Reach Higher Montana recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Lilyan Feeback, 19, of Libby, a freshman in pre-nursing at Carroll College in Helena. She was one of 75 recipients of the award statewide.

Feeback said she’ll get the money in time to apply toward sophomore-year expenses including tuition, books and room and board. The money joins scholarships she receives from the college and leftover funds from those given her by the Libby community.

“I have a bank account that I throw all my scholarships in and all the money I got for my graduation,” she said.

In addition to applying for scholarships, Feeback works part-time to help support her full-time studies. Her financial aid includes a work-study grant, but her freshman year she instead chose to work a better-paying, off-campus job keeping company with a “sweetheart” 100-year-old woman for three three-hour days a week.

The woman recently passed away, however, so Feeback said she’ll consider a work-study position next year.

Feeback said she’ll spend the summer in Libby, where she might take some classes at the local Flathead Valley Community College campus to satisfy some general educational requirements.

Based in Helena, Reach Higher Montana is “the public benefit partnership between Student Assistance Foundation and the Montana Higher Education Student Assistance Corporation,” according to its website.

In a news release announcing Feeback’s award, the organization’s Executive Director Kelly Cresswell states that this scholarship program has awarded more than $760,000 since its inception in 2005.