ellie thomas

BOLIVAR, MO – Ellie Thomas, from the Bolivar High School Class of 2024, was awarded a rootEd Alliance Undergraduate Scholarship of up to $12,000, renewable for up to five years, to support her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

rootEd Alliance, a national nonprofit that partners with states and rural-serving organizations to help students define and plan their futures following high school graduation, announced that 31 high school graduates from rural communities across Missouri have received scholarships to attend a four-year college or university this year.

Thomas’s selection is particularly noteworthy given this year’s application cycle was by far the most competitive in the five years that rootEd has been administering the scholarship.

“The scholarship is taking a huge financial burden off of me and allowing me to graduate debt-free,” said Thomas. “I am so thankful for this scholarship, the organization, and the opportunities it has made possible.”

Thomas is attending Evangel University and is double majoring in Psychology and Business.