Judge Daniel D. Creitz Legal Education Scholarship
After graduating from Washburn Law School and practicing law for 17 years, Chief Judge Creitz served as district judge for 20 years and then chief judge for 11 years. Judge Creitz presided over perhaps the longest jury trial in the history of the Kansas Courts, a six-month class action. He serves as the judge for the 31st Judicial District Drug Court; the 31st Judicial District Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Advisory Board; and Chairman of the 31st Judicial District Community Corrections/Juvenile Justice Authority Advisory Board. He also serves on the Civil and Criminal Kansas Pattern Jury Instructions (PIK) Committee which writes all the Kansas pattern jury instructions, and the Personnel Management Committee. He is the Past President of the Kansas District Judges Association, having served as President from 2020-2021. Judge Creitz has served on many Supreme Court committees, including the Supreme Court Educational Committee, the Kansas Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court.
To honor Chief Judge Creitz and the 40 years, and counting, of his dedication to legal excellence, community leadership, healthy families, and brighter futures in Southeast Kansas, Inspire Health Foundation is pleased to accept applications for the Judge Daniel D. Creitz Legal Education Scholarship.
Judge Creitz and his wife, Shaila, a K-12 media specialist, live in Erie. They have 2 grown children and 5 grandchildren. Son Daniel and his wife, and their three children live in Pittsburg, Kansas, where Daniel is in-house counsel and senior vice-president of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHCSEK). Daughter Aubrey is a Title I (ESL) teacher in Iola. Aubrey, her husband and two sons live in rural Allen County.
Award Amount: $1,000
- Applicant must be studying in fields of education or law and enrolled at any of the following universities:
- Washburn University
- Emporia State University
- Pittsburg State University
- Previous recipients may apply upon the completion of the first year awarded.
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 required.
- Graduates of Iola High School, Erie High School, Girard High School, and Valley Center High School. Graduates of other high schools are encouraged to apply.
- Students interested in serving rural communities, health care law, or advocating for underserved individuals.
- Financial need will be considered.
DUE DATE: April 1, 2026
If you’d like to review the application questions ahead of time, you can download them here.