PANHANDLE -- High School seniors in the Panhandle counties have the opportunity to win a scholarship for living a smoke and vape-free life. 

The first round of the Panhandle Prep Scholarship Contest for the 2025-26 school year is underway. The scholarship is showcasing six high school seniors who were nominated and why they are choosing to live tobacco-free. 

The time has passed to enter nominations for this round, but the voting portion is open until August 31.

The scholarship is made possible by the Panhandle Public Health District and the Panhandle Prevention Coalition. 

To vote, visit PPHD’s Facebook page and like your favorite nominee’s original PPHD post. The student promoting a smoke and vape-free lifestyle with the most likes will win a $250 scholarship. 

Janelle Visser, PPHD Injury Prevention Coordinator, said, “We just feel this is a good way to show other teens that they do have peers who do not don’t use tobacco products and why they don’t.”

She adds that this year a few students from the same school were nominated, but they only chose one to promote and move onto the voting portion.  

The students not chosen for this round will be considered for the winter edition that comes out in November. 

Anyone can nominate a student for the scholarship – parents, administration, teachers, community members – who are in one of the 12 Panhandle counties including: Sheridan, Scottsbluff, Sioux, Box Butte, Grant, Morrill, Banner, Kimball, Cheyenne, Deuel, Garden, and Dawes. 

“[This scholarship] is just another way of promoting the importance of being tobacco and vape free and how students can help their peers to help make the right choices,” Visser said. “It’s very unhealthy, very addicting ... We just want to keep them as safe and healthy as we possibly can.” 

For the full stories on each student, visit the PPHD Facebook page, and vote for your favorite for their chance to win a scholarship. 

You can reach out to Jannelle Visser with any questions or to nominate a senior for the upcoming round. You can reach her at 308-760-6493 or her email at Jvisser@pphd.ne.gov.