USA Funds Helps Homeschoolers Attend College

Three Indiana homeschooled students will have assistance in funding their postsecondary education thanks to $4,500 in USA Funds^®-sponsored scholarships through the Indiana Foundation for Home Schooling.

The three $1,500 scholarships sponsored by USA Funds were presented at a graduation ceremony for 97 Indiana homeschooled, high-school students on
June 7 in Indianapolis. The USA Funds-supported scholarships were awarded based on financial need, academic merit, leadership and community-service involvement.

• Haley Koval of Mooresville, Ind., received the Vivian Byar Community Service Scholarship. Koval will study mechanical engineering at Kettering University in Flint, Mich., in the fall. The scholarship honors the outstanding service of Byar, who served the homeschooling community for 10 years as a full-time volunteer for the Indiana Association of Home Educators.
• Joshua Gilbert of Sheridan, Ind., received the Lisa Watson Leadership Scholarship. Gilbert will attend Grove City College in Pennsylvania. The scholarship recognizes Watson, a home educator, mentor and leader in the homeschooling community who was a role model for the growing number of minority home educators.
• Christa Stubbs of Indianapolis received the Dream to Achieve Scholarship. Stubbs plans to major in apparel design and merchandising at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. This scholarship recognizes the passion needed to achieve dreams. It is for students who demonstrate an enthusiastic spirit in spite of barriers that might have hindered them from reaching their potential.

"USA Funds is thrilled to help make the college dreams of homeschool graduates a reality," said Pat Roe, USA Funds philanthropy manager. "We're honored to award these outstanding and deserving homeschool graduates with scholarships and to be able to help students and their parents finance college costs."

USA Funds' sponsorship of the IFHS scholarships is in support of USA Funds' mission to enhance postsecondary-education preparedness, access and success by providing and supporting financial and other valued services. In 2003, USA Funds committed $14.7 million in support of philanthropic activities that help advance this mission.

The IFHS scholarship program encourages continuing education for home-educated students who have been prepared by their families for further life studies, but may be hindered financially in their access to higher eduction due to their families' sacrifices to provide a quality education at home.

According to Charlene Brown, IFHS president, financing postsecondary education can be especially difficult for families who homeschool their children. "Homeschooling families sacrifice greatly to provide their children with a quality education," said Brown.

Home educators often are one-income families with one parent serving as the full-time teacher. In addition to the loss of income, the average homeschool family spends approximately $600 per year, per student for curriculum and educational expenses.

IFHS is a nonprofit organization that encourages and supports kindergarten through post-high-school education. It provides financial and other valued services to, and on behalf of, those who pursue, provide and promote education at home.