The Community Foundation of Noble County recently interviewed ten top honor students in the final phase of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship nomination process for Noble County.  These students were selected to interview based on their applications submitted in September to the community foundation which were reviewed by a panel of judges representing the central, east and west part of Noble County.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides four years of full-tuition and required fees awarded to one well-rounded high school senior who resides in Noble County, who will receive a diploma from an accredited Indiana high school by the end of June 2025 and will pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an accredited public or private college or university in Indiana. Community Foundation of Noble County also requires community service, volunteerism, extra-curricular activities/work experience, leadership roles and honors and awards and at least a 3.80 high school grade point average.

Students interviewed were:
Mia Becker – West Noble High School
Elijah Delashmit – East Noble High School
Samuel Hoover – Central Noble Jr/Sr High School
Ethan Jansen – East Noble High School
Adam Marker – Central Noble Jr/Sr High School
Haylee McCann – East Noble High School
Ashley Myers – Bishop Dwenger High School
Olivia Tibbs – East Noble High School
Silvia Venturi – West Noble High School
Robert Warren III – East Noble High School

Names of the top candidates will be submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc for final selection of the recipient. ICI is a nonprofit organization that represents 29 regionally accredited, degree-granting, nonprofit, private colleges, and universities in the state.  The Noble County recipient of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship will be announced in early December 2024. Finalists not selected for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Community Foundation of Noble County.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state. A total of 147 Lilly scholarships are awarded statewide.

Pictured from left are:
Ashley Myers, Samuel Hoover, Adam Marker, Ethan Jansen, Mia Becker, Elijah Delashmit, Sylvia Venturi, Haylee McCann, Oliva Tibbs and Robert Warren III.

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Fred and Rose Cunningham Memorial Fund Awards $1,500 to Support West Noble School Corporation Programs, Impacting Many Students

The Fred and Rose Cunningham Memorial Fund has generously awarded $1,500 to the West Noble School Corporation, supporting programs that will impact many students. The grant has been divided equally, with $500 going to the West Noble High School Volleyball team, the West Noble Middle School Fishing Club, and the West Noble Cheerleaders for their Mini Cheer Camp.

These grants reflect the enduring legacy of Fred and Rose Cunningham, who were devoted to their community and the development of local youth. Kent Cunningham, one of the fund’s advisors and son of Fred and Rose, continues his parents’ mission of giving back. In the accompanying picture, Kent Cunningham is seen alongside members of the West Noble Cheerleaders, the volleyball team, and the middle school fishing club, celebrating the positive impact these grants will have on student programs across the school district.

This contribution ensures that Fred and Rose Cunningham’s legacy of community involvement and support for youth continues to thrive, enriching the lives of students and fostering a spirit of teamwork and community.

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Community Foundation of Noble County Awards $20,000 Grant to Impact Institute for Welding Booths

The Community Foundation of Noble County is pleased to announce the award of a $20,000 grant to the Impact Institute to support the purchase of new welding booths for its expanding career training programs. This funding will help Impact Institute enhance its educational infrastructure, enabling more students to pursue careers in the high-demand manufacturing sector.

The Impact Institute, established in 1969, offers 13 career training programs to high school juniors and seniors from 13 partner high schools. These programs are designed to either prepare students for immediate employment or to further their education and training. In addition to serving high school students, Impact provides adult basic education services, helping individuals achieve high school equivalency and connecting them with employment and training opportunities.

The grant from the Community Foundation of Noble County will be used as part of a larger project to transform two vacant retail spaces in the Fairview Plaza in Kendallville into modern classrooms and shops for the welding and machining programs. The new welding booths will be designed to maximize both workspace and learning opportunities, addressing the Institute’s critical need for expanded capacity.

With this expansion, the Institute will be able to increase enrollment in both the welding and machining programs, provide a safer and more conducive learning environment, and introduce new equipment and technologies that meet industry standards.

The overarching goals of this project are to serve more youth and adult learners by expanding program capacity, enhancing the quality of the learning environment to achieve better student outcomes, and aligning educational offerings with industry needs by incorporating additional equipment and technologies. Additionally, the project aims to attract more students to the welding and machining programs, provide a safer learning and working environment, and strengthen partnerships with organizations like Freedom Academy and Ivy Tech.

The expansion is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy by increasing the number of students completing programs with industry-recognized certifications, thus better meeting the demand for skilled workers in the manufacturing sector. Noble County, recognized as one of the top five counties in the nation for manufacturing job concentration, will benefit greatly from this investment in its future workforce.

For more information about the grant or the work of the Community Foundation of Noble County, please contact Jazmin Herrera at 260-894-3335 or Jazmin@CFnoble.org

About the Community Foundation of Noble County:

The Community Foundation of Noble County enhances life in the region by connecting donors with community needs and making impactful grants. Since 1991, it has catalyzed positive change, supporting education, senior issues, childcare, economic development, and more. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, its mission is to improve life in Noble County by addressing local issues and leveraging donor support to drive meaningful change.

Pictured left to right: Kenny Kill (CFNC Board President), Welding Instructors, Rex Rawles and Clay Moore, & Jazmin Herrera (CFNC Program Director)