NEODESHA — The Philip D. Griffith Family Charitable Foundation, which has awarded nearly $2 million in scholarships since 1990, is launching a new program to support Neodesha High School students earning college credit or career training while still in school.
Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, the Griffith Foundation Jumpstart Scholarship will provide up to $6,000 per student to cover tuition, textbooks and required supplies for dual-credit or career and technical education courses. Funds may also be available for continued education after graduation, depending on remaining account balances.
The Jumpstart Scholarship is designed to complement, not replace, existing programs such as the Neodesha Promise Scholarship and the Neodesha Alumni Scholarship Fund. Students graduating through the class of 2025 will continue to receive full support under the original Griffith Scholarship.
To qualify, students must meet Neodesha High School’s academic eligibility requirements. Funding will be distributed through individual student accounts, allowing for flexible, needs-based support.
“This is an exciting step for Neodesha students,” said Phil Griffith. “The Jumpstart Scholarship is not a cookie cutter approach. It’s about meeting students where they are and giving them a real head start on their future.”
Griffith and his family have always emphasized three values in their scholarship mission: Do your best, always remember where you came from and if you reach a place in life where you can give back, please do so.
The foundation is led by trustees Phil Griffith, Alex Griffith, Cristina Griffith, Dennis Depew and Marilyn Graham. Its work has inspired other community initiatives, including the Neodesha Alumni Scholarship Fund (est. 1994) and the Neodesha Promise Scholarship (est. 2019).
