An area estate has donated nearly a half-million dollars to establish a scholarship fund at Missouri Western for Central High School students.

The donation comes from the Earl and Emyra “Susie” Euler estate of Blair Kansas which will endow a scholarship with $474,000 for Central High students attending Missouri Western.

“We’re extremely grateful for this generous gift, which is one ofthe largest scholarship endowments we’ve ever received,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “A bequest of this size will make a tremendous impact, enabling the university to provide about $19,000 each year to local students who might otherwise not be able to attend college.”

Susie Euler was born in St. Joseph, and attended Edison Elementary and Central High School before entering St. Joseph Junior College, which later became Missouri Western State University. Earl Euler was born on the family farm near Blair, Kan., and attended Aberle Country School, Wathena High School, Highland Community College and Kansas State University.

The first scholarships from the Earl and Elmyra Euler Scholarship Fund are expected to be awarded to students entering Missouri Western in fall 2013.