Background

Leo Berry, Sr., was born in 1905 in Swissvale, Pennsylvania. At an early age, his family moved to Anaconda, Montana. He was the oldest of six children. In 1917, when he was merely 12 years old, his father was killed in a railroad accident in Butte, Montana. Being the oldest, he had to quit school and go to work. He never finished the sixth grade. He held various jobs throughout life including being a steel worker and a county road foreman for Deer Lodge County. He initiated his retail business by selling graveyard markers with his inventory being located in the backyard of the family residence. He borrowed $500 from his mother and started an independent real estate and insurance firm in Anaconda. He built that into a successful one-man operation. He dreamt of being a lawyer but because of the family situation was unable to pursue additional education.

His wife Anne Scarry Berry supported his business development by keeping the books for the business. Anne was born in Pocatello, Idaho in 1905. Her family moved between Pocatello and Anaconda on several occasions. Anne graduated from Anaconda High School in 1923. Both Leo and Anne valued education and supported their three children, Marian, Joan and Leo Jr., all of whom attended college and secured degrees.

The Leo and Anne Scholarship is a testament to their commitment to students obtaining a higher education. Joan became an elementary school teacher, Marian a registered nurse, and Leo Jr. attained his father’s goal by becoming an attorney at law.

Criteria

Required Criteria

The following are required criteria for this scholarship. Applicants must:

• demonstrate a GPA (most recent high school or college) of 2.5 or higher.
• be a graduate, or graduating senior, of Anaconda High School.
• be pursuing education, nursing, or political science.
• be enrolled, per the requirements of this scholarship, at an accredited postsecondary institution in Montana by the start of the first term of the awarded period.

Recipients will be selected based upon demonstrated financial need, volunteer work, extra-curricular activities, community service, and essay responses.

Preferred Criteria

Preference in consideration will be given to applicants who are:

• pursuing a degree in education with a focus in elementary education, a degree in political science with a focus in pre-law, or a degree in nursing with a focus in registered nursing.

Reapplication

Previous recipients may apply again. Maximum of three awards in total is allowed.

Awards

This scholarship typically provides the following each academic year.

Award Type

One-Time

Amount per Award

Typically $1,500 per academic year.

# of Awards

Typically 1 to 2 recipients each year.

Applying

Application Access Code

26BESE

Use this Access Code to apply directly for this scholarship within the MCF Scholarship Portal.

Materials Needed

The following materials are required for submission with an application.

• Most Recent Transcript (High School or College)
• FAFSA FSS