Josie Meinhart has been awarded the 2021 Jasper County Retired Teachers’
Scholarship of $1500. Josie was chosen from a number of excellent candidates
based on her successful history at junior college and her personal statement
explaining her views as to why she is entering the education field. She is the
daughter of Steve and Dawn Meinhart of near Wheeler.
After graduating from NCHS in 2019, Josie completed two years at
Kaskaskia Junior College on a volleyball scholarship where her team was
undefeated and progressed further in post season than any other KC volleyball
team has. She also played some softball there while receiving 4.0 her final
semester as she earned an Associate Degree in General Education. She will be a
junior majoring in Elementary Education this fall at Eastern Illinois University. She
chose this field for several reasons. Among these are the rewards of being able to
make a difference in the lives of her students; the opportunity to engage in a
variety of daily events, activities, and classes; and the understanding that,
although this career goes beyond the average work day, she is ready for it all.
Finally, she said, ”Kids make me happy.”
The Jasper County Retired Teachers Association has awarded a scholarship
each year since 1993. In addition to applying one half of each member’s yearly
local dues to the fund, the group conducts fundraisers such as a pork burger sale
each summer and a used book sale at the Fall Festival to keep the scholarship
account solvent.
The Scholarship Committee thanks all who applied for the 2021 scholarship.
All applications were read and evaluated with one candidate finally receiving the
unanimous approval of all those involved. Applicants may reapply.
