2025 Scholarship Recipients
Valpo Schools Foundation Scholarships
Briana Campos
Addison Carney
Emily Cheuk
Zoe Cusson
Daniel Gibson
Aubrie Graegin
Rachel Harris
Brooklyn Hudson
Kiera McConnell
Aidan Monroe
Mason Nobles
Anthony Olivarez
William Orban
Francesca Plata
Allison Randolph
Xavier Sellers
Sam Sienkowski
Cameron Waldon
VSF Exceptional Learner Scholarship- Kaitie Shideler
VSF Occupational Technical Scholarship- Mackenzie Wasserman
Amazing Race for Education “Northview Navigators” Scholarship- Duru Cukurtepe
Amazing Race for Education “Jimmy Johns of Valpo” Scholarship- Chrystal Hernes
Skip Bird Memorial Swimming Scholarship- Jonah Lee
Kenneth Brist Scholarship- Rita Piech & Isabella Slater
Christine Butterfield Memorial Music Scholarship- Daniel Gibson
Candela Family Scholarship- Reagan Williams
Dominic Davis Memorial Music Scholarship- Daniel Gibson
Bryce Drew Scholarship- Vincent Grisolano & Mackenzie Wasserman
Eichhorn Family Scholarship- Aidan Monroe
Dr. E Ric Frataccia Community Leadership Award- Rachel McDaniel & Aidan Monroe
Jeff Gebhardt Memorial Scholarship- Kiera McConnell
James Genovese Industrial Arts Scholarship- Aidan Monroe
Morris Groverman Leadership Scholarship- Kaitie Shideler
Herbert Hedstrom Percussion Scholarship- Kira Otten
Tim Bishop/Karen Hancock Memorial Scholarship- Megan Garibay & Anthony Olivarez
Jovanina “The Star to Be” Scholarship- Grace Mills, Francesca Plata, & Raegan Smedley
Robert L. Koenig Family Scholarship- Ariana Villanueva
Quan Le Memorial Track Scholarship- Isla Bakker
Joan Mahoney Memorial Scholarship- Sam Sienkowski
Dave and Marion Milligan Award- Jonah Lee
Ann Nellessen Memorial Sportsmanship Award- Jonah Lee & Ione Skafish
John H Smiley Scholarship- Nathan Nightingale
Thorgren Family Scholarship- Austen Mackenzie
Gary Webster Memorial Scholarship- Rita Piech
Keegan Whaling Memorial Scholarship- Francesca Plata
2024 VSF Spring Grant Recipients:
Jennifer Hurley- Thomas Jefferson Middle School- Think Outside the Breakout Box
Eric Kennedy- Ben Franklin Middle School- Ben Franklin READS 7th Grade
Heather Mecchia- Ben Franklin Middle School- Ben Franklin READS 8th Grade
Alex Otto- Ben Franklin Middle School- Ben Franklin READS 6th Grade
Sara Redmond- Thomas Jefferson Elementary- Classroom Calming Corner
Audrey Rucklos- Heavilin Elementary- Glow Gallery
Gretchen Scott- Memorial Elementary – Global Masks
Pam Gring & Dr. Bonnie Stephens- Heavilin Elementary- Battle of the Books
Lucy Manchak & Kathryn Zeck- Thomas Jefferson Elementary- One School, One Book
Spring 2025
Deena Butterfield, Parkview Elementary, “Creating a Sensory Lifestyle Classroom”
Kara Dan, Heavilin Elementary, “Students as Teachers of Robotics Construction and Coding”
Tina Morales, Valparaiso High School, “Sensory Classroom”
Sara Redmond & Cassandra Riley, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, “Times Tales”
Sherri Seward, Thomas Jefferson & Parkview Elementary, “Circle the State with Song”
Dr. Bonnie Stephens, Heavilin Elementary, “Battle of the Books”
Jill Taylor, Ben Franklin Middle School, “Social Emotional Regulation”
Natalie Thorgren, Central Elementary, “Hydroponic Garden”
Joselyn Schwerdt & Natalie Thorgren, Cooks Corners & Central Elementary, “Hovercraft Project”
Kathryn Zeck, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, “One School, One Book”
Fall 2025
Kris Arthur, Valparaiso High School, “Voices on the Move”
Holly Atkinson, Ben Franklin Middle School, “Voices on the Move”
Elizabeth Bendicsen, Central Elementary, “The 7 Habits of Happy Kids”
Kara Dan & Audrey Rucklos, Heavilin Elementary, “Stop Motion Studio”
Amanda Kerner, Flint Lake Elementary, “Time with Friends”
Elizabeth Gertzen, Cooks Corners Elementary, “Art Classroom Library”
Jillian Gudenschwager, Flint Lake Elementary, “Hovercraft Project”
Chris Marolf, Valparaiso High School, “Orchestra Mandolins”
Heather Mecchia, Ben Franklin Middle School, “BF Reads- 7th Grade”
Kristin Proffitt, Flint Lake Elementary, “Buddy Brain Boosters”
Jane Jones, Thomas Jefferson & Parkview Elementary, “Dine and Play at the AI Cafe”
Ann Riegle, Flint Lake Elementary, “Circle the State with Song”
Shellie Schoff & Gretchen Scott, Memorial Elementary, “Stop Motion Studio”
Erin Strauss, Valparaiso High School, “Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics”
Joselyn Schwerdt & Natalie Thorgren, Cooks Corners & Central Elementary, “Hovercraft Project”
Marissa Toren, Heavilin Elementary, “4th Grade Reads: Outside of School Book Clubs”
