Colby Community College
COLBY — Colby Community College and the CCC Endowment Foundation are honored to announce a $250,000 gift from the Marvin O. Gaines Trust to establish the Marvin O. Gaines and Linda B. Gaines Scholarship. The endowed fund will support CCC students who compete on the cross country team and those pursuing nursing degrees.
Marvin Gaines, a former CCC student-athlete, ran cross country for the Trojans in the late 1970s. His enthusiasm for distance running endured long after his college days. Known throughout the region, he traveled great distances to cheer on CCC runners and area high school teams—always in Trojan gear and camera in hand. Over the years, he captured and shared countless photos, celebrating every race and milestone alongside the athletes.
Marvin’s late wife, Linda (Ebner) Gaines, was a devoted mother to their three daughters and worked beside him in the family’s custom harvesting business. She died in 2002 at age 33. The scholarship established in their names honors both Marvin’s lifelong dedication to student-athletes and Linda’s legacy of care and commitment to others.
The endowment will award annual scholarships to nursing majors and cross country athletes, with preference given to students from Phillipsburg, Logan, and Norton high schools. All CCC students meeting the criteria will be considered.
“Marvin and Linda’s story is one of family, perseverance, and generosity,” said Melissa Rickford, director of the CCC Endowment Foundation. “We are so thankful for this incredible gift. It’s a privilege to honor their legacy through this scholarship and see the impact it will have on CCC students for generations to come.”
Additional details about the Gaines family and the story behind the scholarship will be shared at a later date.
For more information about endowed scholarships at CCC, contact the Colby Community College Endowment Foundation at 785-460-5482.