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Washington County lawmakers: Students can now
apply for $5k work-based learning scholarships

STATEHOUSE (May 21, 2024) – Local lawmakers encourage high school students who want to pursue work-based learning and credentials to apply for a Career Scholarship Account.

“In more rural areas like ours, students face challenges when they want to gain work experiences outside the classroom like internships and apprenticeships,” said State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour). "This scholarship will open more doors for young Hoosiers by providing opportunities to explore their career interests and learn transferable skills that can help set them up for success after graduation. We also want to encourage local employers to engage with the next generation of talent by becoming a CSA provider."

State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) said Hoosier students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades at a state accredited public or private school can receive up to a $5,000 state-funded scholarship to pursue apprenticeships, applied learning experiences, work-based learning and credentials attainment. About 2,000 spots are available for the 2024-2025 school year and students can apply for a Career Scholarship Account until the Oct. 1 deadline.

"I'm excited for our local students who will be able to get a jumpstart on learning more about their career interests and pursuing training thanks to these scholarships,” Engleman said. "This is also a great opportunity for local employers to sign up to be a provider, so that they can help train the next generation of Hoosier workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow."

State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) said accounts are available to high school students who are enrolled in a course or educational experience approved by the Indiana Department of Education. Eligible students will participate in joint career and technical education, modern youth apprenticeships, registered apprenticeships or an Indiana College Core program by an approved CSA participating entity.

"Data shows that students learn and retain a tremendous amount from having experiences beyond the classroom," May said. "Many students are better served with interactive educational options, which can lead to promising careers or set them up to pursue other credentials or training after graduation."

Approved students will receive $5,000 over four disbursements and can use the money toward certain qualified expenses:

Class expenses for student's apprenticeships/internship program;
Postsecondary education and/or training;
Equipment for student's apprenticeship/internship program;
Certification and credentialing examinations;
Career coaching and navigation services;
Driver's license; and
Transportation.

According to May, courses and classes include a variety of topics like accounting, carpentry, cybersecurity, information technology, software development and veterinary science. A full list of approved courses, educational experiences and participating entities can be found atin.gov/tos/csa.

To learn more about Career Scholarship Accounts and enroll before the Oct. 1 deadline, visit in.gov/tos/csa, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 317-232-0723.

By: Abigail Shields, Website Editor

Salem, Eastern, and West Washington high schools have announced dates and times for each of their graduation ceremonies, respectively.

Salem’s is May 25 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Memorial Gymnasium. Salem will graduate 120 seniors in this year’s class. The class president is Brooklyn Davisson. Salem has been very fortunate with scholarships given to the graduating class through the Salem Education Foundation, the Washington County Community Foundation as well as scholarships given to the students through their respective colleges and institutions. Two students from Salem will be going into the military. They are Draven Miller and Corey Ziegler. The featured speakers for the ceremony will be Brooklyn Davisson and Carolyn Casey.

Eastern will hold their graduation ceremony on May 24 at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium. The senior class will have 83 graduating this year, which is a smaller class size than in years past. Kaden Temple is the senior class president. Anakin McCormick was awarded the Lily scholar and is also this year’s salutatorian. Eastern did not have anyone going into the military at this time. The featured speakers are Anakin McCormick and Glen Gosnell who is the valedictorian for the class.

West Washington’s graduation ceremony is May 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Kermit Tower Gymnasium, also known as the sunken gym. There are 59 members of the senior class who will be graduating this year. The class presidents are Titan Williams and Riley Hall. West Washington has several notable scholarships this year. Katlyn Wingler received $10,000 from JoJo’s Jumpstart Foundation, Eva O'Toole and Audra Loughmiller each received $5,000 from the Kayde Sue Foundation, Riley Hall received the Winchester Scholarship from Kentucky Wesleyan College which is $80,000, and Elliot Nance received the Adam W Herbert Presidential Scholarship from Indiana University Southeast which is $48,000. The speakers for the ceremony are Titan Williams, Riley Hall, Kenton Chase, Jaxson Cambron, Cash Long and Elliot Nance.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Salem Community Schools announced free breakfasts and lunches for all the students during the next school year.

The question an individual may ask is, “how is this possible?” It not a simple answer. It is the result of a combination of several different government programs.

The program is a part of Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) which is alternative to collecting, approving, and verifying household eligibility applications for free and reduced-price meals for eligibility students in high poverty situations that are enrolled in a local educational agencies (LEAs) that qualifiy for consideration to participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. They must go by the following protocol. The USDA looks at the number of directly certified students in the school system.

If the family gets SNAP, TENF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) or Medicaid Free this makes the child a directly certified student. Automatically any child that is homeless, migrant farm worker or a foster child is a directly certified student.

Free meals are calculated by this percentage number and then multiplied by 1.6% to get the percentage of students that qualify for free lunches. An example would be if 40% of the students were directly certified then 64% would get free lunches. The reimbursement is $4.33 per meal. If the percentage was 63% x 1.65 would be 100%. The Salem school system presently stands at these figures Elementary 55.7%, Middle school 65% and high school at 41.2%.

The thinking here is if this many are in need of help how can we help the rest? Filling the price gap is 48 cents, again from the USDA.

The Salem Community Nutrition Program Is totally funded and self-sufficient and does not receive any local tax dollars or any funds from the school budget.

No child has not been fed lunch at Salem Schools in a long time. Some times teachers, staff or cafeteria workers would pick up the tab in the past.

The Department of Defense helps in many ways for example they give the $0.36 ½ per meal fed.

Before the free breakfast and lunch program, a supplemental lunch was $2.60. This would be more without government programs. The government figures for lunch are $4.33 per meal.

A big help in this deficit is commodities and procurement. An example of this is if the USDA gave you raw chicken, then they may make a deal with a company like Tyson to make the school chicken nuggets, a child’s favorite dish. The same goes for Red Gold tomatoes. The school system can also buy commodities valued at $80,000 (raw food commodities) for $25,000. This money may come from the government from either the USDA or Department of Defense. Another venue is the State of Indiana may have a surplus of food that they give away if someone changes an order. This example could be if they decide their students don’t like a certain can food.

It’s quite a balancing act for Karen Libka, the school Food Service Director.
Libka said, “I am a math person and our goal is to feed the children.” She credits her staff of 35 to 40 for their thrifty ways. She says you have to order and prepare enough food but not over-order.

This program guarantees that every child is fed a nutritious breakfast and lunch.

EVANSVILLE, IN (05/15/2024)-- Students at the University of Evansville are named to the Dean's List every fall and spring semester. To merit the honor of being placed on the Dean's List, a student must have carried a full academic load of 12 hours or more and have earned a grade point average of 3.5 or above. The following local students have achieved Dean's List Honors:

Hannah Fleenor of Salem (47167)

Kaleb Tucker of Salem (47167)

Ella Heavin of Salem (47167)

The University of Evansville is a private, comprehensive university located in the southwestern region of Indiana. Established in 1854, UE is recognized across the globe for its rich tradition of innovative, academic excellence and vibrant campus community of changemakers.

Home of the Purple Aces, UE offers over 75 majors, 17 Division I sports, and a unique study abroad experience at Harlaxton, the University's very own Victorian manor located in the countryside of England. For more information, please visit evansville.edu.

SNHU Announces Winter 2024 President's List

MANCHESTER, NH-- It is with great pleasure that Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) congratulates the following students on being named to the Winter 2024 President's List. The winter terms run from January to May.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

Sarah Gregerson of Salem

Carly Barnett of Vallonia