The Power of Possible

Austin Layton

Austin knew he wanted to receive an excellent education, rooted in faith and community, but there were roadblocks. One of three siblings currently in college, Austin knew the cost would be challenging for his family.

Andrea Layton, the first of the Layton family to be accepted as a Questa Scholar, made sure to tell her three younger siblings, Ariana, Brayden, and Austin, about the opportunity. All have since been accepted into the Questa Scholars Program.

Now that Austin and his family have the financial support they need to attend college, his dream of becoming a pediatric surgeon is possible.

(L to R) Brayden, Ariana, Austin

“I want to personally thank you for your support and generosity. Your meaningful contribution to support my education has ensured I am able to continue my education at Taylor University, a second home and community I have come to love so much,” says Austin.

Though the road to pursuing his dreams of a medical career may be long, Austin is confident knowing he will graduate with less debt.

By making college possible for one person, you can change our community.

Consider supporting a student in Northeast Indiana today, and create a ripple effect of change - from individual to family, from community to the region, and beyond.

Questa boosting educational quest for disadvantaged

Questa boosting educational quest for disadvantaged
Co-Authored: Emily Pichon and Ian Boyce

First, the good news:

Over the past 10 years, our state has made great progress in ensuring that more diverse students across a number of key factors, including income level, are graduating from high school than they were in the years prior. There has also been an increase in the number of students seeking short-term credentials, underscoring the value of multiple pathways for postsecondary education and career success.

This has not happened by accident or good luck, of course; it's a direct result of a concerted effort by committed people at all levels to make sure more of our state's most at-risk students are completing their high school education to give them a better start at the next phase of their lives.

This effort has largely been in support of Indiana's “Big Goal” from 2012, striving for at least 60% of Indiana residents to achieve a quality degree or credential by 2025.

Now, for the not-so-good-news:

The percentage of high school graduates going to college is at a 10-year low, and college-going rates for more diverse, rural and low-income high school students are even lower.

Only 49% of Hispanic students and 50% of Black students enrolled in college, compared to the statewide average of 59%. Only 55% of rural students enrolled in college. Just a third of low-income students pursued postsecondary education. This is according to the 2021 College Equity Report recently released by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Alarmingly, these results are for the Class of 2019 and do not account for the effects of the pandemic, which exacerbated barriers to further education.

Without closing these remaining equity gaps and reversing some of the concerning trends outlined in the report, Indiana will not reach its educational attainment goals. Indeed, with less than four years before the Big Goal's target date, our state's education attainment rate sits at less than 50%.

Whether a certificate in advanced manufacturing or a degree in nursing, postsecondary education provides a path for individual and community success.

Here in northeast Indiana, it is imperative that our region work collectively and comprehensively to increase access to postsecondary education to better serve our residents and to build the diverse and skilled workforce that is essential for economic and community growth.

At Questa Educational Foundation, for example, our board of directors recently adopted strategic priorities that address the gaps in college-going rates among disadvantaged students in particular. Put into action, this means we will focus and refine our efforts to provide opportunity for students in northeast Indiana who face barriers to further education by reducing the financial hurdles that remain in the way of too many local students.

Coupled with academic preparation, career exploration and mentoring, financial assistance can close the gaps in college access and enable more of our local students – particularly those from disadvantaged populations – to enroll, graduate and pursue successful careers in northeast Indiana.

From our own experience over the past 85 years, these efforts pay off. Financial assistance, academic performance standards and ongoing support enable Questa scholars to enroll and complete their studies.

For example, Questa Scholars achieve an average graduation rate of 85%, compared with 63.6% for all students statewide. Just as importantly, about 67% of our graduates remain in the region to live and work, strengthening and deepening our region's talent pool.

Our experience demonstrates that consistently removing those key barriers – especially financial ones – has a material effect on the number of high school students entering college ready to learn and succeed.

Emily Pichon is chair of the Questa Education Foundation Board of Directors. Ian Boyce is vice chair.

Emily Pichon, President, Cole Foundation

Chair of Questa’s Board of Directors

Ian Boyce, Principal Owner, Dickmeyer Boyce Financial Management

Vice Chair of Questa’s Board of Directors

Originally published in the Journal Gazette on October 10, 2021.

Questa Education Announces 2021 Spring & Summer Graduates

Questa Education Foundation is proud to announce the 2021 spring and summer graduating class. This graduating class includes 94 students from Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties. These Questa Scholars have received their associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees in various fields including business, computer engineering, criminal justice, education, mechanical engineering, and various medical fields, among others.

Questa Scholars receive low-interest forgivable loans that are up to 50% forgiven if they live and work in northeast Indiana for five years following graduation. An additional 25% of the total loan can be forgiven 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.

