Nearly 300 Indiana students awarded teaching scholarships following record applications
Nearly 300 Hoosier students will receive up to $40,000 each to pursue careers in education through the state's Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship program, higher education officials announced this week.
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education awarded 295 awards for the 2025–26 academic year. The renewable scholarship provides up to $10,000 per year for four years. In exchange, recipients agree to teach for five years at an eligible Indiana school or repay a prorated amount.
Now in its ninth year, the program aims to address the state's ongoing teacher shortage by supporting students committed to staying in the profession.
'Teachers inspire confidence in the next generation and prepare students for future career success,' said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery. 'The Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship is a key strategy to build Indiana's future teacher workforce with high-quality talent. The students selected for this opportunity have the passion and determination to make a difference in classrooms across the state.'
The 2025-2026 application cycle drew a record 1,091 applicants — a 15% increase over last year — from 326 high schools across 89 of Indiana's 92 counties, according to CHE. Of those applicants, 73% were high school seniors and the rest were current college students.
State lawmakers expanded the annual scholarships in 2023, increasing awards from $7,500 to $10,000. The previous 200-recipient cap was also lifted, and a one‑time $10,000 grant was introduced for students enrolled in approved 'transition to teach' programs.
Funding for the program was reduced in the state's new two-year budget passed earlier this year, however, with annual appropriations dropping from $12 million to $11.4 million. The cut was part of broader budget cuts across state government. It's not yet clear how the reduced funding might affect future scholarship awards.
To qualify, students must meet academic criteria including ranking in the top 20% of their high school class, earning a 3.0 GPA or better, or scoring in the top 20th percentile on the SAT or ACT. Scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA and complete at least 30 credit hours per year to remain eligible while in college.
The full list of scholarship recipients by county is available online at che.in.gov.
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Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana's U.S. House members can pay for flyers with taxpayer dollars. Here's who spent the most
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Plus, while a bipartisan House group reviews and approves materials, the rules on franking allow representatives to disseminate political critiques and messages that can sometimes appear like campaign ads. In Indiana, where congressional primaries are typically the more competitive races, a politically relevant advertisement or mail piece from a congressional office can widen the recognition gap between an incumbent and potential competitors, experts said. In some cases, photos included in franked materials can also provide a recognition boost to a representative's family members. "Everyone's trying to get their name out and there's a lot of noise to break through," said Mike Wolf, the chair of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Purdue University Fort Wayne. "Members of Congress, at any chance they can, need to do that." U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, who had the tightest primary election in Indiana during the most recent cycle, disclosed the most spending on franked mail in both 2023 and 2024 of any Hoosier in Congress, enabling her to use taxpayer dollars to remind voters of her priorities. The costs of sending franked materials are reported in the House's quarterly disbursement reports, which shows records of how members used their allowances. In 2024, Indiana's House delegation collectively spent more than $600,000 on franked mail to Hoosiers. Digital communications or advertisements also cost money but, because they are not categorized the same as mail, they're harder to identify in the quarterly disbursement reports. For example, U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin submitted 50 advisory opinion requests for franked materials in 2024, the most of Indiana's House members. But Houchin's requests were largely for text messages to constituents. 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"We generally provide updates on constituent services, town halls, and key policy developments in D.C." U.S. Rep. André Carson, a Democrat, and former Republican U.S. Reps. Jim Banks, Greg Pence and Larry Bucshon in 2024 all spent less than $1,000 on franked mail. Pence and Bucshon did not seek reelection in 2024 and Banks successfully ran for U.S. Senate. Before a text message arrives on someone's phone or a newsletter in someone's inbox, representatives must get those materials approved by the House Communications Standards Commission. This bipartisan group signs off on franked communications and issues advisory opinions to ensure the materials follow House rules on restrictions like timing and content of the materials. Franking is a bipartisan affair in Indiana. But the content and type of materials released to Hoosiers between 2024 and the first seven months of 2025 largely depends on the member of Congress directing the messages, according to an IndyStar review of submitted materials. The current delegation for the 119th Congress has submitted 82 requests for advisory opinions to the House Communications Standards Commission between Jan. 1 and July 31, which span from texts to emails to mailers. Franked materials by Indiana's seven Republican members at times contained more political messaging, but they still were approved for distribution by the bipartisan House Communications Standards Commission. In 2025, most of the communication from Indiana's Republicans included supportive messages about President Donald Trump's agenda, including the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' Who represents Indiana in Congress: Who represents Indiana in Congress? 