Perham community awards nearly $165,000 in scholarships to seniors

Local businesses and community organizations put nearly $165,000 behind Perham High School’s Class of 2026 during a community awards celebration, giving graduating seniors in Perham, Minnesota, a large financial lift as they head toward college, technical training or other postsecondary plans.

The total points to more than celebration money. It is a direct investment by Otter Tail County’s business community and civic groups in the next generation, with scholarship dollars that can lower borrowing, widen choices and help keep more students connected to the area after graduation. For families weighing tuition, housing and fees, the difference between starting school with debt and starting with local scholarship support can be substantial.

The 2026 haul also outpaced what the school saw a year earlier. In 2025, more than 50 Yellowjackets collected more than $60,000 in scholarships during award night, making this year’s nearly $165,000 total a much larger show of backing from the community around Perham High School.

That support is built into a broader scholarship network that has been growing over time. The Perham Area Foundation offers two scholarship opportunities each year to Perham High School seniors, one worth $2,000 and another worth $1,500. The foundation also received a $150,000 gift to establish the Deloris Barnack Kenner Scholarship Fund for PHS seniors planning to continue their education after high school. In addition, the foundation offers two $2,000 scholarships in memory of Deloris Barnack Kenner.

Taken together, the awards underscore how many local hands are involved in financing the future of Perham’s graduates. Businesses, community organizations and the Perham Area Foundation are not just recognizing academic success and school involvement, they are underwriting what comes next for students who grew up in this corner of Otter Tail County. For the Class of 2026, the money is immediate; for Perham, it is a measurable bet on whether those young people stay, return or carry the town’s name with them as they move forward.