The Howe Legacy Scholarship is officially accepting applications for the first time, a new initiative designed to honor the 135-year history of Howe Military School. Established in December 2021 at the LaGrange County Community Foundation, the scholarship was funded by proceeds from the sale of the Howe Military Academy after its closure in 2019.
For its inaugural year, the Foundation plans to award ten one-time scholarships of $5,000 each. These funds will support students currently enrolled full-time in two- or four-year programs who intend to continue their studies in the fall semester of 2026.
Prospective applicants can submit their applications through the Foundation’s online scholarship portal at www.lccf.net/scholarships. The deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. on February 6, 2026.
To qualify for the Howe Legacy Scholarship, applicants must meet several criteria. They must be enrolled full-time at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, trade school, or vocational institution in the United States and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Official documentation will be required to verify eligibility.
Moreover, applicants must fulfill at least one of the following conditions:
– Be a graduate of Howe Military Academy.
– Have been enrolled as a cadet at the time of the school’s closure in June 2019.
– Be a descendant (up to two generations) of a Howe Military Academy graduate.
– Be a resident of LaGrange County.
While preference will be given to those with ties to Howe Military, the Foundation encourages all eligible post-secondary students from LaGrange County to apply.
Beth Retterbush, LCCF Scholarship and LIFE Program Manager, expressed the scholarship’s significance: “The Howe Legacy Scholarship reflects the commitment of preserving the school’s spirit of leadership and educational excellence. We are honored to steward this legacy and support students as they pursue their goals.”
Founded in 1884 as Howe Grammar School, the institution was established through a bequest from John Badlam Howe, a notable banker, lawyer, and politician who played a significant role in the community. The school eventually transitioned to a military academy in 1895 and reached its highest enrollment of 458 cadets during the 1966–1967 academic year. However, changing attitudes toward military preparatory schools led to a gradual decline in enrollment, coupled with the challenges of maintaining an aging campus. This ultimately resulted in the school’s closure in 2019, marking the end of a remarkable chapter for the Howe community.
Following the closure, the Howe Military School Board of Trustees established two permanent funds at the Foundation: the Howe Legacy Fund, which supports community grantmaking in Howe, and the Howe Legacy Scholarship Fund, dedicated to assisting students in their pursuit of post-secondary education.
The establishment of the Howe Legacy Scholarship represents a meaningful step in honoring the past while investing in the future of students in the LaGrange County area.
Loading Comments