LAGRANGE ­— Grace Miller, a senior at Westview Jr.-Sr. High School, has been named the recipient of the LaGrange County Community Foundation’s 2019 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.

Miller will receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the accredited public or private college or university in Indiana of her choice, along with an annual $900 stipend for books and required equipment.

Miller is the daughter of Daryl and Stephanie Miller of Topeka. A three-sport student athlete in soccer, basketball and softball, Miller maintains a 4.05 grade-point average and is on track to be valedictorian.

She plans to pursue a pre-med chemistry degree with the goal of becoming a surgical physician assistant. Miller plans to attend Butler University. 

Miller serves as the yearbook editor and vice-president of National Honor Society. She has participated in musicals, Champions Together and the Junior Plus mentoring program.

This year, 26 applicants participated in LaGrange County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship selection process. The foundation’s Lilly Scholarship Advisory Committee narrowed the field to five finalists based upon criteria that included scholastic profile, leadership, school activities, community service, work history, essays and interview performance.

The committee’s recommendations were forwarded to Independent Colleges of Indiana, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, for final review and selection of the recipient.

Other finalists included: Bailey Schlabach and Allison Leszcsynski of Lakeland High School; Caterina Staton of Prairie Heights High School and Madilyn Kazmucha of Westview Jr.-Sr. High School. Each of the finalists will receive a $1,000 four-year renewable scholarship from the Lambright Leadership Scholarship Fund established by Kevin and Carrie Lambright in 2013.

Since 1998, a total of 38 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships, including Miller’s have been awarded in LaGrange County. The total amount awarded to local LaGrange County students through this opportunity exceeds $3 million.

The scholarships are a result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative whose primary purposes are to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, and nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 30 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state. This year, 143 scholarships were awarded statewide; the number awarded is based on the number of full-time residents. LaGrange County was offered one award in 2019. There have been more than 4,600 scholarships awarded statewide since the beginning of the program.  

The LaGrange County Community Foundation named Larry Strayer, middle, the recipient of the 2018 Heart of Gold Award Saturday at the Shipshewana Event Center. From left, are the 2018 nominees: Jamelle Godlewski, Gerald Yoder, Cheri Perkins, Jay Smith, Rustin Krapfl, Margaret Malone, Trudy Manderfeld and Shanan Staton.

The LaGrange County Community Foundation named Larry Strayer of LaGrange the recipient of the 2018 Heart of Gold award Saturday, Nov. 3.

Since 2010, the Community Foundation has honored an individual in the county who goes above and beyond the call and embraces a commitment to service.

Community Foundation Board of Directors Jordi Disler and Tony Bontrager made the surprise announcement at the breakfast celebration honoring all 2018 nominees at the Shipshewana Event Center.

Strayer, 84, continues to serve the LaGrange County community and has devoted much of his life to helping others behind the scenes.

A farmer for more than 30 years, Strayer served two years in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He volunteers much of his time at his church, Plato United Methodist Church, and provides transportation for people who are homebound. A former Bloomfield Township Trustee, Strayer also served on the original building committee for Parkside Elementary School in LaGrange.

The LaGrange County Community Foundation named Larry Strayer, middle, the recipient of the 2018 Heart of Gold Award Saturday at the Shipshewana Event Center. From left, are the 2018 nominees: Jamelle Godlewski, Gerald Yoder, Cheri Perkins, Jay Smith, Rustin Krapfl, Margaret Malone, Trudy Manderfeld and Shanan Staton.

Strayer has helped build churches, parsonages and houses in LaGrange County and in other states. For many of those building projects, Strayer used his vacation time to complete the work.

In addition, Strayer has helped build handicap ramps, repair roofs and plumbing for people in need, and continues to grow produce for the Clothes and Food Basket of LaGrange County. Rochelle Olds of LaGrange nominated Strayer and said, “He’s always looking for ways to help others.”

The Community Foundation received nine nominations for the ninth annual award. Among the 2018 nominees are individuals who helped launch Relay for Life in LaGrange County, created an animal shelter, served as youth mentors, provided transportation to Shriner’s Hospital, counseled seniors on Medicare and insurance benefits, helped provide shelter for homeless families and brought new services to the senior community.

“Each one of you are making a difference in LaGrange County and for that we thank you,” Disler said. “We live in a special, caring and hardworking community and because of people like you, LaGrange County is a great place to call home,” she added.

The 2018 Heart of Gold nominees include: Cheri Perkins, LaGrange; Gerald Yoder, LaGrange; Jamelle Godlewski, LaGrange; Jay Smith, LaGrange; Margaret Malone, Howe; Rustin Krapfl, Orland; Shanan Staton, Mongo; and Trudy Manderfeld, Shipshewana.

Meet the nominees

Cheri Perkins: As the Executive Director of the Council on Aging, she is always going above and beyond for the senior community. She has brought new services to the community including the LaGrange County Area Transit program; she plans the senior activities at the Council on Aging and helped the organization move to a new building. She is the captain of the ship that keeps the Council on Aging afloat.

Gerald Yoder: Gerald Yoder joined Youth for Christ of Northern Indiana in 2004. Currently, he leads the Middle School Campus Life program at Westview Jr.- Sr. High School. He has a heart and passion for the next generation and has helped many teens navigate their youth as seek to find their purpose.

Jamelle Godlewski: A former teacher, Jamelle has dedicated her life to trying to reach out to youth in the community. Through her organization, Reason 4 Hope, she provides programs in local schools that address bullying, depression and suicide prevention.

