects in their local areas or to help increase participation in the North Dakota State Fair.

“We’re proud to partner with Chevron and the North Dakota State Fair to help make these scholarships and grants possible,” said Jason Zimmerman, President of the Minot Area Community Foundation. “Investing in students and youth organizations today helps strengthen North Dakota’s future, and we’re honored to play a role in that effort.”
Together, these initiatives reflect a shared commitment to strengthening North Dakota’s rural communities through education, leadership, and opportunity.