Dede Rippetoe-Reed Scholarship Now Open

The Community Foundation of Huntington County invites students to apply for the Dede Rippetoe-Reed Scholarship opportunity. This unique scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Dede Rippetoe-Reed, a former Huntington North High School Spanish teacher. After being profoundly influenced by her first study abroad trip, she is passionate about providing the same opportunities for Huntington County students.

“I was able to attend a summer study abroad in Mexico after my senior year of high school, but it was extremely difficult to save money for the program,” said Rippetoe-Reed. “I don’t want anyone to be excluded from this kind of experience because of money, and I hope that my scholarship will impact the lives of students in a similar way that my life was enriched by studying abroad.”

The Dede Rippetoe-Reed Scholarship is open to Huntington North High School students interested in studying foreign language abroad, and the funding goes toward covering trip costs. The 2024 Dede scholarship recipient, Caleb Reust, was able to study abroad in Spain over the summer and is currently attending Purdue Fort Wayne pursuing a degree in Spanish Education.

“Receiving this scholarship was literally a life-changing experience for me,” said Reust. “Without it, I would not have been able to study abroad in Spain and pursue my passion for foreign language with the goal of teaching Spanish one day.”

“The best part about this trip for me was the relationships that came with it,” continued Reust. “I made some of my best friends on this trip and gained family from another country. I would encourage students to apply for this scholarship because it allows you to have this experience at an incredibly affordable amount.”

To apply, students must first be accepted to the Indiana University Honors Program in Foreign Languages for Indiana high school students, pursuing study in Spanish, French or German. Once accepted into the program, students can apply for the Dede Rippetoe-Reed Scholarship through the Community Foundation of Huntington County.  

“I encourage students to apply because I am making a life-changing experience available and attainable,” noted Rippetoe-Reed. “I no longer impact the lives of students in the classroom, but I hope that I can continue to do so indefinitely through this scholarship.”

For questions related to the Dede Rippetoe-Reed Scholarship, students can reach out to the Community Foundation’s Program Manager.