Goodwill Announces 2026 Maggie Thompson Scholarship Recipients
April 13, 2026
Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska proudly announces the recipients of the 2026 Maggie Thompson Memorial Scholarship, a program that empowers high school students with disabilities to pursue their educational and career dreams. This year, four outstanding high school seniors from communities across Greater Nebraska have been selected as scholarship recipients; each awarded $1,000 to support their post-secondary education and career development. The scholarship, established over 35 years ago in memory of Maggie Thompson – a former Goodwill team member who overcame significant challenges to live independently – reflects Goodwill’s mission of helping people with disabilities and other barriers achieve greater independence through education and employment.
The 2026 Maggie Thompson Scholarship recipients are:
Each of these remarkable students has demonstrated perseverance in the face of personal challenges and a clear vision for their future. They shared inspiring insights about how the scholarship will help them reach their educational and career aspirations. Below we celebrate each recipient’s achievements and goals in their own words:
- Baylee Larson (Trumbull, NE – Doniphan-Trumbull High School) plans to become an elementary school teacher. She expressed that the Maggie Thompson Scholarship brings her closer to that dream by easing the financial burden of college. “This scholarship will allow me to complete my degree and enter the workforce prepared and confident,” Baylee said, noting that the support will help her graduate with less debt as she pursues a meaningful career in education.
- Calin Davis (Hastings, NE – Adams Central High School) will attend Central Community College in Hastings this fall, aiming for a future in Drafting and Design Technology. He has a passion for industrial arts and has completed projects in welding and mechanical design during high school. “With the help of the Maggie Thompson Memorial Scholarship I will be able to earn a degree that will help me reach my long-term goals… I plan to earn a degree in Drafting and Design Technology,” Calin explained, adding that living on campus and focusing on his studies will help him gain independence as he works toward his career in design.
- Alena Burger (Lawrence, NE – St. Cecilia High School) has been inspired by the educators in her life and intends to pursue a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. In her scholarship application, Alena wrote that her teachers’ support motivated her to aim for a career helping children learn and grow. “After graduation, I plan to pursue a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education… The support I have received from my own teachers inspired me greatly,” Alena shared. “One thing I have learned… is that perseverance will get me where I want to be.” She says the scholarship will make it possible for her to live away from home and continue her education, a milestone on her long journey toward greater independence.
- Nora Strom (Hastings, NE – Hastings High School) overcame academic challenges and has dedicated herself to staying organized and working harder to succeed in school. As she prepares to graduate, Nora is excited to continue her education in college. She expressed that the scholarship gives her confidence that she can pursue higher education “with little to no debt” – allowing her to focus on her studies and career goals without financial stress. “This opportunity means I can achieve my goals without worrying as much about how to pay for college,” Nora said, emphasizing that the support will help her gain the skills she needs to build an independent future.
About the Maggie Thompson Memorial Scholarship: The scholarship was established by Maggie Thompson’s parents, Irma and Blaine Thompson, to honor their daughter’s legacy of resilience and independence. Maggie was a 1975 Grand Island High School graduate who, despite living with a severe disability, built a career with Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska and inspired those around her with her tenacity. Since Maggie’s passing in 1988, the scholarship in her name has annually provided financial assistance to high school students with disabilities across Greater Nebraska who “demonstrate their desire to increase independence through education or employment”. Funds can be used toward college tuition, vocational training, textbooks, assistive technology, or other resources that support the students’ educational and career pursuits. Each year, a selection committee reviews applications to choose recipients based on their effort, future goals, and how the scholarship will empower them to overcome challenges in achieving independence.
Curtiss L. Dill, CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, congratulated this year’s winners, stating that their achievements are “a testament to the students’ hard work and determination, as well as the community’s commitment to supporting the next generation.”
Audrey DeFrank, Goodwill’s Director of Marketing & Development, highlighted how this scholarship program reflects Goodwill’s broader mission. “At Goodwill, we believe in the potential of every individual. The Maggie Thompson Scholarship helps remove barriers so students with disabilities can pursue education, training, and meaningful careers,” DeFrank said, echoing Goodwill’s values of Community, Accountability, Respect, and Empowerment (C.A.R.E.) in fostering opportunities for all. Goodwill encourages Nebraskans to support programs like the Maggie Thompson Scholarship – through initiatives such as the “Round-Up at the Register” campaign – that keep donations local and “help change lives” by funding scholarships for deserving students in our communities.
Media and community members are invited to join Goodwill in congratulating these students on their awards. By shining a light on the Maggie Thompson Scholarship winners, Goodwill hopes to inspire more young people to pursue their dreams and more community members to support educational opportunities for students of all abilities. Each of this year’s recipients exemplifies Maggie Thompson’s spirit of courage, perseverance, and commitment to personal growth – and with the community’s support, they are now one step closer to achieving their goals.
For more information about the Maggie Thompson Memorial Scholarship or Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska’s mission programs, please visit https://goodwillne.org/Impact/Maggie-Thompson-Memorial-Scholarship or contact Goodwill’s Marketing & Development office.
About Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska: Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities or barriers reach their goals and improve their quality of life. Through its programs and services – including employment training, education support, and community engagement initiatives – Goodwill empowers individuals to achieve independence, self-sufficiency, and full community inclusion. The Maggie Thompson Memorial Scholarship is one of the many ways Goodwill Gives Back to the community, by investing in local youth with disabilities and supporting their pursuit of higher education and meaningful careers.