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Yakym's mailer was approved in February 2024 under a provision of federal code that allows elected officials to tell the public about "matters of public concern" from a past or current session of Congress. 'Impeachment, for example, that's an action of Congress,' said Danielle Caputo, senior legal counsel with the Campaign Legal Center. 'They're allowed to talk about that and their perspective on what they did and why it matters to their district.' Members from both parties have also spent dollars on billboards in past years. Both Mrvan in 2024 and Baird in 2023 and 2024 submitted advisory opinion requests for billboards advertising their congressional offices in their districts. Materials shared in 2024 by Indiana's two Democrats, Mrvan and Carson, featured fairly tame political messaging. In addition to billboards, Mrvan in 2024 sent mailers to constituents about his legislative actions, including support for law enforcement. Carson in 2024 released a television ad about his support for former President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure law and another on how to apply for a service academy through his office. Mrvan has yet to submit requests for advisory opinions on franked messages in 2025 while Carson prepared radio ads for a youth job fair held in March. Just as they did in the 18th century, franked materials do serve a purpose for Indiana's elected officials, who seek to inform the public about actions in Washington, D.C. "The original basis of the frank was very simple," said Matt Glassman, a professor with the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. "Members of Congress need to communicate with their constituents, and in 1795 had to be able to write letters to people and post things and tell them what was going on. That's still an important service, right? Getting the message out about what's going on in Congress, how you voted, is a public service." While the rules for what they can spend taxpayer money on allows a vast amount of options to be shared with their constituents, ethics experts told IndyStar it's worth it for members to consider if their message helps the broad spectrum of people that live in their district. 'All of those individuals, regardless of their politics, regardless of who they voted for are legally represented by this elected member of Congress," said Donald Sherman, the executive vice president and chief counsel for Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington. "So I think mailers should be written with them in mind, not just catered to a Republican primary voter or a swing voter.' Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
4 ways Indiana's U.S. House members used taxpayer dollars to communicate with Hoosiers
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Rudy Yakym to 2nd Congressional District constituents in January 2024 included images of former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, and accuses the prior administration of 'creating a humanitarian and national security crisis' through their border policies. Who represents Indiana in Congress?: Who you need to know and how to contact them U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin in May sent mail to 9th District constituents claiming to return 'nearly $3.5 million to constituents across Indiana's 9th District through casework assistance' and directed Hoosiers how to contact her office. Newspaper advertisements are frequent franking tools for Indiana's House members. Most approved for distribution in 2024 and 2025 provide readers with ways to contact their congressional offices or how to engage with their representatives. In May, U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve placed an ad in the Richmond Palladium-Item declaring he is 'fighting to build the wall,' 'secure our borders,' and 'protect our communities.' In mid-March, Spartz purchased newspaper ads ahead of nationally covered town halls she held in Westfield and Muncie. 'Please join for updates on Congresswoman Spartz's recent work,' the ad says, while listing examples including 'Make America Healthy Again' and 'Assist DOGE and President Trump in eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.' Mrvan in August 2024 published a newspaper ad that describes ways his office was 'standing up for the city of Gary and Northwest Indiana.' 'I'm proud to share with you my successful efforts to secure federal investments that will benefit all Gary residents, including the recent completion of the South Shore Rail Line Double Track project,' Mrvan said in the ad. Baird and Houchin regularly send out mass text messages to constituents in their district about political issues or ways to contact their office. Franked texts cost money, just like congressional mailers. Houchin has sent at least 15 texts from January through the end of July this eyar, which range from updates on legislation like Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' or asking for feedback on Trump's performance ahead of his address to Congress in March. 'Hi, it's Rep. Houchin. I'm headed to the House Floor for Trump's joint session speech,' a Houchin text said on March 4, which quarterly disbursement reports show cost just over $3,500. 'I want your input: Is America headed in the RIGHT or WRONG direction under President Trump's leadership?' Baird's texts to 4th District constituents also seek insight on topics associated with his office, including a January message on Inauguration Day. 'Hi, it's Rep. Baird. 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Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
