The Valpo Schools Foundation presented scholarships and grants to deserving students and teachers on May 23. The awards were presented by Clay Patton and the Foundation's Executive Director, Amy Burton.
The Valpo Schools Foundation, formerly known as the Public Education Foundation of Valparaiso, is a not for profit organization that manages both Dollars for Scholars funds and CLASP grants (Creative Learning for Special Projects) which helps fund in-class special projects. Dollars for Scholars is dedicated to awarding scholarships each year to senior students at Valparaiso High School who have demonstrated achievement in the areas of academics, extra-curricular activities or work experience and community service. We also take into consideration the financial need of the student and their family. This year the VSF awarded 24 scholarships in a total amount of $28,500.
The first 12 Scholarships of $1500 each were awarded to the following students:
- Logan Bertalan
- Timothy Czekaj
- Michael Dalton
- Quinn Donnell
- Cynthia Gudino
- Matthew Kienapple
- Katelyn Marak
- Ryan Nix
- Erin Rowland
- Ashleigh Schneider
- Amber Timmerman
- Dinama Tzvetkova
Additional scholarships have been made possible through specific donations to Dollars for Scholars to honor an individual or family. Some of these specifically named scholarships were awarded later in the evening by the family members of those honored.
We had the pleasure of awarding 8 of those specifically named scholarships
- Thorgren Family Scholarship ($1,000) Natalie Moore
- Dr. Robert Koenig Scholarship ($1,000) Molly Kusmiz
- Candela Family Scholarship ($1,000) Molly Tullis
- Ken Brist Scholarships (2 @ $1,250) Cassandra Henderlong, Phillip Russell
- Lynda Sawtell Mather Scholarship ($500) Zachary Salomon
- Bryce Drew Scholarship ($500) Katelyn Bragg
- Key Club Scholarship - In memory of Roy Hanley ($500) Hannah Albers
Awarded by others
- Hoosier Hero $2,000 (by Courtney Crozier)
- Skip Bird $500 (by the Bird Family)
- Eichhorn $500 (by the Eichorn Family)
- Butterfield $500 (by Dan Pritchett)