The Present & Future Faces of Education

We asked one thing of our scholars currently studying education and graduates who are now teachers, “Has COVID-19 made you decide to change your career path?” Many educators and schools are facing challenges connecting with students due to the restrictions enforced from the pandemic. How will we teach virtually? How can we keep students engaged? The good news is we have excellent Questa Scholars who are passionate about the students in our region and do their best every day to teach in unique ways. 

“I have changed my classroom the most because of COVID-19, but if anything, it’s improved my teaching! I want to make an impact on students’ lives by showing them the joy of learning, patience when things don’t go as planned, and kindness in all situations…” Christina Coats, Class of 2019 

“COVID-19 definitely made me take a step back and evaluate…but at the end of the day, my desire is to educate children well and believe, equip, and inspire each one of them as they begin their journey into the world on their own,” Haydn Faur, Class of 2021 

“Covid-19 has never made me consider changing careers. I love to help people! I look forward to facing several challenges so I can become a stronger educator for my students and for our future,” Faith Kamp, Class of 2024 

Creative, patient, kind and resilient; these are the faces of our current and future teachers. 

Nichole Winans

Abby Sheehan

Sarah Schmucker

Rachel Platt

Michayle Rasbaugh

Andrew Halferty

Ayn-Margaret Schaekel

Lori Hoese

Faith Kamp

Haydn Faur

Breana Green

Emily Stetka

Christina Coats

Questa & AWS Foundation Meet a Talent Need for Special Ed Teachers

Questa and AWS Foundation Offer Fully Forgivable Loans for Teachers Pursuing Special Education License

Before the outbreak of COVID-19 rocked our world, special education teachers were in high demand. As traditional teaching methods are drastically changing due to the pandemic, our region needs specialized teachers now more than ever. Questa Education Foundation and AWS Foundation are partnering to meet this need, offering fully forgivable loans to individuals pursuing their special education licensure, provided they work in Northeast Indiana public schools in special education for five years after receiving their license.

Since beginning this partnership in 2019, twenty-five Questa Scholars have been accepted to the program, and the first three graduates received their special education licenses this year. All of these graduates are teaching in special education classrooms in the Northeast Indiana region.

One Questa Scholar in the program is currently pursuing her special education licensure with a focus on moderate and intense interventions.

"It was not my intention to teach special education, but I was offered a position in a life skills special education class and I began to love teaching these kids. I knew this school year would be crazy, but it's a blessing to be back in school and in-person with my students," says Sarah Schmucker.

Sarah Schmucker, Questa Scholar and life skills teacher at Fairfield Community Schools

Schmucker currently teaches in Fairfield Community Schools in Elkhart County and will graduate in 2021 with her special education license.

Scholars are eligible to receive up to $5,000 a year toward earning their licensure. Renewed funding support from AWS Foundation serves a critical need.

“The shortage of special education teachers creates an urgent need to support students pursuing this field,” said Elizabeth Bushnell, executive director of Questa Education Foundation. “AWS Foundation has the vision and commitment to provide funding that helps us accelerate the licensure of special education teachers in our schools.” 

“We celebrate the talent and passion of special education teachers and recognize the pivotal role they play in preparing students with disabilities for full and meaningful lives,” said Patti Hays, CEO of AWS Foundation. “The cost of certification should not be a barrier for ensuring qualified special education teachers in our public schools.”

Many Questa Scholars pursuing education are optimistic about getting back in the classroom despite the pandemic and are excited to be back with their students this year.

Nicole Winans, Questa Scholar, currently teaching at New Haven High School

“I want to improve our education system, better our schools, and impact the lives of countless individuals. Because of the Questa program, I was able to earn my bachelor’s degree debt-free,” Nicole Winans, Questa Scholar.

Students currently pursuing their special education licensure can apply for funding support at https://www.questafoundation.org/programs-overview.

About Questa Foundation: Since 1937, Questa Education Foundation has been helping individuals access post-secondary education, graduate with less debt, and become contributing members of Northeast Indiana’s workforce.

Addressing the Manufacturing Talent Need; Questa & 80/20 Foundation Trust Form New Partnership

In response to the talent need for certified individuals in manufacturing-related fields, Questa Education Foundation and 80/20 Foundation Trust are partnering to support Northeast Indiana residents pursuing a college-level certificate or degree. This pilot program extends for two years with the goal to support at least ten students with a forgivable loan award, up to $2,500 each semester.

“With so many manufacturing workers displaced by the pandemic, this program comes at a critical time to offer support for those individuals pursuing the next step in their education and their careers,” said Laura Macknick, executive director of 80/20 Foundation Trust. “Our board recognizes the importance of investing in individuals for the talent needs of Northeast Indiana manufacturing companies today and in the future.”

Scholars with a commitment to live and work in Northeast Indiana for five years after graduation will receive up to 50% loan forgiveness, and an additional 25% forgiveness upon attending a partnering institution. Up to 75% of total loan could be forgiven. Funded fields include Advanced Automation and Robotics Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, Business Management, Industrial Technology, Machine Tool Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Supply Chain Management, among others.

