Scholarships

Burton (Buzz) Shepard Annual Scholarship Award
History of the MLTA Scholarship Award  

Since 2012, one of the benefits available to MLTA members is the Scholarship Award. 

This award is open to all active MLTA members, their family members and staff members.  Applicants must be enrolled in an academic institution of higher learning.  Each year the scholarship committee awards no less than one $1,000 scholarship to a full-time student and a $500 scholarship to a part-time student enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours while working a minimum of 30 hours per week.  More scholarships may be awarded at the discretion of the scholarship committee and the availability of funds. The application process requires each applicant to complete an application and a short essay.  Finalist will be interviewed by the scholarship committee via teleconference or a video conferencing platform.

Since the inception of the MLTA Scholarship Award program, the MLTA Board has generously set aside funding in its budget for scholarships. 

Interest in the MLTA Scholarship program continues to grow each year.  Over the past several years the amount of applicants have continued to grow considerably. In response, the amount awarded each year has grown, as well. In 2023, with unanimous scholarship committee and board approval, the program awarded ten $1000 scholarships.

In 2024, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to rename the award to ‘Burton (Buzz) Shepard Annual Scholarship Award.’ Buzz had a vision for the MLTA helping students achieve a college education. As a direct result of Buzz’s vision, the scholarship has grown from $1,000 and one recipient in 2012 to $12,000 and 12 recipients in 2025.   MLTA is pleased to continue the legacy of this vision in 2026 and on into the future.

The 2026 Scholarship Committee consists of the following MLTA members:  Susan Wehrle, chairperson; Kyle Brown, co-chair; Cheryl Williams; Tammy Sherrell-Shortt and In Memoriam – Tom Walsh.

The MLTA Scholarship Award has been funded almost entirely by the MLTA Board. You can help make higher education possible for a deserving member of the MLTA family by donating to the scholarship fund.

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Past Recipients

2012 Mary Pierce

2013 Savannah Hoff

2014 Bailey King and Jacob Chiarelli

2015 Audrey Marlay, Brandi Peasel, and Jessica Black

2016 Nathan Piccoli, Abby Pierce, Sophia Leonard, Reagan Williams, & Cassie Edmiston

2017 Jake Chiarelli, Nathan Piccoli, & Jessica Black

2018 Jake Chiarelli, Nathan Piccoli, McKenzie Kochell, Jessica Black

2019 Abigail Pierce, Nathan Piccoli, Rachel Hutchings, Kate Conley Hughes, & Megan aetten

2020 Alaina Pitts, Angela Pitts, Ashley Shoemake, Caitlyn Brown, Caleb Hall, Christian Capps, Jessica Ehrmann, Jordan Hall, Juliana Shortt, Kate Conley Hughes, Lydia Dieckmann, Madeline Edgar, Nathan Piccoli, Sarah Jeans

2021 Amaya Arbogast, Andrew Cromer, Angela Pitts, Ashley Shoemake, Caitlyn Brown, Jenna Stark, Jessica Ehrmann, Lilly Beth Sutton, Lillian Capen, Lindsey Marlay Samuel Hoff, Lydia Dieckmann, Thomas Gilmore

2022 Lillian Estes, Allie Tyndall, Owen Uhls, Andrew Cromer, Lillian Capen, Madison Cooley, Caleb Hall, Lilly Beth Sutton, Sarah Jeans, Caitlyn Brown, Lydia Dieckman, Caleb Hull, Payton Coleman

2023 Andrew Pierce, Brittany McGinnis, Hunter Trainor, Kendall Davis, Leah Picou, Levi Gautney, Payton Coleman, Ryan Walsh, Sabrina Weldon, Sonja Jackson

2024 Allie Tyndall, Andrew Pierce, Ben Gilmore, Brilee Johnson, Elise Lewis, Emily Shoemake, Faith Lewis, Frank Sparks, Haley Parks, Jeanette Annie George, Kyle Tapley, Michelle Schermann, Olivia Eichelberger, Savannah Ditzfeld

2025 Adam Kopp, Allie Pace, Faith Lewis, Grace Schermann, Gracyn Caplinger, Isaiah Olson, Jeanette (Annie) George, Kyle Tapley, Olivia Eichelberger, Peyton Schleeter, Pierce Brogdon, Taylor Holdmeier

Application

Purpose:  The Missouri Land Title Association (MLTA) has established this award to provide financial assistance to deserving students enrolled in an undergraduate two or four-year academic program,  trade school or other equivalent school, based on eligibility requirements as set out below.

Awards: 

The Missouri Land Title Association plans to award no less than one $1,000 scholarship to a full-time student and one $500 scholarship to a part-time student (enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester and working a minimum of 30 hours per week).  

More scholarships may be awarded at the discretion of the scholarship committee and the availability of funds.  The selection of award recipients will be based on a comprehensive review process.  Areas of review by the committee include but are not limited to the following:  Accomplishments (academic and/or career), Community Service, References, and a Personal Essay. 

Eligibility:  To apply and be considered for one of these awards, the applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  1. Must be from an active class of members of MLTA or the spouse, child, step-child, grandchild or other relative from an active class of members.  (Affiliate, Special Award or Retired Members and their families are not eligible)
  2. Must not have received two or more previous MLTA Scholarship Awards.
  3. Must be accepted as either an undergraduate full-time (enrolled in no less than 12 credit hours per semester) or part-time student (enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester while currently employed for at least 30 hours per week) at a college or university,  trade school or other equivalent school, for the upcoming academic semester.  Other school equivalent eligibility determination to be at the discretion of the scholarship committee and handled on a case-by-case basis. Proof of enrollment will be required.
  4. Must submit the completed application form with necessary attachments in a timely manner. Applications open on March 1st, 2026 and the deadline for submitting applications is May 1st, 2026 (no exceptions).     
  5. Finalists will be required to fulfill a phone interview or video conference call with members of the MLTA Scholarship Committee.

Letters of Reference may be attached to the application when submitted.

EMAIL:
mlta@mlta.com

The deadline for scholarship applications is May 1st, 2026. The scholarship application will be available starting March 1st, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact us.