Questa receives $120,000 gift

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Questa Foundation received a $120,000 on Wednesday to go towards their Questa Scholars ½ Back Loan Program to help students pay off their loans and keep them in Northeast Indiana.

Mayor Tom Henry, Commissioner Nelson Peters, and Dr. John Crawford presented the foundation with a $100,000 check from the Brain Gain Grant Program. Dr Crawford gave them an additional $20,000 to go towards Questa’s highly competitive college loan forgiveness program for undergraduate students.

The funds will benefit Allen County high school graduates who are selected for participation in the Questa Scholars loan program. The money is designated for students who pursue undergraduate studies in the high tech fields of advanced manufacturing, computer science, engineering, information technology and informatics at northeast Indiana colleges and universities. Eligible institutions include Grace College, Huntington University, Indiana Tech, IPFW, Ivy Tech, Manchester College, Trine University and the University of St. Francis.

The Questa loan program is the nation’s only college debt forgiveness program that is linked to academic performance and regional graduate retention. It offers qualified Allen County students forgiveness of up to 50% of their Questa Scholars loan, which can be up to $20,000, if they graduate from college with a 2.75 GPA and choose to reside and work in northeast Indiana for at least five years after graduation.

“These gifts bolster Questa’s commitment to retaining college graduates in northeast Indiana,” said Christina K. Smith, executive director of Questa foundation. “This investment will strengthen Questa’s efforts and partnership with the Talent Initiative to develop a regional talent pipeline of highly skilled college graduates well equipped to fill high wage, high tech jobs in the fields of advanced manufacturing, defense/aerospace, engineering and biotechnology. The retention of our region’s intellectual capital is critical to northeast Indiana’s future economic growth.”

The Brain Gain Grant Program was founded by Crawford in 2005 to encourage young employees with engineering degrees pursuing careers in high-tech, high wage fields of advanced manufacturing, computer technology and biotechnology to live and work in Allen County. The program provides up to $10,000 over four years in college debt repayment assistance for employees in these fields.

“The Questa Scholars ½ Back Loan Program and the Brain Gain Grant Program share a common objective, keeping our region’s best and brightest here in northeast Indiana,” said Crawford. “Questa’s recent commitment of $500,000 to train area students for high tech careers in advanced manufacturing and defense/aerospace, industries critical to northeast Indiana’s future economic development, is precisely the type of investment needed to help reverse the regional decline in per capita income. These gifts are designed to increase such a talent pipeline.”

Dr. Crawford said Northeast Indiana has experienced significant job loss and has seen average wages greatly reduced over the last 30 years. He said 36 percent of college graduates leave Northeast Indiana to pursue careers elsewhere.

Dr. Crawford also announced the Brain Gain Grant Program will be phased out and the remaining grant funds will be donated to the Questa loan program.