Makayla Tahran is the 2026 Crookston Firefighters Association Memorial Scholarship recipient.
The scholarship is to honor all past members of the Crookston Firefighters Association who are no longer with us. This scholarship was made possible by an endowment sponsored by the Association’s charitable gaming.
The CFA uses charitable gaming to fund lifesaving equipment and fire apparatus, and a portion of those proceeds is also given to local community nonprofit causes with an emphasis on children’s programs and activities. The Crookston Firefighters Association has charitable gaming at the One N Only Bar and Grill, Scobey’s Pub and Grub, Snow Sled Inn, Minakwa golf course, and Irishman’s Shanty. New in 2026 is Drafts Sports Bar and Grill’s Sunday Funday Bingo, which directly supports the scholarship.
The scholarship is also funded through generous donations from the local community. Individuals as well as businesses have donated to this local community scholarship. Several former CFD firefighters have requested that memorials be made in their name to this scholarship upon their passing, making The Crookston Firefighter Memorial Scholarship even more meaningful to our past, present, and future firefighters.
Makayla is a 2026 graduate of Crookston High School. She will be attending Northland Community and Technical College in the fall to study radiologic technology. The selection committee made its toughest decision ever in awarding this year’s scholarship, a testament to the young talent in the area.
The CFA Memorial Scholarship is for a graduating high school senior residing in the city of Crookston or one of the townships served by the Crookston Firefighters Association, including Crookston, Roome, Euclid, Belgium, Fanny, Parnell, Lowell, Andover, Fairfax, Gentilly, Kertsonville, Hammond, and Russia. Applicants must plan to attend a two-year college or four-year university.
