GUERNSEY – Platte County’s Chamber of Commerce held their annual scholarship golf tournament at Trail Ruts Golf Course, June 11, and raised enough money to continue their scholarship program.

The scholarship golf tournament was a fundraising event for the scholarships given out by the Chamber.

A total of five scholarship are given, one to every high school in Platte County and one for continuing education, for a resident of Platte County returning to school. Each scholarship is $1000.

Eligibility for the scholarships require attending one of the high schools in Platte County and being a resident of the county. There is a rubric for scholarship consideration to ensure a fair selection. Some factors considered in choosing scholarship winners are volunteer work, job experience and school involvement.

“We try to look at the round student, not just pigeonholed on GPA,” said Shawna Reichert, executive director of the Platte County Chamber of Commerce.

In past years, a casino night was hosted to raise money, but the golf tournament was created to give another event to the town of Guernsey because it needed a Chamber event. The Platte County Chamber of Commerce represents all five towns in Platte County, so events should be spread throughout the towns.

“We needed to spread out and include our other outlying communities,” said Reichert.

There is no specific number of events each town should receive, but it is important not to favor one town over others. Thus, the golf tournament was brought to Guernsey.

“This kind of hits Hartville and Guernsey here, so we were able to represent two towns. That way, we bring people in that spend money in these communities as well,” explained Reichert.

Golfers pay $40 per person, and the tournament was a four-person scramble, so each team paid $160 to participate. Mulligans were also sold, two for $10, which allowed the golfers another shot.

Additionally, money was also gathered through generous sponsors. This year, the presenting sponsor was Platte Valley Bank, which donated $1000. The event’s gold sponsors donated $600 and were First State Bank, Laramie Peak Motors and Cellonly. Silver sponsors donated $400 and were Guadalajara Family Mexican Restaurant and Downton Laundry. The Bronze sponsors donated $300 were Banner Capital Bank and Sacred Birth.

Other sponsors for the event provided hole prizes, whether they were goodie baskets or gift cards or certificates: Farm Credit Services of America, Interstate Conoco, Pie Tin Catering, Drube Home, Murel’s Treasures, Red Dandelion, One Stop Safety, Bomgaars, Thrifty Foods and Miners and Stockman’s.

“They [our business community] support kids, and so when you say that you’re doing something for kids, our businesses step up,” said Reichert.

“We really appreciate all that they do,” said Reichert, in regard to all the event’s sponsors.

The first and second place winners from Flight A were the teams First State and Putt-Putt, respectively. The first and second place winners from Flight B were the teams, Paustian and Ruwart’s Team, respectively.

The tournament succeeded in raising enough money to continue to program.