Earlier this year, the Missouri Broadcasters Association Foundation awarded scholarships to high school and college students in Missouri studying to be broadcasters.

According to a release from the MBA,  the foundation each year presents scholarships from a list of applicants that have applied and written an essay on their career goals. The applicants must either already be studying broadcast and/or digital related field at a Missouri College or University or be a High School Senior planning entering those programs. 

Three of the announced winners have connections to the Lakes Region. 

Two are college students, Nathan Johnson from College of the Ozarks majoring in Broadcast Journalism and Nickolas McKinley from Reeds Spring, who is a Film and Broadcasting Major at Evangel University. 

Another person from Reeds Spring, Keaston Chaplin, is a senior at Reeds Spring High School who is planning on majoring in Broadcast Journalism at either Missouri State or the University of Missouri. 

“There was strong interest in our scholarship program this year. Selecting from the large pool of applicants wasn’t easy, but these eight recipients stood out as very impressive students,” said Chad Mahoney, President and CEO of the Missouri Broadcasters Association in the release. “Not only are these students excelling in their classwork, many of them are involved with their campus stations or have part-time jobs at our MBA member stations. The future of Missouri broadcasting looks bright!”

All the 2026 MBA Foundation Scholarship recipients will be honored at the annual MBA Awards Banquet which will be held in June at Lakes of the Ozarks.