Questa Announces Partnership with Taylor University

Questa Education Foundation is excited to announce a new partnership with Taylor University. Questa scholars who attend and graduate from Taylor will now receive 25% in loan forgiveness on their Questa loan, in addition to 50% forgiveness if the student lives and works in Northeast Indiana for five years after graduation. In total, a scholar’s Questa loan can be up to 75% forgiven. This new partnership and forgiveness benefit will apply to new Questa Scholars starting at and returning to Taylor University in fall 2021.

“As we hold steady in our mission, we are eager to partner with Questa as part of our commitment to affordability,” said Nathan W. Baker, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Taylor. “This partnership opens doors for students to pursue their calling and invest in our neighboring communities.”

Taylor is joining another 11 universities that currently partner with Questa, including Anderson University, Grace College, Huntington University, Indiana Tech, Indiana University Fort Wayne, Indiana Wesleyan University, Ivy Tech Community College, Manchester University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Trine University and University of Saint Francis.

“We are excited to launch this partnership with Taylor University,” said Elizabeth Bushnell, Executive Director of Questa Education Foundation.  “Adding Taylor as a partner school gives Northeast Indiana students more options for maximum debt forgiveness and supports our efforts to expand and serve more students from the region.”

Questa has served over 1,000 scholars and continues to increase the number of scholars each year thanks to generous donors and community support. New partnerships help Questa continue this expansion to strengthen the pool of newly skilled graduates who help meet the workforce needs of the region.

Questa’s Traditional application opens on December 1 through March 15. The Contemporary Scholars program and other specialized program applications are open year-round. For more information and how to apply, visit www.questafoundation.org.

About Taylor University: Founded in 1846, Taylor University is an interdenominational liberal arts university of evangelical faith located in Upland, Indiana. The 2021 U.S. News & World Report survey America's Best Colleges ranked Taylor the number two Midwest University in the category Best Regional Colleges. It marked the 24th consecutive year for Taylor to be ranked in the region's top three. Taylor has also been ranked number one 12 times. Taylor offers majors in over 60 fields of study including business, Christian education, communications, education and science. Taylor University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and Christian College Consortium (CCC). https://www.taylor.edu/

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.

Budgeting for Life After College; How Much Will Student Loans Cost You?

We asked James Cashman, College Funding Advisor at 3Rivers Federal Credit Union, to share his discussion with students that are considering taking out college loans. Many students don’t take the time to understand their budget after graduation and the impact their loan payments will have on their day-to-day. James gives his advice on how to calculate this cost and see if taking out a student loan is right for you.

We all know – college is expensive – and getting pricier. Industry experts think college costs will increase between 2% and 5% every year. For many students, that could mean thousands of dollars in extra payments.

How does a family deal with rising costs and pay for college? In general, there are four sources of college funding. Every student is different!

1.       Student-earned aid. This comes as a result of the student’s work – whether in an after-school job, in the classroom, or out in the community as a volunteer or innovator. This typically comes in the form of scholarships (or free money) that the student applies for or receives from a college. Another option is the Questa Education Foundation that provides low-interest loan awards that could be up to 75% forgiven. This is a unique loan because a portion of it could be forgiven, and is student-earned. 

2.       Family-earned aid. These are family, and other support system, contributions. College savings plans (check out the Indiana CollegeChoice 529 plan), parental jobs, and graduation gifts are the common methods.

3.       Need-based aid. This category steps in for some students who may lack family-earned aid. The most common measurement of “need” is combined family income. The less money a family makes, the more need-based aid is typically available. Many families expect help here. In reality, only about 35% of students receive the Federal Pell Grant – one of the largest sources of need-based aid. This aid is determined by completing a FAFSA application.

4.       Student loans. Student loans spread the cost of college out. The downside? Students trade payment now (in college) for monthly payments that could last 5, 10, or 20 years after graduation. A student loan is a tradeoff with our future selves.

How much student debt can you afford to take on for your degree? Our advice: do the math yourself.

A helpful way to get a grasp on how student loans will impact you after school is to use a future-focus model on cash flow (income and expenses). Think: what will life after college look like? Where will you work, live, pass time with friends, eat, and spend money? What activities will you do on a weekly basis? Begin by exploring career prospects and understand your potential income. What will your chosen career pay?

Thanks to new tools from the Department of Education, students can now see median earnings one year after graduation from many majors. Find reliable sources – ask internship providers, coworkers, and trusted mentors.

Next, list monthly expenses for your future self. You will want to consider a variety of costs – taxes, healthcare, living costs, fun money, emergency savings, and retirement savings. It will be important to understand how much a student loan payment will be, too. For easy math, use 1% of the total balance as a payment amount.

