Judith A. Amor Nursing Scholarship recipient Jenna Burke (center) with donors Matt & Maria Amor

With the addition of four new funds, Unity Foundation of La Porte County has awarded scholarships to more than 100 students in the amount of $143,236.

Recipients were honored – along with donors of the scholarships – during a celebration event at Heston Hills. Sponsorship assistance was provided by The La Porte Savings Bank and NIPSCO.

The above total includes $16,986 awarded earlier to 15 students through five additional scholarships held by Unity. These students are selected by La Porte High School and were recognized at their honors night.

Two full-tuition Lilly Community Endowment Scholarship winners were celebrated at the Unity reception: Mariah Micallef and Johnna Belkiewitz from La Porte High School. Those tuition payments and book stipends additionally total approximately $20,000 for the coming year.

Four new scholarships were established this year by families and other community supporters, to support La Porte County students working to further their education. They included the Judith A. Amor Nursing Scholarship, started by her son, Matt, and his wife, Maria, to honor his mother’s passion and occupation.

The family of James A. and Phyllis A. Garwood created a memorial scholarship to commemorate their parents’ love and support of music and performance, which spanned many decades.

The La Porte County E-Z Riders Horse & Pony Scholarshiphonors dedication to membership in 4-H Horse & Pony and the E-Z Riders clubs, while the Galena Township Scholarship Fund offers assistance to further education for students who live in that township.

Persons who would like to contribute to any of the scholarship funds – or start their own legacy – may contact Unity Foundation at 219-879-0327 or 1-888-898-6489. Checks may be mailed to PO Box 527, Michigan City, 46361 – or give by credit card at uflc.net/funds/contribute-online/.

The full list of 2014 Unity Foundation scholarship winners and award amounts include:

Anne H. Daley Youth Service Bureau Scholarship: $500 Jessica Reason

Arlo & Jayne Westphal Memorial Scholarship: $500 Kendra Job

Arthur & Alice Kabelin Scholarship: $1,000 Jacob Archambault, $1,000 Taylor Baima, $1,000 Celia Hernandez, $1,000 Kathryn Kruse, $1,000 Jessica Parker, $1,000 Stephanie Peo

Bensz Family Scholarship: $1,000 Amanda Yadavia

Carley Dickard Memorial Scholarship: $500 Taylor Bowen, $500 Lauren Miltenberger, $500 Megan Noe

Cunningham Scholarship: $500 Parker Buell

Diane K. Bamberth Memorial Award: $1,000 Emily Barsic

D.I. Walker Scholarship: $1,000 LeeAnna Ciastko, $1,000 Madison Kutch

Donald F. Scott Motivational Scholarship: $1,000 Zach Biggs, $1,000 Dante Cardenas, $1,000 Kieri Everett, $2,000 Catherine Huynh, $1,000 Michal Krol, $1,000 Kayla Nelson, $1,000 Amanda Yadavia

Dr. & Mrs. Carl N. Fischer Scholarship: $1,000 James O’Neal

Dr. Edwin C. & Alice J. Mueller Scholarship: $2,500 Melissa Coffeen

Dr. King S. Jones Memorial Scholarship: $500 McKenzie Coleman, $500 Haley Gesse, $500 Natalie Swedenberg

Edward B. Siperek & Grace A. Steele Siperek Scholarship: $500 Larry Capusan, $500 Jenna Kalsow, $500 Anthony Raymond, $500 Jordi Saunders, $500 Brock Sell

Ernest & Mildred Delco Scholarship: $500 Jeremiah Burke, $500 Jasper Dittmar, $500 Nolan Sampson

Floyd O. & Betty L. Shunk Scholarship: $1,000 Andrew Bartels, $1,000 Holly Buresh, $1,000 Tyler Erne, $1,000 Martin Garcia Chavez, $1,000 Amber Haack, $1,000 Alec James, $1,000 Gabriela Mazur, $1,000 Jessica Noll, $1,000 Elijah Owen, $1,000 Olivia Steele, $1,000 Andrew Taschler,

Gail’s Gift Scholarship: $2,500 Zach Biggs, $1,000 Kieri Everett, $1,000 Sara Kreighbaum, $1,000 Hannah McClintock

NEW – Galena Township Scholarship Fund: $500 Lexis Williams

Gustav J. & Elma A. Banzhaf Memorial Scholarship: $500 Brandon Ames, $500 Jenna Burke, $500 Jeremiah Burke, $1,000 Susan Feldt, $1,500 Lisa Fischer, $1,000 Taylor Kincaid, $1,500 Brooke Kresca, $1,500 Deanna  Menke, $1,000 Lexis Williams

Ingersoll Trust Scholarship: $1,000 Jessica-Lena Bohlin, $1,000 Whitney Hart, $1,000 Emily Link, $1,000 Jenice O’Neal, $1,000 Kaitlyn Taylor

