About Forrest Bachtel and Harry Keig
Dr. Harry Keig became a successful physician and surgeon in the Omaha, Neb., area. But he never forgot his hometown of Middleport or his teachers -- especially Forrest Bachtel, a longtime teacher and coach at Middleport High School.
When Dr. Keig passed away in 2003, his bequest created a $500,000 endowed fund at FAO in honor of his friend, Coach Bachtel. This fund provides college scholarships annually for Meigs High School students to assist with expenses few other funding sources address.
Eligibility Requirements and Criteria
The administrative or teaching staff of Meigs High School or a member of the Meigs High School parent-teacher/booster organization nominate eligible students. Nominators must submit an official nomination form and a description of the student’s achievements and any known special circumstances. Nominees must then submit two letters of reference and a resume describing their academic, athletic and extracurricular activities.
To be nominated, the student must:
- Be a student at Meigs High School
- Have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in high school coursework
- Demonstrate leadership qualities in school/community activities and/or athletic excellence
Each year, the fund will award two scholarships in recognition of athletic excellence (one male and one female ) and two scholarships in recognition of academic achievement (one male and one female). Each scholarship will be for three academic years (amount to be determined). Students may use the award for a variety of education-related expenses including travel, books and supplies, computer equipment and student fees.
Application period
Applications are accepted annually in January and February.