Jay Smith: A retired educator, Jay Smith transports patients to Shriner’s Hospital, volunteers at the Clothes and Food Basket of LaGrange County, serves with Habitat for Humanity and assists with the Lighthouse Ministry. He will continue his role as scorekeeper for the Lakeland basketball program, a position where he’s served for more than 55 years.

Margaret Malone: Margaret pioneered Ark Animal Rescue and Adoption Center and assisted with the creation of the Howe Community Association. She is currently working on her most recent project – The Farm – which will provide support to area foster children through therapeutic animals.

Rustin Krapfl: Active in Feed My Starving Children, Rustin also serves at the Chaplain of the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department, President of the LaGrange Area Ministerial Association, President of LaGrange Communities Youth Centers and President of Agape Missions of LaGrange County.

Shanan Staton: A resident of Mongo, Shanan goes above and beyond for her small community. She serves with the Mongo Community Development Association and is an active supporter of events at Prairie Heights Community Schools. She helped launch Relay for Life in LaGrange County more than 11 years, and has been a part of raising more than $1 million to help support cancer research. Additionally, Shanan volunteers at Mongo United Methodist Church, helping organization activities for children and youth.

Trudy Manderfeld: As a SHIP Counselor, Trudy helps seniors navigate Medicare and understand their insurance benefits. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Color Guard and a board member of the LaGrange County Health Department and LaGrange County Council on Aging.

Honor a volunteer with a Heart of Gold

It’s our favorite time of year! Heart of Gold nominations opened this week and we can’t wait to hear about the good things people are doing in LaGrange County. Since 2009, we’ve awarded the Heart of Gold award to honor individuals in LaGrange County who are making a difference through volunteerism.

Not only do we hear amazing stories of people spreading kindness and generosity, but the Heart of Gold recipient will have the opportunity to direct $1,000 to a charity of his/her choice in LaGrange County.

Nominations are being accepted through September 5, 2018. You can pick up a nomination form at the foundation office or make an online nomination here.

We’ll announce the Heart of Gold recipient at the award ceremony November 3 in Shipshewana. All of the nominees, along with a family member and the individual who made the nomination, will be invited to attend the breakfast.

Annual Meeting Held at Lakeside Occasions June 26

The LaGrange County Community Foundation celebrated a year of “Growing Good” in an intimate gathering with past and current board members and new funders at the 2018 annual meeting June 26 at Lakeside Occasions in Topeka.

Renea Boots, front, will join the LaGrange County Community Foundation Board of Directors in August.

The foundation was pleased to welcome new board member Renea Boots of LaGrange.

Boots has been with Farmers State Bank for 17 years and serves as the Chief Administration Officer. A graduate of Prairie Heights High School, she and her husband, Todd, live on the east side of LaGrange County.

In 2017, the foundation awarded $488,625 in grants of which $97,050 was awarded in scholarships and $78,610 was awarded in local funding requests.

“An important part of our mission is to inspire generosity in our community and that presents in many forms, not just financial.  We have so many amazing individuals in our community who serve as leaders, advisors and supporters and we would not be here without all of them,” said executive director Jennifer Tuttle.

Key developments in the past year included the launch of the Franky Sherman Memorial Building Fund to support a memorial pavilion at the LaGrange County 4-H Fairgrounds; the creation of the Natalie Kauffman Memorial Scholarship Fund and E. Marie Dwight Memorial Fund; and the continued growth as a Scholarship Granting Organization which currently holds funds for Howe Military Academy.

Col. James Benson, former superintendent of Howe Military, addressed the topic of leadership at the LaGrange County Community Foundation annual meeting June 26.

Keynote speaker James Benson, a retired Marine Corps officer and former superintendent of Howe Military Academy, addressed the topic of executive leadership to encourage all who have supported the LaGrange County Community Foundation to continue to be strong leaders.

In his address, Benson discussed the type of courage executives need to lead.

“Executive courage is the glue that connects decision making with success in the workplace and home. It is an element of leadership that permits a leader to accept measured risk, to make unpopular decisions, to challenge the odds, to create unhappy factions, and ignore and dismiss the foot draggers…” Benson said.

LCCF Youth Philanthropy Coordinator Laney Kratz also shared about the foundation’s commitment to developing youth leaders and how the foundation’s youth philanthropy program, LIFE, prepares youths for making critical decisions and encourages them to get involved in service.

Members of the LIFE program represent each of the three county public schools in grades 8-12, as well as Howe Military Academy.

To celebrate and support the charitable efforts of the LaGrange and Shipshewana Ministerial associations, the LaGrange County Community Foundation is offering a matching program through April 30.

Gifts made to the Community Foundation’s Good Samaritan Fund through April 30 will be set aside for a matching grant to the LaGrange Ministerial Association and Shipshewana Ministerial Association. The Community Foundation pledges to match gifts to each association up to a total of $2000.

For example, if local donors give $2,500 for the benefit of an association, the Community Foundation will match $2,000 and grant that ministerial association a total of $4,500.

The matching grant will support the LaGrange Ministerial Association’s efforts to provide emergency support to residents who find themselves without shelter and need a place to stay.  The association assists adults whose lives have been disrupted through a change in employment, forced to find a new living situation or are seeking to rebuild their lives after imprisonment or addiction.

The matching grant also will support the efforts of the Shipshewana Ministerial Association. The churches of the association work together to provide emergency financial support to local families facing an immediate crisis. They also coordinate the Big Give program in November, providing area families with food and clothing.

Checks submitted to the LaGrange County Community Foundation during this time and for this purpose must specify on the memo line – Good Samaritan Fund – and indicate “LaGrange” or “Shipshewana.”