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 Staff photo/Kay Louth
St. Marys Eagles Aerie 767 award each of the following $1,000 scholarships. From left in front row: Jeffrey D. Coleman, Dustin J. Steinberger, Garrett Yahl, Kyle A. Operman and Joseph D. Wilker. From left in back row: Stephanie Henline, Alysia M. Freewalt, Eagles Representative Larry Shelby, Michael Schmitmeyer and Joshua M. Ricker.
By KAY LOUTH
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Dozens of local students received thousands of dollars in grants and loans Wednesday night as the St. Marys Community Foundation completed another round of benevolent giving.
The foundation awards college money in the form of grants and loans. Foundation President Ed Noble took a few minutes to address the crowd of high school graduates and their parents in the awards ceremony at the Eagles Lodge last night. He told the crowd that the first loans were awarded in 1980 and totaled $2,000. The first grant awards, for $1,250, each went to two graduates in 1981.
“Since then we have given out about a half a million (dollars in) grants,” Noble said.
The money has gone to more than 450 graduates. Wednesday night, Noble said the foundation would be presenting $119,000 in loans and $192,000 in grants.
“Our foundation is growing and I hope it continues,” Noble said.
Noble also took a moment to commend the foundation’s administrator Darwin Zeigler for his work in managing the foundation.
The foundation manages dozens of scholarship funds such as the Ned E. and Doris Lawler Family Scholarship for $3,000, which this year was awarded to Emily Steva.
The scholarship requires the winner to study education, horticulture, floriculture, home economics, human ecology or engineering. The Dr. Elizabeth Kuffner Scholarship for $1,000 went to Elaine Schaaf with the stipulation it be spent to earn a medical degree.
The Eagles awarded $10,000 in grants last night to 10 students — $5,000 went to students pursuing technical or trade careers. The American Legion handed out 11, $1,000 grants as well.
The Disabled American Veterans handed out 10, $1,000 scholarships during the event. DAV Treasurer Ralph Hussey presented the checks. Hussey told The Evening Leader as the members of the St. Marys DAV aged, attendance fell off and eventually the organization ceased operations in town and joined with the Wapakoneta chapter.
The St. Marys chapter owned the building now occupied by Agape Ministries. When the chapter disbanded, the members decided to sell the building.
Hussey said they decided to give all their assets to their scholarship fund to benefit graduates of St. Marys, New Bremen, Minster and New Knoxville, with priority going to the children or grandchildren of disabled or American veterans.
“Everything we had went into that fund,” Hussey said. “The (DAV) Scholarships will definitely never run out.”
Hussey said the scholarships are awarded each year from the interest generated on the principle.
“If they still give out 10 a year, that will be nice,” Hussey said.
Zeigler presented dozens of loan checks last night in addition to the scholarship checks presented by Noble.
Some of the loans are funded by the foundation itself and some, like funded accounts for scholarships, are supplied by individuals, such as a former elementary principal. Some of the loans presented last night came from funds that former loan recipients have paid back.
“This year, we will be using $60,000 that has been paid back,” Zeigler said.
Zeigler told the group that the foundation understands that sometimes things are difficult and officials are always willing to work with loan recipients if they are struggling with payments after graduation. Recipients don’t have to start repayment until nine months after graduation.
Zeigler talked about one fund in particular, the Medic Search Scholarship/Loan given by the Foundation Selection Committee.
It goes to an Auglaize County resident who is pursuing a degree in health care services.
If the person returns to Auglaize County after graduation and works for two years in the county, the loan becomes a grant and does not have to be repaid.
This year, two checks for $1,000 each went to Mark Reisen and Betsy Slaven.
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