Addressing the Manufacturing Talent Need; Questa & 80/20 Foundation Trust Form New Partnership

In response to the talent need for certified individuals in manufacturing-related fields, Questa Education Foundation and 80/20 Foundation Trust are partnering to support Northeast Indiana residents pursuing a college-level certificate or degree. This pilot program extends for two years with the goal to support at least ten students with a forgivable loan award, up to $2,500 each semester.

“With so many manufacturing workers displaced by the pandemic, this program comes at a critical time to offer support for those individuals pursuing the next step in their education and their careers,” said Laura Macknick, executive director of 80/20 Foundation Trust. “Our board recognizes the importance of investing in individuals for the talent needs of Northeast Indiana manufacturing companies today and in the future.”

Scholars with a commitment to live and work in Northeast Indiana for five years after graduation will receive up to 50% loan forgiveness, and an additional 25% forgiveness upon attending a partnering institution. Up to 75% of total loan could be forgiven. Funded fields include Advanced Automation and Robotics Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, Business Management, Industrial Technology, Machine Tool Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Supply Chain Management, among others.

“Talent is critical to the growth and success of our regional economy. Questa’s partnership with 80/20 Foundation Trust enables us to strategically address talent needs in manufacturing and we are grateful for the vision and support of the 80/20 Foundation,” said Liz Bushnell, executive director of Questa Education Foundation. “This program is an example of how Questa can collaborate with businesses and other industries to develop the talent pipeline for their specific needs, all while helping residents access education and graduate with less debt.”

Residents of Northeast Indiana who are interested in pursuing or completing a certificate, associate’s or bachelor’s degree, with the intent to work in the manufacturing industry are encouraged to apply. The application is open to students right out of high school pursuing an undergraduate certificate or degree in addition to adult learners desiring to further their education.

About 80/20 Foundation Trust: The 80/20 Foundation Trust is committed to growing and strengthening the manufacturing sector in the Northeast Indiana region through philanthropic investment with strategic nonprofit partners.

About the Questa Foundation: Since 1937, The Questa Education Foundation has been assisting individuals in attaining further education beyond high school, graduating with less debt, and becoming contributing members of Northeast Indiana’s workforce. Questa’s vision is to transform the business landscape in the region by preparing the workforce for the economy of the 21st century.

For more information about how to apply for this specialized program, visit our Programs page or contact a Questa staff member at 260-407-6494 or info@questafoundation.org.

Senior Project Showcase: Taylor Autrey, Questa Scholar & 2020 Grad

Each year during my undergrad, I worked hard to complete projects and do the best I could. As a studio art major, almost more important to me than walking down the graduation stage was displaying my senior project in the art gallery at the University of Saint Francis. If I did not have the opportunity to showcase my work, it would have been disappointing and discouraging. My heart goes out to the graduates that were not able to show off their senior projects this year due to COVID-19. The dramatic shift from classroom to online learning provided challenges, and I wanted to give our Questa Scholars the platform to share their senior projects and be proud of their accomplishments.

Taylor Autrey with her son, Kaylor

Taylor Autrey became a Questa Scholar last year so she could receive the extra funding needed to complete her Master’s in Special Education and receive her special education licensure. She started her thesis project in June of 2019. It took her almost a year to complete.

During college, Taylor learned about “brain breaks”, short 2-5 minute physical activities, that are proven effective in teaching middle school students with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

Taylor anonymously surveyed 40 licensed teachers at her school to find out the level of knowledge Fort Wayne Community School (FWCS) teachers had about SPD and using movement breaks as a tool.

As result, Taylor created an original handbook for teachers to learn how to use kinesthetic movement breaks in their classroom. The handbook includes information on SPD and simple activities that teachers can do with students to help them focus and learn.

Taylor’s senior thesis poster - View PDF version here

“I don’t see the disability in my students. I only see the ability of what they are able to do, and my job is to help them be successful. What I like most about special education is the small group work. I can build relationships with my students,” Taylor says.

This May, Taylor received her Master of Education from Purdue Fort Wayne and she plans to continue teaching special education for middle school students at FWCS.

Taylor said, “Honestly, if I would not have had the funding from Questa to finish my degree, I would have never finished it. I only needed a few classes to get certification to teach special education in the state of Indiana. Questa allowed me to take the extra classes that gave me the professional development I needed to be successful in my job.”

Stories like Taylor’s inspire me because it proves that Northeast Indiana is developing quality graduates. Caring, smart, passionate people like Taylor are who we need to develop our region and make our home a better place. Thanks for sharing your work, Taylor and congratulations on your graduation!

Post by Hillary Troup, Scholar & Marketing Specialist at Questa Education Foundation, graduate from the University of Saint Francis, Class of 2015.

