Wabash Community Foundation Has Scholarships Available
Community Foundation Has Scholarships Available
Posted: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 8:00 pm
From the Community Foundation of Wabash County
NORTH MANCHESTER -- Through the generosity of donors who have created scholarship endowments, the Community Foundation of Wabash County offers scholarships to students enrolling at accredited schools for bachelor degrees, associate degrees, and industry standard certifications in fields such as welding, nursing, advanced manufacturing, and engine repair. Options for education after high school have increased significantly, giving recent graduates and adults a greater range of choices to suit their interests, skills, and life plans. Scholarship options have increased as well.
Wabash County is working to increase the number of people with education or training beyond high school. By 2025 more than 60 percent of all jobs in the state will require more than a high school diploma.
Census reports show that only 28 percent of adults in the county currently have the training for these jobs. “It’s no secret that education improves lives,” said Ryan Twiss, Director of the Big Goal Collaborative to drive the educational attainment high in Northeast Indiana. “Getting education or training after high school usually means a higher salary, a better quality of life, a stronger economy and a brighter future.”
Most high-quality credentials take only between three and 24 months to complete. In jobs that require a certification, employees can quickly earn higher wages and salaries. With less than a high school diploma, median earnings are $1,920 monthly. With a high school diploma median earnings are $2,500 monthly. With a professional certification license the median earnings are $3,053 monthly.
If, starting this year, all high school seniors planned to enroll in college or high quality training, the Northeast Region of Indiana could not reach its goal of 60 percent. Post-secondary training for workers who are 25 and older will be necessary to meet the workforce demands of business and industry. Community Foundation scholarships are also available for “nontraditional students,” students who are beginning post-secondary training as adults or who are returning to education after an absence.
Altogether the Community Foundation of Wabash County administers more than 250 endowments established by generous donors for many purposes. Of these, 50 are scholarship endowments established by donors who believe education is important and want to help Wabash County students pursue their dream of an education after high school. Fourteen scholarship endowments at the Community Foundation are designed with vocational students in mind, as well as traditional two and four-year college students. Julie Garber, Program Director at CFWC, notes that “Donors often honor or memorialize a friend or loved one by establishing a scholarship endowment in that person’s name, making it possible for a student to carry on the legacy of the honoree. Some encourage fields like teaching, engineering, or music education. Some honor a person’s career in a trade or a skill. All scholarship endowments are a treasure for Wabash County students and a wise investment in the future. We are so grateful for the generosity and vision of scholarship donors and consider them partners in reaching the goal of greater educational attainment in the county.”
On four nights in early Nov., the Community Foundation of Wabash County will present Next Steps, an orientation meeting for high school seniors and adults seeking information about scholarships and financial aid. All meetings begin at 6:30 pm and are open to the community. Next Steps is at Manchester High School on Nov. 3, Wabash Middle School on Nov. 6, Southwood High School on Nov. 10, and Northfield High School on Nov. 11.