Congratulations to all of Questa’s recent graduates. Below are the names of Questa graduates, the university they attended, as well as their program of study while in college.

“Questa has helped me not only by funding a part of my education, but also by helping me realize all of the amazing opportunities that are in this area,” said Adam Veeley, Questa scholar and recent graduate from the University of Saint Francis. Veeley started a new position at Circle Logistics in Fort Wayne shortly after graduating with his business degree in May.

Local support is essential to keep these talented graduates in the region. Funding for the Questa Scholars program comes from local foundations, businesses, and individual donors. For more information on how you can fund scholars in your community, visit our website at www.questafoundation.org or call us at 260-407-6494.

First Name	Last Name	County	College Name	Major
MaKenzie	Barger	Adams	University of Saint Francis	Pre-Physician Assistant
Lynn	Herman	Adams	Ivy Tech	Nursing
Kiara	Walter	Adams	Indiana Wesleyan University	Nursing
Janaya	Wilder	Adams	Trine University	Pre-Physical Therapy
Tracy	Alderman	Allen	WGU	Nursing
Leilani	Allen	Allen	Ivy Tech	Creative Writing
Odessa	Aytch	Allen	University of Saint Francis	Special Education Mild Intervention
Jada	Baymon	Allen	University of Saint Francis	Social Work
Catherine	Birch	Allen	Indiana Wesleyan University	Strat Comm & Sports Mgmt
Kristen	Borntreger	Allen	Huntington University	Occupational Therapy
Jordan	Bridges	Allen	Purdue University	Human Resources Development
Jacqueline	Bruner	Allen	Ivy Tech	Nursing
Angela	Cale	Allen	WGU	Nursing
Rozlynn	Everhart	Allen	Huntington University	Occupational Therapy
Michael	Ewing	Allen	Indiana Wesleyan National & Global	Communications
Jason	Fansler	Allen	IUPUI	MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner
Jonathan	Fansler	Allen	IUPUI	MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner
Amy	Fisher	Allen	WGU	Nursing
Kristinna	Frederick	Allen	Indiana Tech	Organizational Leadership
Evan	Garver	Allen	Grace College	Management and Marketing
DaYanira	Garza	Allen	Huntington University	Nursing
Juan	Gonzalez-Rangel	Allen	University of Saint Francis	Nursing
Alyssa	Grimm	Allen	University of Saint Francis	Communications
Amy	Groh	Allen	Purdue Fort Wayne	Master's of Special Education
Natalie	Grose	Allen	Trine University	Exercise Science
Victoria	Grose	Allen	Trine University	Forensic Science
Noah	Hardesty	Allen	Grace College	Marketing
Anika	Hoffer	Allen	University of Saint Francis	Nursing
Aubrey	Jester	Allen	Grace College	Health Science
Kim	Kamler	Allen	Purdue Fort Wayne	Special Education w/Mild Disabilities
Lindley	Kistler	Allen	University of Saint Francis	Marketing and Communications
Kassidy	Kreilach	Allen	Huntington University	Nursing
Cassie	Kurtz	Allen	WGU	Health Leadership
Christopher	Larimer	Allen	Indiana Wesleyan University	Nursing
Jamee	Lock	Allen	Huntington University	Business Administration & Nonprofit Leadership
Daymon	Marlowe	Allen	Trine University	Mechanical Engineering
Paula	Martinez	Allen	Purdue Fort Wayne	School Counseling
Adrianna	McNab	Allen	Huntington University	Biology (Pre-Med)
Raj	Patel	Allen	Purdue Fort Wayne	Computer Engineering
Megyn	Pfeiffer	Allen	Manchester University	Chemistry & Biology
Brandon	Phelps	Allen	Ball State University	Mild Intervention
Joshua	Poole	Allen	Huntington University	Missions
Luis	Rodriguez Perez	Allen	IUFW	Nursing
Nicole	Rothgeb	Allen	Trine University	Exercise Science
Logan	Sagstetter	Allen	Trine University	Exercise Science
Erin	Simons	Allen	Ball State University	Health Education and Promotion
Jenna	Smith	Allen	Indiana Wesleyan National & Global	RN-BSN
Kisandra	Smith	Allen	Grace College	Photography/Graphic Design
Caitline	Southern	Allen	University of Saint Francis	Business Administration
Dakota	Stilwell	Allen	Indiana Tech	Business Administration
Sara	Tennant	Allen	Chamberlain University	RN-BSN
Amy	Vail	Allen	IUFW	Nursing
Naomi	Vanderleest	Allen	University of Saint Francis	Art Education
Adam	Veeley	Allen	University of Saint Francis	Business Administration
Laci	Vickery	Allen	Indiana Wesleyan University	Nursing
Katherine	Watson	Allen	Indiana Wesleyan University	Nursing
Mariah	Wells	Allen	Huntington University	Nursing
Ethan	Bassett	DeKalb	Trine University	Pre-Med
Carlee	Conrad	DeKalb	Trine University	Biology
Chandler	Cook	DeKalb	Indiana Tech	Network Engineering
Ashleigh	Depew	DeKalb	Trine University	Exercise Science
Sarah	Mettert	DeKalb	WGU	Special Education
Rebecca	Nichols	DeKalb	Ball State University	Special Education
Cassidy	Randol	DeKalb	Grace College	Criminal Justice
Isaac	Schlotterback	DeKalb	Manchester University	Biology/Pre-Med
Aimee	Smolek	DeKalb	WGU	Nursing
Trevor	Szelis	Huntington	Trine University	Civil Engineering
Luis	Cervantes	Kosciusko	University of Saint Francis	Physical Therapy Assistant
Camden	Cox	Kosciusko	Grace College	Environmental Engineering
Johnathan	Engle	Kosciusko	Grace College	Undecided
Madelene	Johnson	Kosciusko	Indiana Wesleyan University	Nursing
Delaney	Keirn	Kosciusko	Trine University	Civil Engineering
Morgan	Leamon	Kosciusko	Indiana Wesleyan University	Nursing
Kayla	McAllister	Kosciusko	Grace College	Elementary Education
Bayly	Perry	Kosciusko	Grace College	Nursing
Sarah	Schmucker	Kosciusko	Ball State University	Special Education and Moderate-Intense Intervention
Derek	Miller	LaGrange	Trine University	Civil Engineering
Nicol	Maciata	LaPorte	Indiana University	Finance
Cassandra	Cochard	Noble	University of Saint Francis	Family Nurse Practitioner
Kaylen	Warble	Noble	Grace College	Special Education
Kaileigh	Folland	Steuben	Purdue University	Interior Design
Abigail	Hayes	Steuben	Bethel College	Nursing
Samantha	France	Wabash	WGU	RN-BSN
Valeria	Gonzalez	Wells	Ivy Tech	Nursing
Chad	Pulver	Wells	University of Saint Francis	Physical Therapy
Morgan	Bales	Whitley	Bethel College	Nursing
Anna	Bulmahn	Whitley	Valparaiso University	Physician Assistant
Kennedy	Burman	Whitley	University of Saint Francis	Nursing
Heather	Fritz	Whitley	Trine University	Design Engineer Technology
Kaitlyn	McCloughan	Whitley	Manchester University	Psychology & Criminology
Hannah	Porter	Whitley	Grace College	Elementary Education
Morgan	Shumaker	Whitley	Manchester University	Biochemistry

