FORUM Announces Educator Grant Recipients

The Foundation was created in 2014 to strengthen the communities FORUM serves by enhancing educational opportunities through both collegiate scholarships and educator grants. Grants may be used for any direct classroom expenses, including, but not limited to, supplies needed to fund a project for the classroom, basic classroom materials, supplemental items to enhance classroom learning, or an experience to enrich educational involvement.

Since 2014, the FORUM Foundation has awarded over $300,000 in grants and has funded 187 projects throughout central Indiana, helping nearly 63,000 students. This year, the Foundation received applications from 145 educators requesting over $318,000 for educational tools from several disciplines including STEM, literacy, art, music, and physical education.

The recipients of the 2025-2026 FORUM Foundation educator grants are:

Leah Averitt, Northwest Middle School; Sarah Dobbins, New Palestine Intermediate School; Chelsea English, Shortridge High School; Peter Felice, Our Lady of Lourdes; Nancy Ferguson, Arlington Elementary School; Allan Figy, Greenwood Community High School; Nicole Heflin, Westfield High School; Amanda Hoffman, Stony Creek Elementary School; Elisha Pepperman, Oaklandon Elementary School; Sierra Reed, Prairie Trace Elementary School; Thomas Rohlfs, Whiteland Community High School; Jaleen Royer, Plainfield Community Middle School; Kevin Self, Lawrence Central High School; Matthew Wernke, Carmel High School.

To see a full list of recipients and the projects funded, visit forumcu.com/foundation/grants/recipients. Applications for next year’s educator grants will open in June 2026. Additionally, collegiate scholarship applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are currently open through January 31, 2026. More information about the Foundation can be found at forumcu.com/foundation.

FORUM Credit Union’s mission, Helping Members Live Their Financial Dreams, is reflected as FORUM endeavors to help members achieve their goals in all aspects of their financial lives. FORUM serves families and businesses in the state of Indiana with convenient branch locations and online access from anywhere.  A full suite of financial services is offered including home mortgages, auto loans, personal checking, credit cards, business checking, commercial lending, insurance services, health savings accounts, and investment planning.  For more information, please visit forumcu.com.

Kristi Lowell

317.558.6252