LA PORTE COUNTY, IN—Unity Foundation of La Porte County has awarded nearly $340,000 in scholarships to 157 local students for the 2026-2027 academic year. Recipients will attend 37 colleges, universities, and educational institutions across the country.

Since 1992, Unity has awarded approximately $5 million from more than 60 scholarship funds, helping La Porte County students pursue educational opportunities and advance their futures. These funds were established by generous individuals, families, businesses and organizations committed to expanding educational opportunities for local students.

“Unity Foundation scholarships are made possible by philanthropic partners who believe deeply in the promise of La Porte County students,” said Jeri Pat Gabbert, President and CEO of Unity Foundation. “These scholarships ease the financial burden of education, open doors to new opportunities and remind students that their community is supporting them. We are honored to connect the generosity of our donors with the talent and determination of local students.”

Scholarship recipients were recommended by dedicated committees of local volunteers through a competitive application and review process, with final approval by Unity Foundation’s Board of Directors.

“Receiving a Unity Foundation scholarship is more than financial assistance. It is a vote of confidence,” said CC Payne, Director of Operations at Unity Foundation. “Our scholarship recipients have demonstrated commitment to their education, their communities, and their future goals. We are proud to celebrate what they have already accomplished and all that lies ahead.”

A virtual presentation recognizing this year’s scholarship recipients and the donors who made their awards possible is available at uflc.net/scholarships and through Unity Foundation’s YouTube channel.

Each year, Unity Foundation offers scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors, current college students, nontraditional and returning students, and individuals pursuing career and technical certificates or undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees. More information about the 2027-2028 scholarship cycle will be available this fall.

La Porte County high school seniors graduating by June 30, 2027, may apply for the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship beginning on Monday, August 3, 2026, at uflc.net/scholarships/lilly. Additional information about the scholarship and application process will be announced soon.

2026-2027 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Agricultural Scholarship
Jolie Klimczak
Steven Poe
Ava Redlin
Ella Spencer

Arlo & Jayne Westphal Memorial Scholarship
Ekaterina Hatzikostantis

Arthur and Alice Kabelin Scholarship
Drew Bush
Brenda Lopez
Zoey Parrett-Hock
Belle Scott
William Tallackson
Avery Tulacz

Bensz Family Scholarship
Kyra Krachinski
Mahdi Mroueh
Naomi Williams

Bhagirathi Agrawal Scholarship
Amaya Antos

Bruce R. Johnson Scholarship
Kenneth Hurni

Carley Dickard Memorial Scholarship
Elizabeth Richmond
Samantha Walker

Coach Nova Scholarship
Ava Lux

Cunningham Scholarship
Adriana Wilson

D.I. Walker Scholarship
Jaselyn Corona
Henry Denger
Ekaterina Hatzikostantis
Brenda Lopez
William Tallackson

Diane Kay Bamberth Memorial Award
Ekaterina Hatzikostantis

Dick and Linda Armstrong Scholarship
Justin Kiel
Gwendolyn Mendenhall
Mylee Moser
Milad Mroueh
Liam Neary
Mia Palomo
Madelyn Parry
Liberty Scanlin

Don and Charles A. Pagel Scholarship
Ava Lux

Donald & Beverly Guse Scholarship
Kaleb Gorski

Donald F. Scott Motivational Scholarship
Adrian Huizar
Emilio Munoz
Mia Palomo
Krystani Quinn
Christian Shanks
Tristan Sherwood
Ashley Sparks
Naomi Williams

Dr. Edwin and Alice Mueller Scholarship
Dominic Bartels

Dr. Florian M. and Christine M. Predd Scholarship
Amaya Antos

Dr. King S. Jones Memorial Scholarship
Christian Shanks

Edward B. Siperek & Grace A. Steele Siperek Scholarship
Liam Neary
Aleksandar Pecoski

Ernest & Mildred Delco Scholarship
Justin Kiel

Floyd O. & Betty L. Shunk Scholarship
Dominic Bartels
Evan Conrad
Caiya Cooper
Allison Galinowski
Zachary Kabacinski
Anna Kubik
Mia Mejan
Joseph Moses
Zoey Parrett-Hock
Cody Rusboldt
Pooja Verma

Galena Township Scholarship
Mia Bauer

Gerald & Carol Wollert Scholarship
Gabrielle Kalsow
Faith Spain

Gustav J. & Elma A. Banzhaf Memorial Scholarship
Owen Keller
Emma Luther
Liberty Scanlin
Dale Simmons
Aidan Whiteman

Harold & Rowena Hargrave Scholarship
Joseph Moses

Ingersoll Trust Scholarship
Luke Cannon
Lila Gillisse

Irvin & Peg Swanson Scholarship
Amaya Antos
Dominic Bartels

Jack and Shirley Lubeznik Scholarship
De’Zeiya Jones
Milad Mroueh
Liam Neary
Angela Reynolds

