Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

PULASKI COUNTY— Dixon R-1 senior Brennen Middleton was awarded a $500 Cole-Mahan Scholarship.  Middleton has been extremely involved in his community, participating in Science Club, National Honor Society, Drama Club, Future Business Leaders of America and obtained level of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. As a volunteer, Middleton worked with guest relations at Phelps County Regional Medical Center (PCRMC).

Middleton has been accepted to the University of Missouri – Kansas City and plans on completing the six-year Bachelors of Arts and Doctor of Medicine program. In his application essay, Middleton wrote:

“One day, a girl in my neighborhood broke her arm. I told my mom, who is a nurse practitioner, and her entire attitude changed. She became focused and calm in an instant, immediately going into action. She stabilized the girls arm and got her to the hospital. This inspired me to become a doctor.”

The Cole-Mahan scholarship was established through the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) and Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) in Springfield. The regional affiliate was formed in 2010. Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC. Vicki Nelson, vice president at Mid-America Bank’s Belle Branch, serves as MRCF chairman.

Currently, MRCF has 53 funds totaling near $1,050,645.

CFO is a public foundation serving the Missouri Ozarks. The foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region through resource development, community grant-making, collaborations and public leadership. Formed in 1973, CFO has since grown to include 49 affiliate community foundations and more than 2,600 charitable funds totaling approximately $253 million in assets, as of June 30, 2016.

MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation, provides staff support to MRCF.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 25, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.orgor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.