Irvin E. Swanson Scholarship: $1,000 Chloe Christ, $1,000 Izabela Mazur, $1,000 Jessica Noll, $1,000 Paige Pope

Jack Lubeznik Scholarship: $500 Katarzyna Krol

NEW – James A. and Phyllis A. Garwood Memorial Music Scholarship: $1,000 LeeAnna Ciastko, $1,000 Madison Kutch

Jan R. Nona Environmental Award: $500 Halie Hajek

John R. & Florene A. Troyer Scholarship: $1,000 Jessica Reason

NEW – Judith A. Amor Nursing Scholarship: $1,000 Jenna Burke

K.A.T. Volunteer Scholarship: $2,000 Gabriella Mazur, $2,000 Izabela Mazur

Kabelin Family Scholarship: $1,000 James Haferkamp, $1,000 Jaymie Pliskey, $1,000 Cody Richard

NEW – La Porte County E-Z Riders Horse & Pony Scholarship: $500 Madeline Voelker, $500 Lexis Williams

La Porte County Nursing Scholarship: $1,000 Jenna Burke, $1,000 Megan Eggert, $1,000 Tyler Erne, $1,000 Elizabeth Gesse, $1,000 Deneza Jadol, $1,000 Lindsay Kreighbaum, $1,000 Sarah Mumma, $1,000 Kaitlyn Thomas, $1,000 Stephanie Van Sickle, $1,000 Clare Wisthoff

Lloyd G. & Betty Jane Clayton Scholarship: $1,000 Alison Searle

Marilouise Lundgren Lossing Memorial Scholarship: $1,000 Madison Chartier, $1,000 Martin Garcia Chavez, $1,000 Samantha Holifield, $1,000 Bree Morgan, $1,000 Sara Noe, $1,000 Andrew Steck

Pioneer Scholarship: $1,000 Michal Krol, $1,000 Laura Sosinski, $1,000 Brenda Stellema

Robert A. & Dorothy W. Rocke Scholarship: $1,000 Caitlin Anderson, $1,000 Esmeralda Guzman, $1,000 Sarah Harrison, $1,000 Victoria Hooley, $1,000 Hannah Jasicki, $1,000 Hailey Sprouse, $1,000 Nicholas Tobar, $1,000 Alex Toth, $1,000 Adam Tschida

Robert E. Le Roy Scholarship: $500 Ryan Hawkins, $500 Zach Liberatore, $500 Alison Searle

Robert J. Hiler Memorial Scholarship: $2,500 Brian Underwood, $2,500 Diana Salgado-Ferrer, $2,500 Ian Price, $2,500 Paige Pope, $2,500, Cesar Medina, $2,500 Taylor Kincaid, $2,500 Richard Carlson.

Ruth M. Howe Nursing Scholarship: $500 Jenna Burke

Terence Metcalf Memorial Scholarship: $250 Katie Gurnicz

Unity Foundation County-Wide Scholarship: $500 Stephanie Lee

William Vernon Compton Scholarship: $1,000 Jessica Dove

Harold and Rowena Hargrave Trust: $545 Rachel Edlen

Harry L. Kelling Memorial: $168.44 Whitney Hart, $168.44 Marinda Landry, $196.67 Bree Morgan, $182.55 Jessica Noll, $224.90 Aaron Vaughn                                                  

Redington and Rootes Scholarship: $1,244.46 Rachel Edlen, $2,770.80 Alison Searle, $2,436 Scott Vaughn, $2,274.37, Donald Weber, $2,274.37 Stuart West

Loyal Perlich Outstanding Speaker Award: $1,000 Jessica-Lena Bohlin, $1,000 Jordi Saunders

Ida M. Reffett Debate Scholarship: $1,000 Taylor Goodwin $1,000 Taylor Martin

Anonymous Scholarship: $500 Tumi Vo

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LeeAnn Sager and Mariah Micallef will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their choice, and an annual $900 stipend for required books and equipment.

Lee Ann Sager has a 4.0 GPA and attends Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities after spending her freshman and sophomore years at La Porte High School. She is the daughter of Kent and Michelle Sager and plans to study pharmaceutical research.

Her activities include Spanish Club and Academic Superbowl competitions for history and math. As an independent study, she is conducting interviews and gathering materials to document the history of the Indiana Academy. She plays clarinet and saxophone and has participated in jazz and marching bands. LeeAnn is a tutor at the academy and also serves as a Student Ambassador mentor. She tutored 4th graders while in La Porte, and volunteered at IU Health La Porte Hospital throughout high school, including at the front desk and pharmacy. She was active from 6th through 9th grades in Leadership La Porte County youth activities, and served as secretary as a freshman.

