GN and Katherine Hurst Scholarship
This scholarship was founded in 2001 by GN and Katherine Hurst to support students in the Licensed Practical Nursing Program at NJC. Katherine "Kay" was born on March 19, 1931 to Arthur R. and Hazel Marie (Harpham) Todenhoft in Sterling. She grew up riding horses down the South Platte River and working hard on her father's hog farm. She graduated in 1949 from Sterling High School. Kay met a handsome young man, G.N. Hurst, and they were married on April 30, 1957 in Lawton, Oklahoma with $5.00, a wing and a prayer. They lived in Oklahoma for sometime before moving back to Sterling with 5 children and $11.00 to work for Sterling Construction.
GN and Kay were avid supporters of 4-H and spent many years involved with her children when they lived in Padroni. Kay worked at Greenhouse County Hospital and was a secretary at Padroni School. Kay and G.N. were a good team. They built and owned several businesses including Hurst Construction, which built flood control dams in Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. They also built roads in Beaver Creek, CO as it opened as a new development, resurfaced missile base roads and built golf courses. GN was also a partner in various businesses around Sterling including: Lebsock Feed and Seed, H&S Machine Shop, and Iliff Farm and Ranch. Hurst Construction continued for many years until GN's retirement in the late 80's. GN then began farming until the time of his passing. Over the years GN and Kay had many loyal and good employees whom they loved.
GN and Kay loved to travel together. They saw many places including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Fiji, Hawaii, Scotland, Ireland, Malaysia, and England through LICA (Land Improvement Contractors of America). GN and Kay also loved to travel in their RV going to Alaska or to Oklahoma to do their jug line catfishing.
They were very generous and compassionate community members who loved serving others. They often gave Bibles to the new and returning students at Northeastern Junior College and made sure nobody around them ever went hungry.
This scholarship was founded to assist local students enrolled in Northeastern's Licensed Practical Nursing program.