Yuba County scholarship recipients stand with Yuba River Endowment representatives during a recent award presentation at Lindhurst High School. The endowment awarded $102,500 in scholarships to 50 students for 2026. Photo courtesy of Yuba River Endowment

 

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Yuba River Endowment awarded $102,500 in scholarships for 2026, continuing its annual expansion of support for local students pursuing higher education.

The endowment received more than 130 applications and selected 50 recipients after interviews. Awards range from $500 to $5,000. This year’s group includes 23 college students continuing their studies and 27 graduating high school seniors.

Among the seniors, eight attend Lindhurst High School, nine attend Wheatland High School, nine attend Marysville High School and one attends Yuba City High School.

“Their applications did not do them justice. We were really blown away during the interview process,” said board member Steve Waltz. “We are also excited to find students who deserved our special Merle Collins and Roger Murray scholarships.”

Two $5,000 awards honor leaders tied to Yuba County agriculture and water development.

The Merle Collins Scholarship was awarded to Jade Lassaga, who is completing studies at West Texas A&M University and plans to attend veterinary school.

Collins moved west in 1918 and served as a 4-H specialist before becoming Lassen County’s farm advisor in 1922. He later relocated to Yuba County in 1929, where he focused on agricultural development and water planning. Collins helped advance early irrigation rights and promoted surface water storage projects. He worked with local districts to expand access and advocated for construction of the Virginia Ranch Dam to improve water reliability. After the dam’s completion in 1963, the reservoir was named Collins Lake in his honor the following year.

The Roger Murray Scholarship was awarded to Wyatt Hart, a senior at Wheatland Union High School who plans to attend Fort Hays State University to study manufacturing technology.

Murray moved to Wheatland in 1948 during the Great Depression era and built a career in farming rice and wheat before starting a dairy operation that supplied Crystal Creamery and local customers. He later founded a heavy equipment business and contributed to development of dairies, barns and agricultural facilities.

Murray also played a role in water infrastructure, helping build the South Yuba, Brophy Water and Dry Creek Mutual Water Company districts and completing projects for the Yuba Water Agency. He served 43 years on the Wheatland Union High School District Board of Trustees and helped establish the school’s agriculture department in 1988. A longtime supporter of 4-H and FFA, he mentored students for decades before his death in 2016 at age 87.

The scholarship program is open to Yuba County residents or students attending a Yuba County high school who plan to enroll in a trade school, junior college or four-year university in fall 2026. Applications closed Jan. 31, and interviews were held in late March. Recipients were notified this week and will receive funding after submitting proof of fall enrollment.

The Yuba River Endowment is a nonprofit formed by local farmers with water rights on the Yuba River. In some years, members transfer a portion of their water to drought-affected areas of the state. A share of that revenue funds scholarships and community programs. Since its formation in 2019, the endowment has contributed more than $1.5 million to agricultural education, food assistance and veteran support in Yuba County.