Find out more about Questa’s programming at https://www.questafoundation.org/programs-overview

A special thank you to the AWS Foundation who made it possible to support students pursuing their Special Education licensure.

A Memorable Year: Celebrating the Class of 2020

Every year, seniors pick up their cap and gown and mark their calendars for the end of the semester. Though every year is memorable for our graduates, 2020 is one for the books. We want to take a minute to celebrate the hard work of our grads, acknowledge the challenges they’ve been through, and celebrate their successes. Congratulations Questa Scholar Class of 2020!

We are proud to announce the 2020 spring graduating class of Questa Scholars. This graduating class includes 71 students from Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, Noble, Steuben, Wabash and Whitley counties. These Questa Scholars have received their associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degrees in various fields including special education, biomedical engineering, criminal justice, computer science, graphic design, industrial technology, and various medical fields, among others. Questa Scholars receive low-interest forgivable loans that are up to 50% forgivable if they live and work in northeast Indiana for five years following graduation. An additional 25% of the total loan is paid back when they attend and graduate from one Questa’s regional partner institutions. In many cases, scholars are graduating with 75% of their Questa loan forgiven.

A special recognition goes out the class of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic changes in their last semester. Seniors were not able to present final capstone projects, they missed walking across the graduation stage, postponed or cancelled graduation celebrations, and enter a challenging job market. However, the grit and flexibility demonstrated by these graduates makes them exceptional young professionals to retain in the region.

Congratulations to all of Questa’s recent graduates. View the names of the Questa Scholar 2020 graduating class here.

Visit our donation page to find out how you can support our mission, and help another student graduate with less debt.

A New Form for Employer Tuition Assistance: Partnering with Visiting Nurse

Fort Wayne Visiting Nurse Foundation has partnered with the Questa Education Foundation to provide an option for their employees to receive post-secondary education. The intent of this partnership is to create a sustainable training and education program for employees that offers continued education, improves the services provided and stabilizes the workforce to ensure continuity of quality services to Visiting Nurse clients.

“We are really looking forward to our partnership with Questa,” Visiting Nurse’s CEO, Leslie Friedel states, “Being able to offer the financial means for our team members to reach a higher education is something we are excited offer. Questa’s expertise in this area will be a great benefit to Visiting Nurse.”

Questa’s goals are to provide access to post-secondary education through a low-interest, forgivable loan that may pay for tuition, fees, books and education-related expenses. The partnership is meant to help eliminate a barrier for employees to pursue further education and get the training and skills they need for professional and personal development. Questa will forgive the loan amount based upon employees’ continued employment for two years after completion of classes.

"Our partnership to help Visiting Nurse employees enhance their skills through further education helps to strengthen the healthcare system in Northeast Indiana during this time of critical need,” says Elizabeth Bushnell, Executive Director of Questa. “These types of partnerships are critical to meeting the talent needs in the region.”

If you are interested in a partnership with the Questa Foundation, please contact Elizabeth Bushnell at 260-407-6494 ext. 105, or ebushnell@questafoundation.org. To learn more about Questa’s forgivable loan programs, visit www.questafoundation.org.

About Visiting Nurse: Visiting Nurse has cared for people with serious illnesses and their families in Northeast Indiana since 1888. Our interdisciplinary team of hospice and palliative care experts ensures that every patient is treated with dignity and respect. Visiting Nurse provides compassionate care to alleviate suffering and ensure quality of life for those affected by serious illness. We care for those who go on living as well.  Our grief services are available at no cost for any adult who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Hospice involvement is not required. We proudly serve the following Indiana counties: Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Noble, Wabash, Wells and Whitley. For more information, visit: https://www.vnfw.org/

COVID-19 Virus Response

Through this unknown season of the COVID-19 or coronavirus outbreak, the Questa Education Foundation will continue to serve the Northeast Indiana region and our Questa Scholars as best we can. Serving our community in Northeast Indiana by investing in talent is our number one priority, and will continue to be so.

In light of this, Questa is currently open for business. However, the Questa staff will be working remotely and may not be available in person at Questa’s office location. If the office is closed, staff are available during normal business hours of 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Staff may be contacted through Questa’s main phone number at 260-407-6494 or by email at info@questafoundation.org as well as individual email addresses. Scholars can feel safe to make deposits, as staff will be checking the mailbox regularly, and payments will continue to be processed.

If any unforeseeable changes occur, we will notify the public through our website and social media channels. We encourage everyone to follow the state guidelines on staying healthy and safe.

To stay up to date on the virus, visit https://www.in.gov/coronavirus/ for updated statistics released by the Indiana State Department of Health.