After years of schooling, tests, and studying, thirty Noble County high school seniors and eleven college/adult-age students were awarded for their achievements on behalf of the Community Foundation of Noble County. Central Noble, Churubusco, East Noble, Prairie Heights, and West Noble high schools each hosted an honors night/day to award their high school seniors with these scholarships and applaud their hard work. A staggering $178,000 were given to these hard-working students, thanks to the generosity of donors and the Community Foundation of Noble County.

Jennifer Shultz, Director of Communications and Scholarship said “The Community Foundation of Noble County is honored to offer over 65 unique scholarship opportunities with a wide G.P.A. range to our area high school seniors, college students, and adults who seek to reach their career goals. We appreciate the partnerships with our donors who wish to leave a legacy by offering such opportunities. We are grateful for the time commitment by the volunteer committee members to review the scholarship applications. The community foundation looks forward to the continued support of area schools, volunteers, and donors as the 2022 scholarship season begins in late November 2021”.
To learn more about applying for scholarships, visit cfnoble.org/scholarships. For additional information or questions, contact Jennifer Shultz by email at Jennifer@cfnoble.org, by phone at (260) 894-3335, or by visiting the Community Foundation of Noble County at 1599 Lincolnway South, Ligonier, IN.

Central Noble High School Scholarship Recipients
Casey Hunter, 2021 P.U.L.S.E. Endowment in Memory of Dave Knopp Scholarship
Casey Hunter, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Education Scholarship
Casey Hunter, 2021 John E. and Joan E. Robinson Scholarship in Memory of their son Bill Robinson
Casey Hunter, 2021 Jack R. and Maxine C. Frymier Scholars Award
Casey Hunter, 2021 Carol Ann Tieman Scholarship
Emma Knox, 2021 Cathy S. Knopp Theatrical Scholarship
Jenica Berkes, 2021 Top Honors Scholarship
Lydia Andrews, 2021 Top Honors Scholarship
Lydia Andrews, 2021 Dr. David and Alvena VanMeter Scholarship
Bridgette Gray, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Medical Profession Scholarship

Churubusco High School Scholarship Recipient
Megan Young, 2021 John E. and Joan E. Robinson Scholarship in Memory of their son Bill Robinson

East Noble High School Scholarship Recipients
Anna Becker, 2021 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
Anna Strong, 2021 Cecil C. and Bettie I. Smith Scholarship
Anna Strong, 2021 Paul Pelikan Memorial Scholarship
Anna Strong, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Education Scholarship
Cassandra Taylor, 2021 Benjamin Murray Memorial Scholarship
Carly Turner, 2021 Top Honors Scholarship
Dorothy Tipton, 2021 Arthur A. & Hazel S. Auer Scholarship
Dorothy Tipton, 2021 Dave Smith Memorial Scholarship
Ethan Musselman, 2021 Chester A. and Bessie C. Throp Scholarship
Ethan Musselman, 2021 Peter R. Bottomley Scholarship
Ethan Musselman, 2021 East Noble Class of 1969 Scholarship
Ethan Musselman, 2021 Benjamin Murray Memorial Scholarship
Kayla Desper, 2021 Top Honors Scholarship
Kayla Desper 2021 Benjamin B. and Kathleen June Earley Memorial Scholarship
Kyler Corbin, 2021 P.U.L.S.E. Endowment in Memory of Dave Knopp Scholarship
Kyler Corbin, 2021 Noble County Memorial Scholarship
Kyler Corbin, 2021 Josh Stahl Scholarship
Lorraine Strong, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Bachelor’s Program Scholarship
Lynnette Strong, 2021 Top Honors Scholarship
Lynnette Strong, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Medical Profession Scholarship
Lynnette Strong, 2021 Noble County Memorial Scholarship
Lynnette Strong, 2021 Max Sneary, M.D. Memorial Scholarship
Lynnette Strong, 2021 John E. and Joan E. Robinson Scholarship in Memory of their son Bill Robinson
Lynnette Strong 2021 Hilda H. Rehwinkel Scholarship
Lynnette Strong, 2021 Delta Theta Tau Sorority IOTA IOTA Chapter Scholarship in Memory of Tammi Riecke
Mackennzie Wisner, 2021 Captain James M. Treesh Scholarship
Mariah Maley, 2021 Top Honors Scholarship
Mariah Maley, 2021 Clarence and Marie Woolf Scholarship
Mariah Maley, 2021 Art & Jeanne Howard 4-H Scholarship
Mariah Maley, 2021 Joseph A. and Lolita J. Hornett Memorial Scholarship
Mariah Maley, 2021 Dr. Richard R. (MD) and Theresa M. Gutstein Memorial Scholarship
Mitchell Bell, 2021 Arthur A. & Hazel S. Auer Scholarship
Payton Ross, 2021 Cecil C. and Bettie I. Smith Scholarship
Savanah Lagemann, 2021 Talia Joy Smith “Performing Arts” Scholarship
Savanah Lagemann, 2021 Trent Zuehsow Memorial Scholarship
Wesley Potts, 2021 Top Honors Scholarship
Wesley Potts, 2021 Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council Scholarship
Wyatt Huckeriede, 2021 John and Mary Schermerhorn Memorial Scholarship

