The Community Foundation of West Plains has received a $1.1 million planned gift from the Robert L. Fant Trust, establishing a permanent endowment that will support local students for generations to come. The new Robert L. Fant Memorial Scholarship Fund will provide scholarships to graduating seniors from West Plains, Willow Springs, and Liberty high schools who attend Missouri State University–West Plains to study medicine, education, or business.
The scholarship will open for applications on Jan. 1, 2027, for the 2027–28 academic year. Students can preview the application process at cfozarks.org/applyforscholarships. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks administers more than $1.7 million in scholarships each year, including several dedicated to Howell County students.
Fant, a successful real estate entrepreneur, moved to West Plains after retirement and worked with attorney Chrys Fisher to shape his estate plans. He died in March 2024. Fisher said Fant was committed to helping “hard‑working young people” pursue higher education and saw MSU–West Plains as a vital next step for local graduates.
MSU–West Plains Chancellor Zora Mulligan said the scholarships will change lives while strengthening the region’s workforce. The gift also builds on Fant’s earlier support for education; his Robert Fant Fund, created in 2023, provides more than $4,000 annually to Southern Missouri Technical Institute.
As an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, the Community Foundation of West Plains helps donors create lasting charitable legacies through flexible fund options and the ability to accept complex gifts. For information on planned giving, contact Amy Thomas at cfwestplains@cfozarks.org or 417‑427‑4514.
