By The Associated Press

ABILENE -- Applications are available for two, $1,000 scholarships for graduates of Tescott High School.

The H.J. (Jack) and Paulina (Polly) E. Berkley Family Memorial Scholarships were established by the families of the couple's eight children.

The couple's descendants contributed $80,000 for the scholarship fund, and $20,000 was contributed by the Kansas Health Foundation. The fund is with the Community Foundation of Dickinson County.

Anyone interested in the scholarships may contact the Tescott High School counselor for guidelines and an application. Application deadline is April 15.

Jack originally was from the community of Juniata, in Lincoln County, and Polly was from Hill City. Neither Jack nor Polly went to college, but both stressed the importance of education.

Jack graduated from Beverly Rural High School and taught for one year, in 1917. He then worked in a grain elevator in Quinter. The couple met when Jack took a deposit to the bank in Hill City where Polly worked. They married and moved to Tescott in 1924. Jack began work as janitor and teller at The Bank of Tescott. He eventually became the bank president in 1940. He remained bank president until his death in 1969.

The couple had one daughter and seven sons. Twenty-nine of their descendants -- children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren -- either attended or graduated from Tescott schools.

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