LAGRANGE — The LaGrange County Community Foundation is proud to announce the inaugural recipients of the Howe Legacy Scholarship, awarding ten students each a $5,000 scholarship to support their continued post-secondary education.
The Howe Legacy Scholarship Fund was established to honor the 135-year history of Howe Military Academy and to invest in the future of students connected to the institution and the broader LaGrange County community.
This year marks the first round of awards, with recipients selected through a competitive application process. A volunteer committee reviewed applications using a criteria-based evaluation process, with selections based on academic achievement, eligibility, and demonstrated leadership inside and outside the classroom.
The 2026 Howe Legacy Scholars are:
- Cassidy Blackwood, Redwood City, Calif., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Aeronautical Studies;
- Mason Clark, Middlebury, Ind., Indiana Wesleyan University, Business and Exercise Science;
- Scotlyn Gayheart, LaGrange, Ind., Trine University, Psychology, Law;
- Nathan Grubbs, Delaware, Ohio, Ohio State University, Pharmaceutical Science;
- Elizabeth Ralph, Indianapolis, Ind., Marian University, Education and Special Education;
- Phillip Sheets, Wolcottville, Ind., Purdue University, Mechanical Engineering;
- Wade Springer, Millersburg, Ind., Grove City College, Biochemistry;
- Arlene Thompson, Howe, Ind., Ball State University, Political Science and Media;
- Ezekiel Wachtman, Howe, Ind., Purdue University, Electric Engineering; and
- Maxwell Wright, Columbia, Tenn., University of Tennessee at Knoxville, History and Education.
2026 Howe Legacy Scholars
To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled full-time in an accredited two- or four-year college, university, trade school, or vocational program in the United States with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants must also be either a direct descendant of a Howe Military Academy graduate or reside in LaGrange County.
“The Howe Legacy Scholarship reflects the commitment of preserving the school’s spirit of leadership and educational mission,” said Beth Retterbush, Scholarship and LIFE Program Manager at the Foundation. “We are honored to support these outstanding students as they pursue their academic and career goals.”
Following the closure of Howe Military Academy in 2019, proceeds from the sale of the campus helped establish two permanent funds at the Community Foundation: the Howe Legacy Fund, which supports community projects in Howe, and the Howe Legacy Scholarship Fund, which provides educational assistance to students.