Indy Standard

Local students aiming to become educators have been awarded the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, as announced by State Representative Ed Soliday of Valparaiso. This scholarship, created in 2016 by the Indiana General Assembly, provides up to $10,000 annually for high-achieving students who commit to teaching in eligible Indiana schools for five years.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, a record 1,091 applications were submitted, and nearly 300 scholarships were granted. Soliday emphasized the importance of good teachers in student success: "Good teachers are essential to educating and preparing our students for lifelong success," he stated. "With this program, we are making it easier for high-achieving young Hoosiers to one day lead Indiana's classrooms."

Among this year's recipients are Noelle Gapinski from Valparaiso High School, Juliana Guerrero from Chesterton Senior High School, Guinevere Lay from Portage High School, and Olivia Miller from Kouts Middle-High School.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship include graduating in the top 20 percent of one's class or achieving a score in the 20th percentile on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. Alternatively, students can qualify with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Prospective applicants can find more information and apply for future scholarships at LearnMoreIndiana.org/nextteacher or contact NextTeacher@che.in.gov with questions.