There are a variety of easy-to-use budget planners on the internet. Feel free to find one that works for you or use this basic excel file template that I use when planning with families. Check out the excel template here. As you calculate your income and expenses, there are a few helpful items to be aware of:

• If you apply for a car loan, apartment, credit card, mortgage, or other form of loan, many lenders consider your debt-to-income ratio. This is a comparison of creditor expenses (housing, auto loans, personal loans, credit cards, and student loans) and monthly gross (pre-tax) income. Debt-to-income ratios above about 40% may lead to declines on future loan requests. Below 40%, many creditors will be more comfortable. In simpler terms, if you have too much debt out of college, you may be less likely to receive a loan for a new car, for example, until you can pay down some of your debt.

• Having a variety of savings opportunities creates financial independence, such as emergency savings, mid-term savings for a future family or a home, and long-term savings for retirement.

• This exercise isn’t set in stone – you can always change your budget. Add and remove expenses, change expectations for life, reduce student loan debt, and do what you can to make sure your budget is in balance. This exercise gives you time to make those changes before you are experiencing life.

If you need help with money – ask. We are glad to support you!  

About the Author: James is passionate about education. He started at 3Rivers in 2016 and has found joy in connecting students with dream careers. In his role as College Funding Advisor, he supports families as they plan for higher education and transition to the workforce. Prior to coming aboard, he studied Spanish and Intercultural Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University, worked as a social worker in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and taught in Barcelona, Spain. Outside the office, he serves on the board of directors at the East Wayne Street Center, a local education non-profit, and enjoys travel, languages, and reading. For more information, visit www.3riversfcu.org.

Questa Foundation Announces Partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

Questa Education Foundation is excited to announce a new partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion. Questa scholars who attend and graduate from a partner school will receive 25% in loan forgiveness on their Questa loan, in addition to 50% forgiveness if the student lives and works in Northeast Indiana for five years after graduation. In total, a scholar’s Questa loan can be up to 75% forgiven. This new partnership and forgiveness benefit will apply to new Questa Scholars starting college in fall 2021.

Indiana Wesleyan University is excited to partner with Questa Education Foundation as they help individuals from Northeast Indiana explore college options and assist with the investment of a college degree,” said Chad Peters, Vice President for Enrollment at Indiana Wesleyan University. “We have decided to invest loan forgiveness funding directly from IWU in addition to other sources of financial aid that will complement the funding committed by Questa Education Foundation.  Our hope is that this will allow more students from this part of the state to earn their degree from IWU.”

IWU-Marion is joining another 10 universities that partner with Questa, including Grace College, Huntington University, Indiana Tech, Indiana University Fort Wayne, Indiana Wesleyan University – National/Global, Ivy Tech Community College, Manchester University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Trine University and University of Saint Francis.

“We are excited to launch this partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University,” said Elizabeth Bushnell, executive director of Questa Education Foundation.  “Adding the IWU Marion campus as a partner school gives Northeast Indiana students more options for maximum debt forgiveness and supports our efforts to expand and serve more students from the region.”

Questa has served over 1,000 scholars and continues to increase the number of scholars each year thanks to generous donors and community support. New partnerships help Questa continue this expansion to strengthen the pool of newly skilled graduates who help meet the workforce needs of the region.

Questa’s Traditional application opens on December 1 through March 15. The Contemporary Scholars program and other specialized program applications are open year-round. For more information and how to apply, visit www.questafoundation.org.

About Indiana Wesleyan University: Indiana Wesleyan University is celebrating 100 years as a Christian, global, comprehensive university providing liberal arts and professional education to approximately 14,000 students worldwide. IWU is one of the largest faith-based universities in America with rich undergraduate, graduate, masters and doctoral programs in such highly acclaimed academic units as the School of Nursing, School of Physical and Applied Sciences, College of Adult and Professional Studies, and School of Arts and Humanities.  An early leader in adult and online education, IWU is known for excellence in innovation. For more information, visit indwes.edu.

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.

Questa Foundation & Anderson University: A New Partnership

Questa Education Foundation is excited to announce a new partnership with Anderson University. Questa scholars who attend and graduate from Anderson will now receive 25% in loan forgiveness on their Questa loan, in addition to 50% forgiveness if the student lives and works in Northeast Indiana for five years after graduation. In total, a scholar’s Questa loan can be up to 75% forgiven. This new partnership and forgiveness benefit will apply to new Questa Scholars starting at Anderson University in fall 2021.

“This is an exciting opportunity not only for our students, but for us as a university,” said Anderson University President, John Pistole. “A college education is an investment and we are always seeking the opportunity to put a college career within reach.”

