FSH Works

The faces of success! Here are just some of the new graduates from Bluegrass Community and Technical College who were encouraged and supported along the way by our hardworking FSH Works team! Congratulations to Tavonga Tawodzera, Japhet Moma, Inga Ayinkamiye, Daminica Cloyd and all the new grads in the class of 2026! Well done!!

If it’s true that the best things in life are worth waiting for, then our much-delayed residential campus, the Benedictine Scholar House adjacent to the Ivy Tech Community College Sellersburg campus, is going to be truly amazing. Soon, dozens of our resident families who have been waiting patiently for construction to be wrapped up will call this campus home. When they do, they’ll be settling into cozy, comfortable modular apartments manufactured in Louisville by MMY US, then transported and installed onsite in Sellersburg — our first Indiana Family Scholar House! A very special thanks to the Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand for their partnership on this project.

This past Saturday, June 6th, Family Scholar House honored some of our spring 2026 graduates with a celebration at Stoddard Johnston Scholar House. For each of our graduates, this moment is the culmination of a journey that goes far beyond academics. It has been our privilege to accompany them and watch them each come into their own as confident adults and nurturing parents on a solid path to self-sufficiency.

Tomorrow is National Higher Education Day, created to encourage students, educators and families to tackle some of the issues of higher education head-on. By helping students find financial resources, addressing their educational goals, and focusing on their total health and well-being, the goal is that students can look forward to a successful higher education experience.

At Family Scholar House we celebrate higher education every day. We think about windows and doors. We work to open a window on the world for each of our student participants, so that they can see what is possible, then open a door to access that world through higher education and support services that can help ensure student success. By supporting the whole family and not just the student, we are transforming the communities we serve and building self-sufficiency into the next generation.

Last Thursday, Duke Energy volunteers put together “Welcome Home” baskets and wrote encouraging notes for 36 families who will be moving into the new Family Scholar House on the Ivy Tech Sellersburg campus.

The baskets included cleaning supplies, kitchen basics, children’s activities information on how to save money and energy and financial assistance for customers. A $10,000 Duke Energy Foundation grant supported the welcome baskets and other assistance for families, including food, school essentials, academic coaching and success planning.

“Moving into a new home marks the beginning of an exciting journey, filled with hope, stability, and opportunity,” said Lisa Huber, government and community relations manager for Duke Energy. “These baskets provide not just essentials for families, but also a feeling of community as they begin their next adventure.”

“We appreciate the Duke Energy Foundation support that will help scholars overcome obstacles and stay on track toward pursuing a degree and graduation,” said Deja B. Jackson, director of Community Engagement for Family Scholar House. “Our wrap around services have shown strong results in our graduation rates and contribute to the overall health, mental wellness and well-being of the entire family.”

Family Scholar House participants and community members can text (855) 425-2034 Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET to connect with a family advocate, receive housing support, get academic and career coaching, ask for help with benefits assessments, technology assistance, inquire about your program status and even get event reminders.

All of our student participants know the courage required to take that first step toward advanced education and true self-sufficiency, and to continue to take each step that follows, especially as new challenges arise and life throws up barriers and obstacles. But today, we all salute that far greater level of courage displayed by all of the courageous men and women who have given their lives in defense of our freedom and the freedom of others around the world. Their memory is a constant inspiration to us all.