The Finley River school in Ozark is raising money in the Oprah's Big Give: Change Your School Challenge for a scholarship.

Students at the school are racing to beat out six other schools in the challenge.

With only 43 students the school is small, but it has high hopes for the money it'll raise over the next two weeks.

“The money goes to the Matthew Straub Scholarship Fund. It's for a student from Ozark with autism or Fragile X. Syndrome, or sibling to help with college experience,” Principal Frances Gooden explained.

The Matthew Straub Scholarship is new, and the school is raising money so the fund will be endowed for years to come.

“These students who are at risk of dropping out of school or failing, whatever when they can help others it helps them,” Gooden said.

Finley River Students held a Bowl-A-Thon last week, but because of contest rules they can't use the money. They hope the event will put them on-track to pull in more money from businesses around the community.

Freshman Jeremiah Gillam understands the hope the scholarship gives. His 10 year old brother Dakotah has autism.

“It would help us out a lot,” Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah has plans to become a veterinarian, and in three years he could be up for the scholarship. The same scholarship him and his classmates are making their marks on now.

The Finley River School will be fundraising Monday night at Mcallister's in Nixa.