LA PORTE COUNTY, IN— Unity Foundation of La Porte County is awarding nearly $325,000 in scholarships to 173 local students for the 2025-2026 academic year. The recipients will attend 51 colleges and universities across the country, and one in the United Kingdom.

Since 1992, Unity has awarded approximately $5 million from more than 60 scholarship funds to help La Porte County students advance their futures. These scholarship funds were established by community-minded donors who believed in the transformative power of education.

“Receiving a Unity scholarship is more than just financial help. It’s a vote of confidence,” said CC Payne, Director of Operations at Unity Foundation. “It shows students that their community believes in their future.”

A virtual presentation recognizing this year’s recipients and donors is available at uflc.net/scholarships, as well as on Unity’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

“Unity loves investing in local students,” said Unity Foundation President Maggi Spartz. “We’re grateful for the visionary individuals and families who created permanent funds to support them. This generosity helps our students shoulder the burden of tuition and student debt, all while creating a legacy of opportunity. Our hope is that one day, the recipients will be inspired to support future generations of La Porte County students.”

More information about the 2026-2027 scholarship cycle will be available later this year. High school seniors, non-traditional or returning students, and those pursuing certificates or undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees are encouraged to visit uflc.net to learn more about the opportunities available. La Porte County high school seniors graduating by June 30, 2026, may apply for the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship beginning on Monday, August 4, 2025 at uflc.net/scholarships/lilly.

2025-2026 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Bhagirathi Agrawal Scholarship
Drew Bush

Judith A. Amor Nursing Scholarship
Mia Taylor

Gustav J. & Elma A. Banzhaf Memorial Scholarship
Trenten Chalik
Kimberly Crawford
Wyatt Keller
Reese Yettaw

Bensz Family Scholarship
Matisse Guhlstorf
Emilio Munoz
Naomi Williams

Lloyd G. & Betty Jane Clayton Scholarship
Haleigh Miller

William Vernon Compton Scholarship
Gavin Zolvinski

Cunningham Scholarship
Natalie White

Ernest & Mildred Delco Scholarship
Avery Mougin

Carley Dickard Memorial Scholarship
Naomi Williams
Megan Zolvinski

Galena Township Scholarship Award
Owen Chalik
Trenten Chalik

James A. & Phyllis A. Garwood Memorial Music Scholarship
Kairah Ohime

Donald & Beverly Guse Scholarship
Jayde Pryor

Harold & Rowena Hargrave Scholarship
Grant Ott-Large

Robert J. Hiler Memorial Scholarship
Macie Binkley
Justin Bunce
Byonka Hernandez
Aryanna Hernandez

Ruth M. Howe Nursing Scholarship
Dominic Yanke

Ingersoll Trust Scholarship
Logan Higley
Megan Zolvinski

Bruce R. Johnson Scholarship
Lexi Johnson

Richard James Johnson Agriculture Scholarship
Ava Redlin

Dr. King S. Jones Memorial Scholarship
Maya Ruiz

K.A.T. Volunteer Scholarship
Dominic Bartels
Catherine Gantuangco
Kaitlyn Morrison

Arthur & Alice Kabelin Scholarship
Allison Galinowski
Katelyn Hertges
Logan Higley
Kamryn Kubik
Michaela Miller
Brayden Sobecki

Kabelin Family Scholarship
Thomas Hill

Jerry Karstens Athletic Scholarship
Roberto Smiertelny
Avery Tulacz

Sandra Calkins Kowalski Scholarship
Taylor Cleek
Autumn Duncan
Anessa Ibrahim

Richard & Tracy Krause Scholarship
Wyatt Keller
Owen Keller
Emma Luther
Samantha Wilson

La Porte County Nursing Scholarship
Dominic Bartels
Allison Grabarczyk
Emma Heffron
Lexi Scheidt
Taylor Skibinski

La Porte County Symphony Orchestra Deborah DePoy Music Scholarship
Vanessa Horne

Robert E. LeRoy Scholarship
Haleigh Miller

Marilouise Lundgren Lossing Memorial Scholarship*
Evan Conrad
Caiya Cooper
Emma Fleshman
Emma Mitschelen
Addysen Morros

Jack and Shirley Lubeznik Scholarship*
Kyra Krachinski
Brooke Lakin
Emilio Munoz
Khushi Patel
Krystani Quinn
Aaverie Wingard