Mariah Micallef is a La Porte High School student and the daughter of Cheryl Braun. She has a 3.9 GPA and plans to study psychology at Purdue University.  She is editor of the HS creative writing magazine and a writer / editor for the yearbook. She has participated in academic teams for Decathlon, Quizbowl and Spellbowl (honored as MVP). She’s also a member of the student council.

Mariah is a member of the high school Girl Reserves, which are focused on providing volunteer support through many community service projects. She has tutored at-risk youth at an elementary school, and is a member of the pom and dance squad, helping coach at its mini-clinic.

She has attended Purdue Gifted Academic Camps for many years, focusing on various subjects. Mariah was one of 30 girls chosen for a special engineering camp at Purdue sponsored by John Deere.

Kim Siefker, 2014 Chair of the Unity Foundation Lilly Endowment Scholarship Committee said, “The applications submitted this year, were once again, truly outstanding.  The committee had an extremely difficult task in choosing from so many deserving applicants. The students from La Porte County were inspiring in their academic achievements, leadership abilities and dedication to their communities.”

The Unity Foundation received 60 scholarship applications from students throughout La Porte County.  Applicants were judged on their academic achievement, service to others, extracurricular activities and, to a lesser extent, financial need.  A committee comprised of La Porte County residents reviewed the applications, not knowing the applicants’ names until after the finalists were selected.  Ten finalists were then interviewed, with two becoming the nominees, and four the alternates for the awards.  Their names were submitted to the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., for the final selection.

Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education, as Indiana currently ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree. There were 143 scholarships awarded statewide this year.

Since 1992, the Unity Foundation of La Porte County has served donors, nonprofits and local communities.  As La Porte County’s community foundation, it manages approximately $25 million in assets, administers more than 270 charitable funds, and has distributed nearly $11 million in La Porte County through direct grants and scholarships.  The Council on Foundations has deemed Unity Foundation in compliance with all Indiana and national ethical and operating standards for community foundations.

Unity Foundation’s mission is to strengthen La Porte County now and forever by:  building permanent endowments; providing leadership; offering philanthropic vehicles for everyone; and, being a catalyst for social and economic vitality.  For more information, please visit www.uflc.net.

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Deadline for submission is April 13 through the Foundation’s new and improved online scholarship platform.  Scholarships and awards ranging from $250 – $2,500 each are awarded through more than 50 funds at Unity, which is the community foundation serving La Porte County.

To make the application process easier for students and school officials, Unity has invested in a new and improved online platform. All applicants can simply log into www.uflc.net  to complete and submit applications and documentation online. Students are encouraged to begin the process early, as transcripts must be downloaded before the application is submitted.

In 2013, more than 120 students from throughout La Porte County received Unity Foundation scholarships totaling $131,250 to help support their college tuition. That amount was in addition to the generous Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships, which cover 100% of tuition for two La Porte County students for four years of college.

Four new scholarships were added to Unity this year, thanks to the generosity and foresight of individuals and families who either set aside money in their estates to help others, or decided to set up funds to memorialize loved ones.

• Judith A. Amor Nursing Scholarship supports La Porte County residents to obtain undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees in nursing.

• E-Z Riders Horse and Pony Scholarship is for a current graduating senior who is a five-year member of a 4-H Horse & Pony club, and a current member of La Porte County E-Z Riders.

• James A. and Phyllis A. Garwood Memorial Music Scholarship is for students pursuing higher education in music performance, music education, or a similar music degree.

• Galena Township Scholarship benefits residents of the township who are enrolled in an accredited or otherwise credible educational institution or program.

“Unity Foundation is very pleased to offer even more scholarships this year,” President Maggi Spartz said. “But while we were able to support the goals of more than 120 students in 2013, there isn’t enough funding to provide for dozens more applicants. The good news is, even if people aren’t able to open their own fund, they could help increase our awards by giving to the Unity County-Wide Scholarship.”

In addition to scholarships, specialty awards also can be found on the www.uflc.net web site. Some require nominations of deserving students or adults:

• The Jan Nona Environmental Award honors students or “teachers inspiring students” in the Michigan City area, who move beyond being an ordinary citizen and become involved in community environmental issues.

• The Diane Kay Bamberth Memorial Award is for a graduating La Porte High School senior who demonstrates community service, leadership, humility, courage, tenacity, strength during adversity, and strong moral fiber.

Since 1992, the Unity Foundation of La Porte County has served donors, nonprofits and La Porte County.  It manages approximately $25 million in assets, administers more than 270 charitable funds, and has distributed nearly $11 million through direct grants and scholarships.  The Council on Foundations has deemed Unity Foundation in compliance with all Indiana and national ethical and operating standards for community foundations.  Unity Foundation’s mission is to strengthen La Porte County now and forever by:  building permanent endowments; providing leadership; offering philanthropic vehicles for everyone; and, being a catalyst for social and economic vitality.  For more information, please visit www.uflc.net or call 219-879-0327.

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