KPGZ Awards Annual Pete Chaston Memorial Scholarship

This year’s recipient is senior Cooper Morgan

102.7FM KPGZ presented its annual Pete Chaston Memorial Scholarship on Thursday, May 1, during Kearney High School’s scholarship awards ceremony. This year’s recipient is senior Cooper Morgan, who was awarded the $500 scholarship in honor of KPGZ’s late Weather Director Pete Chaston.

KPGZ General Manager Brian Watts presented the scholarship, which is awarded to a graduating senior pursuing a future in meteorology or broadcast journalism. To be considered, applicants must submit an audio or video recording demonstrating their broadcast work.

“The Board of Directors have chosen Cooper Morgan as the recipient of the Pete Chaston Memorial Scholarship. Congratulations and best wishes for your future success,” said Watts during the presentation.

Morgan shared his future plans with KPGZ News, stating, “I plan to start at Maple Woods Community College and finish at a 4-year university, majoring in Journalism.”

The scholarship honors Pete Chaston, who served as KPGZ’s longtime Weather Director and hosted the station’s Sunday afternoon doo-wop show. Chaston passed away on June 15, 2022, at Liberty Hospital at the age of 78. In response to community members asking how they could contribute to a memorial, the station created the scholarship fund to support aspiring broadcasters in Chaston’s memory.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.