James A. and Phyllis A. Garwood Memorial Music Scholarship
Joshua Pratt

Jerry Karstens Athletic Scholarship
Max Olesker
Elizabeth Richmond

John R. & Florene A. Troyer Scholarship
Eleanor Crane
Billie Hall

Judith A. Amor Nursing Scholarship
Dominic Bartels
Caiya Cooper

K.A.T. Volunteer Scholarship
Amaya Antos
Kaitlyn Morrison
Michael Pham
Jocelyn Surowiec

La Porte County Nursing Scholarship
Dominic Bartels
Caitlyn Carnes
Katherine Minich
Charles Tonagel
Dominic Yanke

LCSO Deborah DePoy Music Scholarship
Joshua Pratt

Lindborg Family Agriculture Scholarship
Steven Poe

Lloyd G. & Betty Jane Clayton Scholarship
Pooja Verma

Marilouise Lundgren Lossing Memorial Scholarship
Anna Kubik
Kamryn Kubik
Emma Mitschelen
Addysen Morros
Reghan Penziol
Taylor Reaves
Tyler Troy

Neil G. Thompson Memorial Scholarship
Lilian Becker
Maliayah Peoples

Pioneer Scholarship
Andrew Hoang
Kenneth Hurni
Kayla Kuzdas
Miranda Moser
Avery Mougin
Elijah Mougin
Mia Mullins
Ella Scott
Christian Shanks

Redington & Rootes Scholarship
Caiya Cooper
Sydney Hill
Anna Kubik
Brenda Lopez
Joseph Moses
Zoey Parrett-Hock
Gavin Zolvinski

Richard and Tracy Krause Scholarship
Wyatt Keller
Emma Luther
Reed Robinson
Blake Walker

Richard James Johnson Agriculture Scholarship
Ella Spencer

Richard L. Fagg Scholarship
Madison Allie
Kylie Currin

Robert E. LeRoy Scholarship
Evan Conrad
Mia Mejan

Robert J. Hiler Memorial Scholarship
Macie Binkley
Taytum Chessor
Aryanna Hernandez
Dana McQuarters
Blake Walker

Robert L. Ludington & Anita Huppenthal Ludington Scholarship*
Madison Allie
Kaleb Bacztub
Lyla Bannwart
Mia Bauer
Anna Beck
Kate Borrelli
Brooke Bos
Maxwell Burke
Drew Bush
Victoria Chalik
Ashley Cisneros
James Collins
Jaselyn Corona
Kimberly Crawford
Kylie Currin
Xander Daley
Corban DeWitt
Allison Dillman
John Egan
Sean Egan
Riley Emshwiller-Sowards
Lila Gillisse
Ava Godwin
Kaleb Gorski
Karsten Gulab
Zachary Hanchar
Elizabeth Hopper
Brianna Hunter
Kenneth Hurni
Joshua Jaracz
Zachary Kabacinski
Gabrielle Kalsow
Jolie Klimczak
Kyra Krachinski
Leighton Kurtich
Kayla Kuzdas
Brooke Lakin
Anna Landing
Emma Luther
Brendan Maas
Samantha Marks
Autumn McKinney
Gavin McKinnon
Carlos Melendez
Gwendolyn Mendenhall
Kaitlyn Morrison
Addysen Morros
Mylee Moser
Milad Mroueh
Liam Neary
Alia Nix
Makenna Nowatzke
Elena Pahs
Mia Palomo
Madelyn Parry
Eric Plath
Zoe Pressel
Jack Reese
Angela Reynolds
Elizabeth Richmond
Reed Robinson
Alivia Rocke
Maya Ruiz
Liberty Scanlin
Michael Smelser
Alissa Sonnenberg
Faith Spain
Ella Spencer
Sidney Swanson
Emma Talbert
Sawyer Tonagel
Grant Uhlemann
Riya Verma
Desiree Vowels
Samantha Walker
Makenna Welsh
Natalie White
Cameron Williamson
Brenna Woodruff

Robert W. & Dorothy A. Rocke Scholarship
Katherine Bellah
Victoria Chalik
Elizabeth Hopper
Brendan Maas
Kaitlyn Morrison
Reghan Penziol
Kieanna Simpson
Desiree Vowels

Ruth & Leonard Minich Scholarship
Lyla Bannwart
Ekaterina Hatzikostantis

Ruth M. Howe Memorial Scholarship
Ava Godwin

Sandra Calkins Kowalski Community Nursing Fund
Taylor Cleek
Mia Taylor

Tanber-Blair Golf Scholarship Fund
Kai Keehn
Dana McQuarters
Lucas Nelson
Max Olesker
Shane Schroeder

Unity Foundation County-Wide Scholarship
Madison Allie
Brooke Bos
Luke Cannon
Kimberly Crawford
Karsten Gulab
Kenneth Hurni
Joshua Jaracz
Wyatt Keller
Mylee Moser
Liam Neary
Alia Nix
Mia Palomo
Zoe Pressel
Elizabeth Richmond
Dale Simmons
Michael Smelser
Faith Spain
William Tallackson

William Vernon Compton Scholarship
Xander Daley

*One or more recipients prefer to remain anonymous.