Background
Across the country, families leave financial aid and scholarship dollars on the table, and not because students aren’t eligible. Instead, fragmented and cumbersome processes leave students and their families overwhelmed and confused. In the 2024-25 cycle, 40% of families didn’t use scholarships, and among those families, 71% never applied (Sallie Mae). FAFSA completion challenges alone contributed to $4.4 billion in unclaimed Pell Grants for the Class of 2024 (National College Attainment Network).
At Boone Central High School in Albion, Nebraska, counselor Leanne Blanchard stepped into this reality during her first year as a high school counselor. After spending decades as a special education teacher and administrator, Blanchard became the new Boone Central High School counselor, serving approximately 204 students, with graduating classes typically ranging from 45-60 students.
While Blanchard’s role spans far beyond scholarships, scholarship management quickly stood out as one of the most complex and time-consuming responsibilities.
$4.4 billion in unclaimed Pell Grants aid for class of 2024.
Challenge
Boone Central manages scholarships at multiple levels. About 50 local scholarships funnel directly through the counseling office, while many more regional, statewide, and national opportunities arrive separately.
“I collect all the information for our local scholarships, get it to the committees, and then announce the decisions at our Honors Night,” Blanchard says. “And then there are area scholarships, statewide scholarships, and nationwide scholarships. There are a lot of layers.” When Blanchard took over the role, information lived everywhere. “I know the previous counselor was doing a lot through Google Classroom and spreadsheets,” she recalls. “But there were things everywhere.”
During her first year alone, Boone Central managed over 400 scholarships.
“I honestly don’t know how the previous counselor did it. I’m so glad we have AppCentri because it puts it all in one place.”
— Leanne Blanchard, High school counselor, Boone Central High School
“I was nervous,” she admits. “I was coming in after someone who’d been here for years, and I was going to be handling it differently.”
Implementation
AppCentri entered the picture as Blanchard was in the thick of reviewing paper files and massive Excel sheets from the previous counselor. A call from AppCentri’s founder Michelle Kobza would be the start of a fresh, streamlined approach to scholarship management for Boone Central families and staff.
From the start, AppCentri gave Boone Central a single, organized system for managing scholarships.
That flexibility mattered, especially for local committees. “A lot of our local scholarships are run by community members who might be older,” Blanchard explains. “So I communicate with them about how they want applications sent. Sometimes I print them, sometimes I email them.”
Even when small issues came up, AppCentri provided immediate support. “We had a few little bumps, but AppCentri was so responsive,” she says. “If a kid couldn’t log in or something wasn’t working, they fixed it the same day.”
With AppCentri, Blanchard was able to:
- Keep local, regional, and other scholarships organized in one place
- Track applications by student and by scholarship
- Store student information and documents centrally
- Share completed applications with committees in the format they preferred (digital or printed)
“I don’t know how I would have done it without AppCentri, especially my first year as a counselor.”
— Leanne Blanchard, High school counselor, Boone Central High School
Results
The impact of AppCentri showed up clearly in application volume and participation.
| Class of 2024 | Class of 2025 |
|---|---|
| 47 of 54 seniors applied | 30 of 45 seniors applied |
| 772 applications submitted, compared to 424 the previous year | 417 applications submitted |
| 81% of applicants received at least one scholarship | 90% of applicants received at least one scholarship |
| Over $84,000 awarded from local scholarships | Over $144,000 awarded from local scholarships |
AppCentri also made it easier to monitor progress in real time. “Right now, I can see I have nine applications turned in,” she explains. “I can instantly see how many are getting done and how many each kid is working on.”
Families noticed the difference as well. “One of our teachers has kids in the school, and watching it through her eyes as a parent was really helpful,” Blanchard says. “She loved being able to see which scholarships her son was working on and the due dates.”
“AppCentri has prompted more kids to complete more applications.”
— Leanne Blanchard, High school counselor, Boone Central High School
Supporting Workforce Pathways: A Welding Student’s Story
AppCentri isn’t just for four-year college applicants. Instead, the tool supports all postsecondary pursuits and expands opportunities for all types of students. One of the most meaningful outcomes from Boone Central involved a special education student whose plan was not a traditional college path.
“This was a kid who loved working with his hands,” Blanchard explains. “He was in all of our agriculture and CTE courses like welding, construction.” Through AppCentri, Blanchard helped the student apply for two local scholarships, including a county endowment that supports any kind of training, including certifications.
After filling in demographics information only once, the student was able to apply for and win multiple scholarships that covered all his welding certification courses, setting him on track for a higher-paying welding career and brighter future.
“That is something I don’t think would have happened without AppCentri,” she says. “He could type it up quickly, and it helped tremendously.”
Moving Forward
For counselors managing local scholarships, especially those new to the role, Blanchard is steadfast about AppCentri.
She also points to accessibility and value. “Schools never have extra money,” Blanchard notes. “But AppCentri is very economical for what it provides.”
“It organizes everything for you and takes a lot of the gathering information off your plate. It puts some control back in students’ hands.”
— Leanne Blanchard, High school counselor, Boone Central High School
See how AppCentri can simplify scholarship management and increase student opportunities at your school.