“Talent is critical to the growth and success of our regional economy. Questa’s partnership with 80/20 Foundation Trust enables us to strategically address talent needs in manufacturing and we are grateful for the vision and support of the 80/20 Foundation,” said Liz Bushnell, executive director of Questa Education Foundation. “This program is an example of how Questa can collaborate with businesses and other industries to develop the talent pipeline for their specific needs, all while helping residents access education and graduate with less debt.”

Residents of Northeast Indiana who are interested in pursuing or completing a certificate, associate’s or bachelor’s degree, with the intent to work in the manufacturing industry are encouraged to apply. The application is open to students right out of high school pursuing an undergraduate certificate or degree in addition to adult learners desiring to further their education.

About 80/20 Foundation Trust: The 80/20 Foundation Trust is committed to growing and strengthening the manufacturing sector in the Northeast Indiana region through philanthropic investment with strategic nonprofit partners.

About the Questa Foundation: Since 1937, The Questa Education Foundation has been assisting individuals in attaining further education beyond high school, graduating with less debt, and becoming contributing members of Northeast Indiana’s workforce. Questa’s vision is to transform the business landscape in the region by preparing the workforce for the economy of the 21st century.

For more information about how to apply for this specialized program, visit our Programs page or contact a Questa staff member at 260-407-6494 or info@questafoundation.org.

Senior Project Showcase: Taylor Autrey, Questa Scholar & 2020 Grad

Each year during my undergrad, I worked hard to complete projects and do the best I could. As a studio art major, almost more important to me than walking down the graduation stage was displaying my senior project in the art gallery at the University of Saint Francis. If I did not have the opportunity to showcase my work, it would have been disappointing and discouraging. My heart goes out to the graduates that were not able to show off their senior projects this year due to COVID-19. The dramatic shift from classroom to online learning provided challenges, and I wanted to give our Questa Scholars the platform to share their senior projects and be proud of their accomplishments.

Taylor Autrey with her son, Kaylor

Taylor Autrey became a Questa Scholar last year so she could receive the extra funding needed to complete her Master’s in Special Education and receive her special education licensure. She started her thesis project in June of 2019. It took her almost a year to complete.

During college, Taylor learned about “brain breaks”, short 2-5 minute physical activities, that are proven effective in teaching middle school students with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

Taylor anonymously surveyed 40 licensed teachers at her school to find out the level of knowledge Fort Wayne Community School (FWCS) teachers had about SPD and using movement breaks as a tool.

As result, Taylor created an original handbook for teachers to learn how to use kinesthetic movement breaks in their classroom. The handbook includes information on SPD and simple activities that teachers can do with students to help them focus and learn.

Taylor’s senior thesis poster - View PDF version here

“I don’t see the disability in my students. I only see the ability of what they are able to do, and my job is to help them be successful. What I like most about special education is the small group work. I can build relationships with my students,” Taylor says.

This May, Taylor received her Master of Education from Purdue Fort Wayne and she plans to continue teaching special education for middle school students at FWCS.

Taylor said, “Honestly, if I would not have had the funding from Questa to finish my degree, I would have never finished it. I only needed a few classes to get certification to teach special education in the state of Indiana. Questa allowed me to take the extra classes that gave me the professional development I needed to be successful in my job.”

Stories like Taylor’s inspire me because it proves that Northeast Indiana is developing quality graduates. Caring, smart, passionate people like Taylor are who we need to develop our region and make our home a better place. Thanks for sharing your work, Taylor and congratulations on your graduation!

Post by Hillary Troup, Scholar & Marketing Specialist at Questa Education Foundation, graduate from the University of Saint Francis, Class of 2015.

Find out more about Questa’s programming at https://www.questafoundation.org/programs-overview

A special thank you to the AWS Foundation who made it possible to support students pursuing their Special Education licensure.

A Memorable Year: Celebrating the Class of 2020

Every year, seniors pick up their cap and gown and mark their calendars for the end of the semester. Though every year is memorable for our graduates, 2020 is one for the books. We want to take a minute to celebrate the hard work of our grads, acknowledge the challenges they’ve been through, and celebrate their successes. Congratulations Questa Scholar Class of 2020!

We are proud to announce the 2020 spring graduating class of Questa Scholars. This graduating class includes 71 students from Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, Noble, Steuben, Wabash and Whitley counties. These Questa Scholars have received their associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degrees in various fields including special education, biomedical engineering, criminal justice, computer science, graphic design, industrial technology, and various medical fields, among others. Questa Scholars receive low-interest forgivable loans that are up to 50% forgivable if they live and work in northeast Indiana for five years following graduation. An additional 25% of the total loan is paid back when they attend and graduate from one Questa’s regional partner institutions. In many cases, scholars are graduating with 75% of their Questa loan forgiven.

A special recognition goes out the class of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic changes in their last semester. Seniors were not able to present final capstone projects, they missed walking across the graduation stage, postponed or cancelled graduation celebrations, and enter a challenging job market. However, the grit and flexibility demonstrated by these graduates makes them exceptional young professionals to retain in the region.

Congratulations to all of Questa’s recent graduates. View the names of the Questa Scholar 2020 graduating class here.

Visit our donation page to find out how you can support our mission, and help another student graduate with less debt.