Scholarship Programs Available for Education Majors Intending to Teach
The Wells County Foundation, Inc. announces the availability of two scholarship programs for those entering the teaching profession. For the K. Robert Ehrman Scholarship Program, first priority will be given to those students planning to teach instrumental music.
If there are no qualified candidates, then scholarships will be available to all education majors planning to teach at the elementary or secondary level. Candidates may be completing undergraduate work or continuing education at the postgraduate level.
Applicants must have completed two years of undergraduate study and declared a major in elementary or secondary education.
The Mary V. Reinhard Scholarship Program is only for junior and senior undergraduate students (not postgraduate students) who have declared a major in elementary or secondary education and plan to enter the teaching profession. Preference with be given to students entering their senior year of undergraduate study.
The scholarship awards are to be used for one year of full-time undergraduate study at any accredited post-secondary institution within the United States of America.
Both programs have the following eligibility requirements: 1) must be legal residents of Adams County or Wells County; 2) have collegiate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale; and 3) must be preparing to enter the teaching profession.
There is one application form and based upon the qualifications of the applicants, an outside independent scholarship management organization will make the selections and determine which scholarship the applicant is eligible to receive. If there are qualified and eligible candidates, the number of scholarship awards will be divided equally between Adams County and Wells County and will be in amounts of no less than $2,000 each.
Application information and materials may be obtained from the Wells County Public Library, the Ossian Branch Library, Berne Library, Decatur Library, the Geneva Library, and for Adams County residents they may also obtain scholarship applications from the Adams County Community Foundation.
In addition, individuals may request application materials by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to The Wells County Foundation, Inc., 109 North Scott Street, Bluffton, IN 46714. Please indicate that you are requesting the application for the K. Robert Ehrman Scholarship and the Mary V. Reinhard Scholarship.
All materials are due back to the Foundation by June 2, 2006. For questions or more information, please call 260-824-8620
Karl Robert Ehrman, a life-long resident of Adams County, was a retired farmer and a talented musician. He began his music career playing a French horn in the seventh grade and then played the Coronet in the Kirkland Township High School Band. He joined the Decatur American Legion Post Marching Pep Band and marched in parades and played at fairs. He also began playing the accordion and became a member of the Berne accordion band and traveled with the band to Pennsylvania and Ohio as the band was always in great demand. He played the organ in supper clubs in Key West and played for nursing homes in the Decatur area. He strongly supported the education of youth and, through this scholarship fund, wanted to encourage the development of instrumental music teachers.
A Wells County resident, Miss Reinhard was a graduate of Ball State Teacher’s College, now Ball State University, and received her master’s degree in education from Colorado State University. A teacher for over forty years in Adams and Allen Counties, she was highly respected by her former students, fondly remembered by them for her “full and gracious life of service”. Her primary intent in establishing the Fund was to assist individuals committed to entering the field of elementary or secondary education as teachers.
