DCS Scholarship Opportunities

Sylvia Siporin Memorial Scholarship

The Sylvia Siporin Memorial Scholarship honors the life of Sylvia Siporin. Sylvia attended college while in her 40s and passed away before completing her degree. It is the donor’s wish to enable others to accomplish Sylvia’s goal of earning a college education.

College of Continuing Studies Scholarship

This is a one-semester scholarship for enrolled BMS students. To be eligible students must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA and demonstrate financial need. This scholarship is not intended for those students who have their tuition paid for by either their employer or the military. University of Nebraska system full-time employees are also not eligible.

Dr. Larry D. Winkler Memorial Scholarship

This fund shall honor Dr. Larry D. Winkler, Assistant Dean Emeritus for the College of Continuing Studies (now Division of Continuing Studies). Most who knew Larry saw a strong, talented, entertaining man with a gregarious personality, clever wit, and a lifelong passion for learning. He was a virtuoso clarinetist, the youngest in the Wichita Symphony Orchestra at age 16. He still played clarinet on occasion at First Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, where he had sung in the choir for more than 30 years.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in Music Education in 1957 and a Master of Arts in Music Education in 1958 from Wichita State University. While music had always been a part of his life, his childhood dream was to fly. He became a pilot in the United States Air Force, where he served from 1957 to 1979, and retired as a lieutenant colonel. After earning a Ph.D. in Administrative Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Winkler enjoyed a second career as the Director of Academic Programs for the College of Continuing Studies, retiring as Assistant Dean Emeritus. After retiring, Larry continued to advise students weekly at Offutt AFB.

The Meredith B/7-8FA Scholarship

This fund shall commemorate the U.S. Army's 7th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, which was deployed in the Republic of Vietnam from 1967 to 1971. It operated mainly in the southern part of the country, in the Mekong River delta, and the rubber plantation area east of Saigon. The unit was equipped with self-propelled 8-inch howitzers and 175mm guns and was awarded Meritorious Unit Citations, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation, and a series of campaign streamers during its deployment.

Captain Dennis Meredith served with the unit in 1968 and 1969 and commanded its Battery B for eight months in 1969. This scholarship is intended to serve as a tribute to the men of Battery B who served their country so faithfully and well.