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Buechner Scholarship

The Buechner Scholarship supports licensed teachers in St. Joseph County, Indiana who wish to pursue graduate education at Indiana University South Bend. The scholarship is designed specifically for teachers pursuing a Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in either the Unified Track Elementary and Secondary Education program or the Education Leadership program. Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress and demonstrate financial need through FAFSA. The scholarship provides financial support based on enrollment, with $1,000 per three-credit class and an additional $500 book stipend per semester for students enrolled in at least 4 credit hours. The scholarship is renewable annually upon submission of a renewal application and continued satisfaction of eligibility criteria. Annual disbursements will not exceed $10,000 per academic year and cannot exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for any session. This opportunity is administered by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and is intended to support the professional development of educators in the local community.

Chas W. Cole Scholarship

The Chas W. Cole Scholarship provides financial assistance to undergraduate students from St. Joseph County, Indiana or adjacent Indiana counties who rank below the top 10% of their graduating high school class and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is administered through the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and is available to students attending IU South Bend and Purdue Polytechnic South Bend. Award amounts vary based on the determined need of the chosen applicants and the number of credit hours enrolled. Funds may be used for tuition and fees, books, and parking. IU South Bend students may request additional funds for childcare expenses, and all recipients may apply for additional funding for summer school enrollment. The scholarship is renewable upon successful completion of coursework, requiring recipients to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and complete at least 80% of classes enrolled in. The number of awards granted each year depends on available funds. Applications are accepted twice annually with deadlines of April 1st and November 1st, and applicants must complete the FAFSA to demonstrate financial need.