Announcing Questa's Newest Class of Selected Scholars

The Questa Education Foundation is excited to announce its newest class of students from Northeast Indiana selected to participate in its nationally distinctive Questa Traditional Scholars program, joining more than 300 scholars currently receiving funding for their college degree.

New scholars will either soon graduate from high school and enter college this fall as freshmen or just completed their first year in their undergraduate degree programs. In addition to the Traditional Scholars program, Questa funds returning college students and adult learners through the Contemporary Scholars program.

Questa is proud to announce the following Questa Scholar recipients:

Each student has unique interests and passions and will be pursuing degrees in a broad array of fields, including biochemistry, criminology, marketing, and chemical engineering, among others. Each student plans to give back their talents to the Northeast Indiana workforce.

The Questa Education Foundation’s one-of-a-kind funding provides the possibility of receiving loan forgiveness up to 75% of the total loan amount. By attending a regional partner school, students can receive 25% forgiveness, and an additional 50% forgiveness by living and working in the area for five years after graduation. This incentive for scholars to live and work in Northeast Indiana helps our businesses and economy grow and benefit from talent retention. Of the students who have graduated from the program, two-thirds are giving back their talent by living and working in the region.

Questa cannot serve students without the support of generous donors and funders. Find out more about our programs and how you can support a student at www.questafoundation.org or call 260-407-6494.

About Questa Education Foundation

Originally established in 1937 as the Fort Wayne Education Foundation, the Questa Education Foundation helps individuals access postsecondary education, graduate with less debt, and become contributing members of Northeast Indiana’s workforce. Since its adoption of the Questa Scholars Program in 2007, the Questa Education Foundation has served over 1,000 students with an 85 percent graduation rate, provided nearly $13 million in forgivable loans and more than $1.5 in scholarships, and retained more than 2/3 of its graduates in Northeast Indiana. For more information, visit questafoundation.org.