Anderson is joining another 10 universities that currently partner with Questa, including Grace College, Huntington University, Indiana Tech, Indiana University Fort Wayne, Indiana Wesleyan University, Ivy Tech Community College, Manchester University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Trine University and University of Saint Francis.

“We are excited to launch this partnership with Anderson University,” said Elizabeth Bushnell, executive director of Questa Education Foundation.  “Adding Anderson as a partner school gives Northeast Indiana students more options for maximum debt forgiveness and supports our efforts to expand and serve more students from the region.”

Questa has served over 1,000 scholars and continues to increase the number of scholars each year thanks to generous donors and community support. New partnerships help Questa continue this expansion to strengthen the pool of newly skilled graduates who help meet the workforce needs of the region.

Questa’s Traditional application opens on December 1 through March 15. The Contemporary Scholars program and other specialized program applications are open year-round. For more information and how to apply, visit www.questafoundation.org.

About Anderson University: Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.

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.

Learning is Lifelong: Shenita Bolton Shares the Work of FWCS K-12 College & Career Readiness Programming

A pivotal moment for students is the question, “Will I go to college or not?” and many are asking themselves this question earlier and earlier – even in elementary school. How do we prepare our students for this next step? Shenita Bolton, a member of Questa’s Board of Directors and the Manager of K-12 College and Career Readiness with Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS), believes that students should be set up for success in high school for what lies beyond. Whether that’s college or another path, students should have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed. The FWCS K-12 College and Career Readiness Office (CCR) works to instill in all students the belief that they can go to college and pursue their college goals. While attending college may not be the goal for all students, the CCR Office promotes a college-going culture and works to ensure students have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed after high school.

Hillary Troup, Questa’s Scholar & Marketing Specialist, had an opportunity to talk about the CCR’s programming and Shenita’s beliefs about lifelong learning.

What is the importance of students pursuing post-secondary education?

I am a strong believer that individuals should be lifelong learners. Learning never stops. To position themselves to be successful financially and make further contributions to their community – and family at large – it is important for students to expand their knowledge base.

Students change their interests numerous times throughout their K-12 education and may change their major several times. Post-secondary allows them to explore their particular interest and determine what is best for them. They will have opportunities to grow mentally and to expand their knowledge base and grow in the academic field. The CCR department does our best to help students explore those interests so they know the right path after graduation.

As the Manager of College and Career Readiness, how do you prepare students for the next step after high school?

My team and I work with K-12 students, making sure they have the knowledge and skills to succeed in post-secondary education. We offer a wide variety of activities for our students including workshops, classes, job shadowing, internships, college visits, and anything related to career readiness. FWCS also offers college and career prep programs, college visit programs, SAT/ACT prep, internship and job shadowing, parent workshops and more.

How does your experience guide you in this role?

Before I came to FWCS I worked in higher education for 20 years. In my previous position, I was the Director of Admissions at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, so I have a different lens for my current role. I know what is expected in higher education and what is expected from the student.

When was the College & Career Readiness (CCR) department established?

The CCR department started in 2016 with only two staff members but has grown in the past four years to a team of 11. Since we work with K-12 grades, some team members are assigned to specific schools, while others work with all schools in the district. Other programs are specific to middle school and high school. Our first class that we’ve worked with for the past four years graduated this year, and we are excited to see where the next chapter of their lives takes them.

What are a few opportunities you have for the students this month?

During the month of September, we are celebrating College GO! Week and National GEAR UP Week. Both celebrations will be held September 21 – 25 this year. Some activities we will do with our students this week include virtual college tours, creating a college plan, learn how to pay for college, preparing for your career, Learn More Indiana lessons, prizes and more.

How has COVID-19 affected your team in engaging your students?

The pandemic has hindered college and career visits, but we have adapted by moving toward virtual spaces for students to learn. We have a coding workshop coming up on October for middle school students that will be online and an elementary engineering camp online with Science Central. We are working through it.

Why do you believe in Questa and chose to be on its board of directors?

Being a part of the Questa Foundation feels like a no-brainer. I am working in K-12 college education and working to ensure that students are going right to college or to the workforce, but also to help guide them to scholarship opportunities and how to pay for college. For me Questa is aligned exactly with what my day to day work is. I want to give students as many opportunities and as much awareness as possible to graduate from college with little to no debt, and meet the needs of students who often may not be able to go to college because of the cost.

Shenita Bolton, Manager of K-12 College and Career Readiness with FWCS

The FWCS K-12 College and Career Readiness Office is located at the Family and Community Engagement Center at 230 E. Douglass Avenue in Fort Wayne, IN and is open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. To learn more, visit https://www.fwcs.k12.in.us/college-and-career-readiness or contact Shenita Bolton at 260-467-7257 or Shenita.bolton@fwcs.k12.in.us.