KOSCIUSKO — Questa Education Foundation is excited to announce 71 new scholars in the Traditional Scholars program.

The Foundation would like to congratulate the following Kosciusko County Scholars:

• Camden Cox, Wawasee High School, attending Grace College
• Jasmin Juarez, Warsaw Community High School, attending Goshen College
• Olivia Bell, Tippecanoe Valley High School, attending Indiana University Fort Wayne
• Abigail Frederico, Warsaw Community High School, attending Purdue Fort Wayne
• Abria Frederico, Warsaw Community High School, attending Purdue Fort Wayne
• Nikole Parrett, Warsaw Community High School, attending Taylor University

These students have recently graduated from high school and will be entering college this fall as freshmen. Through the Questa Scholars program, our scholars will be given low-interest forgivable loans to help reduce their college debt. Each of our scholars have unique stories and important aspirations. At Questa, we want to invest in these learners to help them graduate with less debt, explore their passions, and become the talent that’s needed to improve the local economy.

Questa’s goal is to help with the talent gap. One scholar from Burma, now a Fort Wayne resident, shares how she felt when she found out she was accepted as a Questa Scholar.

“I am very blessed to be chosen as a Questa Scholar,” said Naw Sar Do. “This program allows me to continue my education with an understanding that many of my financial burdens are lighter because of the forgivable loan program that Questa offers. I feel that I will be able to manage my financial situation better.”

Naw Sar Do graduated from Northside High School and plans to attend IU Bloomington to study physics. Her plans are to move back to the northeast Indiana area upon graduation to represent the Burmese community in the healthcare field and to be a link to those who do not have access to healthcare.

Student loan debt has surpassed national credit card debt reaching $1.21 trillion, and Questa’s goal to reduce the debt that scholars have upon graduation. Questa scholars graduate with less debt and receive forgivable loans that are easy to pay off. Questa’s one-of-a-king funding provides the possibility of receiving loan forgiveness for as much as 75 percent of the total loan amount. By attending a partner school, students will receive 25 percent forgiveness, and an additional 50 percent forgiveness by living and working in the area for five years after graduation.

Questa scholars that have graduated are becoming the talent needed for a thriving economy. Of the students that have graduated in the Questa Scholars program, 80 percent are graduating in four years compared to the national average of 59 percent.

In addition, over 70 percent are either staying or return to live and work in this region. The result of the Questa program is, in fact, talent retained in the local communities.

Ali McQueen, a scholar from Whitley County and a recent graduate from Purdue Fort Wayne, shares how Questa helped her through her education.

“During my senior year of high school, I knew that my four years of college were going to be paid for out of my own pocket,” said McQueen. “I decided to apply for the Questa program, and now I only owe a small portion of the full loan. It puts me at ease knowing I am not going to be in debt from my college loans for years and years to come.”

McQueen plans to give back to her community through her elementary education degree, and to be a positive influence in young lives in the area.

Questa invests in the lives of these students so they can thrive and continue to use their talents in the northeast Indiana workforce. Traditional students, as mentioned above, drive only one part of our strategy. Individuals who did not complete an education, but are already in the workforce, can also be the talent needed with more education or training. Industry Certifications, Associate, and Bachelor degrees are all ways to access livable wage jobs.