West Noble High School Scholarship Recipients
Allison Baker, 2021 Top Honors Scholarship
Allison Baker, 2021 Susan Marie Stone Scholarship
Allison Baker, 2021 P.U.L.S.E. Endowment in Memory of Dave Knopp Scholarship
Allison Baker, 2021 Prudence E. Gardner Memorial Scholarship
Allison Baker, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Medical Profession Scholarship
Allison Baker, 2021 Noble County Memorial Scholarship
Allison Baker, 2021 Ligonier Elks Scholarship
Allison Baker, 2021 John E. and Joan E. Robinson Scholarship in Memory of their son Bill Robinson
Allison Baker, 2021 Edward and Beverly Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship
Allison Baker, 2021 P.U.L.S.E. SENIOR Scholarship
Isaac Flora, 2021 Caitlyn Marie Halferty Memorial Scholarship
Isaac Flora, 2021 Cromwell High School Alumni Scholarship
Kacee Click, 2021 Wawaka Alumni Scholarship
Lillian Mast, 2021 Top Honors Scholarship
Lillian Mast, 2021 Timothy J. Martin Memorial Scholarship
Lillian Mast, 2021 Richard and Mary DeMotte Scholarship
Lillian Mast, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Education Scholarship
Lillian Mast, 2021 Ligonier Elks Scholarship
Lillian Mast, 2021 Fred and Mildred Seymoure (Young) Memorial Scholarship
Lillian Mast, 2021 Doris Gene Alber Ferrari Scholarship
Megan Saggars, 2021 Russell Smith Music Scholarship
Megan Saggars, 2021 Brandon A. Replogle “Celebrate the Arts” Memorial Scholarship
Shuli Sheeley, 2021 Fred and Rose Cunningham Memorial Scholarship

Prairie Heights High School Scholarship Recipient
Madelyn Wylie, 2021 Kris Campbell “Any Dream Will Do” Scholarship

College/Adult Scholarship Recipients
Andrew Tom, 2021 Chuck Schlemmer Memorial College Scholarship
Austin Liepe, 2021 Paul Glass Memorial Scholarship
Benjamin Jansen, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award Winner Scholarship
Benjamin Jansen, 2021 Nathan Shumaker Memorial Scholarship
Bergen Tom, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award Winner Scholarship
Bergen Tom, 2021 Hal Prickett Memorial Scholarship
Ian Schowe, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award Winner Scholarship
Ian Schowe, 2021 David O. Kile and Marjorie B. Kile Scholarship
Jack Jansen, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award Winner Scholarship
Macy Griffis, 2021 Charles and Bernard Duesler Scholarship
Madelyn Fortman, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award Winner Scholarship
Madelyn Hosford 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award Winner Scholarship
Paige Skinner, 2021 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award Winner Scholarship
Paige Skinner, 2021 Noble County Retired Teachers’ Association in Memory of Deceased Teachers Scholarship
Paige Skinner, 2021 Tony and Gertrude Kichler Scholarship
Susan Haviland, 2021 Max and Elizabeth Roesler Memorial Scholarship

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2021 List of Scholarship winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brad Graden, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Noble County, (260) 894-3335, brad@cfnoble.org

Noble County Early Childhood Issues Impact Community-Wide Economic Development
Early Childhood Education Coalition works to create plan

NOBLE COUNTY (04/29/2021) There are over 3,500 young children in Noble County under six years old, and nearly two-thirds of their parents work. Where are those children going while their parents are working? Are they prepared for kindergarten? Is childcare in Noble County affordable and accessible? These are the questions that the Noble County Early Childhood Education (ECE) Coalition is working to answer.

This child care gap was apparent to community leaders at the Community Foundation of Noble County, Be Noble (Noble County Economic Development Corporation), and Crossroads United Way, serving Elkhart, LaGrange & Noble Counties. Together, they hired Transform Consulting Group to gather key partners and develop a community-wide plan to get more children ready for school.

“We know there are only 115 high-quality ECE program spots available for children in our county and nearly 700 spots available in other known ECE programs. Where are the other 2,700 children at while their parents are working? We’re starting to hear stories of the challenges parents face when finding places for their kids, employers struggling to retain talent due to the lack of childcare options, and 60-70% of incoming kindergarteners are not ready for school. Something has to happen here,” Brad Graden, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Noble County.

When child care is unstable for parents, it’s not just the families who suffer, but their employers as well. In Noble County, a needs assessment was completed which included collecting data and feedback from employers, parents, and ECE program providers. Some notable findings include:

● Nine out of 10 employers have employees who are either unable to focus at work, are late, or miss work due to issues related to child care.
● 68% of employers in see child care as an important factor in their employee’s decision to work in Noble County
● Employers, employees, and parents rated child care as a top issue in Noble County out of 10 issues.
● A single parent living in poverty would have to dedicate a third (33%) of their income in order to access high-quality child care for just one child.

Studies show that for every dollar invested in early childhood education, the return on investment can be $4-$15 due to the lower special education costs, retention costs, reduced cost for social issues (teen pregnancy, homelessness, etc.), an increase in post-secondary attainment and lower crime costs. Indiana loses nearly $1.1 billion every year due to a lack of child care and child care related absenteeism and turnover.

Those are the numbers that spoke to leaders at the Noble County Economic Development Corporation. “This is not an issue we can just throw off on families to deal with alone. The lack of child care options in our community, the quality of programs, and high costs are issues that will impact ALL of us. It affects our ability to meet the needs of both working parents and employers who need to recruit top talent and a steady stream of employees,” said Gary Gatman, Executive Director, Be Noble.

Led by the expertise of Transform Consulting Group, the Noble County ECE Coalition took these learnings and developed a five year strategic plan. The next steps? Hiring a coordinator to implement the plan AND build up volunteer committees for support.

To learn more about the coalition coordinator position, volunteer committee opportunities, or information about the Noble County Early Childhood Education Coalition, please contact Brad Graden, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Noble County, brad@cfnoble.org, (260) 894-3335.

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