Community Foundation Announces 2025 Laidig Service Scholarship Winners
Five local students receive scholarships, paid internships
The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County has named five St. Joseph County students as 2025 Jon and Sonja Laidig Community Service Scholars.
The recipients are Kelsey Yelaska, John Glenn High School, who will study speech pathology at Indiana University; Tommy Arce, St. Joseph High School, who will study business at Holy Cross College; Ashlyn Harradon, Riley High School, who will study industrial engineering at Purdue University; Henson Le, Adams High School, who will study art history at the University of Notre Dame; and Maricruz Martinez, St. Joseph High School, who will study nursing at Saint Mary’s College.
The Jon and Sonja Laidig Community Service Scholarship provides St. Joseph County students with generous tuition assistance and an opportunity to give back to their community through a paid summer internship, served with some of St. Joseph County’s best nonprofit agencies. This year’s internship locations include Hope Ministries, Dismas House, Greenbridge Growers, EnFocus, DTSB, Ronald McDonald House, Center for Hospice Care, Oaklawn, Beacon Health and Transformation Ministries.
The value of the scholarship is $8,750 ($3,750 for the internship and up to $5,000 in tuition scholarship), and it is renewable for up to four years.
Launched in 2009, this program includes a total of 15 students who will complete internships at local nonprofit agencies this summer. Jon and Sonja Laidig Community Service Scholarship awards are based on academic excellence, financial need, community service, leadership, and a desire to contribute to one’s community and society.