Is Rep. Baird using taxpayer funds to prep his son for a congressional seat? An opponent thinks so
A July mailer sent by Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Baird's congressional office to Hoosiers in Warren County includes an image of not one, but two elected Bairds. In the photo, Congressman Baird and his son, Greencastle Republican state Rep. Beau Baird, stand alongside a boy and a cow. Bold text on the mailer reads 'Congressman Baird champions the One Big Beautiful Bill to support Hoosier farmers.' For years, Beau Baird has been rumored as a future candidate for the 4th Congressional District, which contains the counties immediately to the west of Marion County, should his father choose not to run for another term in Congress. Recently, the elder Baird has used pictures of his son in taxpayer-funded mailers and has started omitting his first name in some materials when identifying himself in prominent spots, referring to himself instead as simply "Congressman Baird." Congressman Baird hasn't yet said if he's running for reelection, and legally he isn't doing anything wrong, experts say. But if his son runs instead, he'll get the perk of already-built-in name recognition from years of the last name being on the ballot and on official office material. At least one 2026 Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District, stretching from Morgan County north to Jasper and Newton counties, said it's wrong for Jim Baird to include photos of his son in his congressional communication materials. 'The perception is, and I believe it to be true, that there's a little bit of nepotism going on,' said state Rep. Craig Haggard, R-Mooresville. "And he's trying to use taxpayer money to enhance his son's chance of winning his seat.' It's not unusual for members of Indiana's U.S. House delegation to share photos of their family members in taxpayer-funded communication materials from their congressional office. U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve in March, for example, shared a photo in an email newsletter to constituents of him and his wife, Mary, as he took the oath of office with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson by his side. But Congressman Jim Baird's use of franking, a congressional privilege that lets elected officials use taxpayer-funded member allowances to communicate with constituents, has included at least seven photos of Beau Baird in mailers since 2023. Of Indiana's U.S. House delegation, Baird spent more on franking by mail in 2024 than all other members but U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz at nearly $174,000. Those materials were approved by a bipartisan group of lawmakers known as the House Communications Standards Commission. Additionally, ethics experts that spoke with IndyStar said Jim Baird's materials with his son pictured are likely not a violation of any franking rules. A spokesperson for Baird's office in a statement to IndyStar reiterated that all mass communications are reviewed by the congressman's office and the bipartisan House commission. 'Photos in official mass communications are selected from events the Congressman attends across the district,' the spokesperson said. 'While other individuals may appear, only the Congressman is identified in these materials. Every mass communication is reviewed and approved to ensure compliance with Franking guidelines before distribution.' But name recognition does give candidates for elected office a boost. Hoosier elected officials that have used the family last name have seen successes in past elections. Current Democratic U.S. Rep. André Carson, who is in his ninth term in Congress, took over his grandmother Julia Carson's congressional seat after she died in 2007. Evan Bayh, the former Indiana governor, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998, a seat his father Birch Bayh held from 1963 to 1981. "That name recognition is worth a lot," said Mike Wolf, the chair of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Purdue University Fort Wayne. "It's not a surprise that they would also slip in somebody who would doesn't have the federal franking privilege, but gets the benefit of it." House franking guidelines allow members to share photos of their family members in materials if the image is still related to the official business of the office and if they don't explicitly introduce or endorse their relative. None of the materials sent by Jim Baird's office that included photos of Beau Baird identify him by name, nor do they label Baird as the congressman's son or as a state representative. "Do I think that there's probably a line that maybe is being towed a little bit here, yes," said Danielle Caputo, senior legal counsel with the Campaign Legal Center who viewed some of the mailers with Baird and his son. "But he's not being referenced. I saw some of the photos. They're very small. It's not like he's front and center. It's not very clear that he is anyone." Redistricting push: How much more red can Indiana's U.S. House delegation get? Donald Sherman, the executive vice president and chief counsel for Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington, D.C., said he personally had not seen a member of Congress include family members in franked materials, but elected officials across party lines often want to keep a seat in their family. 'I wouldn't be shocked if it had happened before,' Sherman said. 'But it doesn't fall within any technical restrictions in the rules.' Two years ago, Haggard announced a plan to run for Congress if Jim Baird stepped away from another term representing the 4th Congressional District. But Haggard said he's done waiting: he filed his paperwork Aug. 8 to run for the seat in 2026. 'I believe I'll be running against a Baird,' Haggard said of next year's 4th District Republican primary. 'Which Baird? I don't know.' Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@ or follow her on X@kayla_dwyer17.
