In early 2016, the Field Station Cooperative lost a very special family member. In honor of teacher Liz Scott’s memory, the staff of the preschool has decided to fund a scholarship to help another member of the Field Station family attend college.
This is the first year of the Field Station Cooperative Preschool Scholarship in Memory of Liz Scott, and it also happens to be the year that the students of the very first Field Station Preschool class will be graduating from high school.
“We knew this year was the first year that previous students of the Field Station would be graduating,” teacher Brenda Campbell said. “That is a cool milestone.”
The scholarship is in the amount of $500 and is funded by the proceeds raised by the annual Field Station Frenzy 5k Run/Walk, 2K Fun Run, and a 1K Tot Trot. The race will be held on June 3rd at the Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve.
Though the race is now in its 11th year, after the tragic death of Scott, the race directors and Field Station staff decided to run the race on her behalf. Scott helped direct the race years prior and was an avid runner herself. She was also a cross country coach for the Discovery Charter School.
“We named the scholarship in Liz Scott’s name because she meant so much to the school and what it stands for,” Campbell said. “Money for the scholarship will come from the Frenzy 5K and she was an integral part of that fundraiser.”
The scholarship is only available to students graduating from Chesterton High School and are planning on attending a 4-year college. Details can be found on the Chesterton High School College and Career website, but requirements include having a minimum GPA of 3.5 and must have a specific ACT or SAT score. Plus, the student must have had at least one year of their schooling education at the Field Station.
The application calls for an essay question on how the Field Station influenced the student, and what memories does the student have from their time at the outdoor-based, nature-focused preschool that have influenced their life growing up.
In the next few years, the staff would like to be able to provide more than one scholarship to graduating students, Campbell added.
“It’s crazy to think that there are kids that went through the Field Station now old enough to be graduating,” Field Station Director, Laurie Metz said. “Our current students are doing many of the same projects and singing the same songs as those kids did. The Field Station gives students a great start. That’s evident when you look at how well our students have done through their high school years.”
To register for the Frenzy 5K, click here. The race winds through the trails and wooden bridges of Coffee Creek, starting at the large pavilion in the back. The directors are taking sponsorships, and donations can be made through the sign-up application, here.
For more information and questions contact, Director@fieldstationkids.org.