Robert L. Ludington & Anita Huppenthal Ludington Scholarship*
Kaleb Bacztub
Mia Bauer
Katherine Bellah
Jayana Blakely
Reilly Briggs
Blayne Brooks
Drew Bush
Haylee Busse
Robert Carnes
Caitlyn Carnes
Owen Chalik
Olivia Cramer-Stevens
Kimberly Crawford
Logan Crawford
Zoe Crofton
Brenda Del Real
Corban DeWitt
Vanessa DeWitt
Sean Egan
John Egan
Lila Gillisse
Donovan Gualito-Villa
Abbas Hakim
Zachary Hanchar
Mirabellah Hernandez
Logan Higley
Valerie Horne
Regan Hughes
Amelia Jaracz
Lexi Johnson
Wyatt Keller
Justin Kiel
Kayla Kuzdas
Ryan Lipsett
Sophia Marr
Rebecca Marxman
Mia Mejan
Michaela Miller
Kaitlyn Milligan
Miranda Moser
Mary Neary
Emily Notaro
Hannah Parker
Khushi Patel
Caloe Peretti
Lauren Poe
Zoe Pressel
Jayde Pryor
Taylor Reaves
Norah Richardson
Jonathan Rocke
Caleb Rosa
Natalia Ruiz
Hannah Schoner
Cooper Scroggin
Katherine Sheerin
Rachel Sherrick
Dale Simmons
Brooke Skalka
Michael Smelser
Roberto Smiertelny
Brayden Sobecki
Alissa Sonnenberg
Sidney Swanson
Savannah Swanson
Daya Thompson
Charles Tonagel
Kendall Troy
Rebecca Tuholski
Kiersten Vaughan
Riya Verma
Audrey Wagers
Michael Walker
Mark Wert III
Naomi Williams
Nicholas Willoughby
Reese Yettaw

Ruth & Leonard Minich Scholarship
Katelyn Hertges
Haleigh Miller

Dr. Edwin C. & Alice J. Mueller Scholarship
Dominic Bartels

Coach Nova Scholarship
Kimberly Crawford

Loyal Perlich Outstanding Speaker Award
Jannis Jacuinde-Montesinos

Pioneer Scholarship*
Tyler Bacztub
Whitney Compton
Kylie Currin
Isabella Gosciniak
Kayla Kuzdas
Miranda Moser
Jayde Pryor
Gideon Rosa
Belle Scott
Avery Tulacz

Dr. Florian M. and Christine M. Predd Scholarship
Caloe Peretti

Ida M. Reffett Debate Scholarship
Jannis Jacuinde-Montesinos

Redington & Rootes Scholarship
Brennan Balka
Lillian Burke
James Collins
Ella Dubbs
Sydney Hill
Anna Kubik
Brenda Lopez
Grant Ott-Large
Pooja Verma

Robert A. & Dorothy W. Rocke Scholarship
Drew Bush
Lila Gillisse
Logan Higley
Mia Mejan
Brayden Sobecki
Faith Spain
Charles Tonagel
Megan Zolvinski

Row Crop Agricultural Scholarship
Lyla Bannwart
Katelyn Hertges
Zoey Parrett-Hock
Ava Redlin

Donald F. Scott Motivational Scholarship
Dejah Hawkins Garner
Adrian Huizar
McKenzie Losinski
Emilio Munoz
Krystani Quinn
Alyssa Shaia
Tristan Sherwood
Ashley Sparks
Naomi Williams

Floyd O. & Betty Shunk Scholarship
James Collins
Ella Dubbs
Allison Grabarczyk
Taylor Higley
Olivia Lemon
Haleigh Miller
Tristen Poe
Tyler Troy
Mason Tulacz
Pooja Verma
Brenna Woodruff

Edward B. & Grace A. Steele Siperek Scholarship
John Egan
Avery Tulacz

Irvin & Peg Swanson Scholarship
Dominic Bartels
Charles Tonagel

Tanber-Blair Golf Scholarship
Szymon Chrzaszcz
John Egan
Natalie White

Neil G. Thompson Memorial Scholarship
Faith Spain
Savannah Swanson
Michael Walker

John R. & Florene A. Troyer Scholarship
McKenzie Losinski
Brianne Simmons

D.I. Walker Scholarship
Drew Bush
Jannis Jacuinde-Montesinos
Mia Mejan
Ava Redlin
William Tallackson

Arlo & Jayne Westphal Memorial Scholarship
Kairah Ohime

Gerald & Carol Wollert Scholarship
Michaela Miller

Unity Foundation County Wide Scholarship*
Kate Borrelli
Haylee Busse
Natalie Fritzen
Lila Gillisse
Zachary Hanchar
Amelia Jaracz
Kayla Kuzdas
Brooke Lakin
Anna Landing
Avery Mougin
Caloe Peretti
Alivia Rocke
Michael Smelser

*One or more recipients of this award preferred to remain anonymous