Mrs. Marsha Berens, Nathan's mother, presided over the scholarship signing in the Thomas Hall Boardroom. Several students were present.
"Nathan was such a bright light, and he loved sharing his experiences with the work-study students," she said. "He truly loved spending time with these students, and with this scholarship, Nathan's legacy will always be preserved by helping students."
Nathan Emmons worked at Colby Community College in the Custodial/Maintenance department for over seven years.
"Nate always had the unique ability to make people smile," said President Dr. Seth Carter. "It was obvious how much he cared about students and how passionate he was about their success. He is missed, and I am so pleased and humbled that Mrs. Berens chose to honor his legacy by creating the Nathan Emmons Memorial Scholarship because he will continue to help students.
Nate was a resident of Colby and passed away at Hays Medical Center on Feb. 24, 2023. He was born in Colby on Sept. 1, 1978, to Joseph W. Emmons and Marsha (Den) Berens.
After completing grade school and middle school in Colby, he attended high school through his sophomore year in Lawrence, Kan. He was a 1997 graduate of Colony High School in Wasilla, Alaska.
In high school, he lettered in football, track, and wrestling. He was an art student, played the saxophone, and competed as a diver in the MOKAN Swim League, qualifying for the Jr. Olympics. He loved to travel, especially in Europe.
Quick to make friends, family, and others laugh, Nathan loved to meet people and explore new foods. He enjoyed watching college and professional sports and was passionate about movies of all genres. Hard work was something he embraced, and he was employed mainly in maintenance, construction, and landscaping. Nathan thoroughly enjoyed meeting and getting to know students; it was something in which he took great delight.
Contributions can be made to the Nathan Emmons Memorial Scholarship at Colby Community College. Additional information is available by contacting the CCC Endowment Foundation at (785) 460-5482 or endowment@colbycc.edu.