ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County has named five students as 2023 Jon and Sonja Laidig Community Service Scholars.

The Jon and Sonja Laidig Community Service Scholarship provides St. Joseph County students with generous tuition assistance and an opportunity to give back to their community through a paid summer internship, served with some of St. Joseph County’s best nonprofit agencies.

This year’s internship locations include Hope Ministries, Camp Millhouse, Reins of Life, Unity Gardens, St. Margaret’s House, Dismas, Prairie Winds Nature Farm.

This year's recipients come from four local high schools.

Christian Jackson of Riley High School will study business administration and marketing at Indiana University Bloomington.

Josephine Lawrence of Adams High School will study art education at Indiana University South Bend.

Elliana Lemberis of LaVille High School will study engineering at Purdue University.

Olivia Leonhard of LaVille High School will study biology at Trine University.

Aurora Nunez of St. Joseph High School will study biology and marketing at Holy Cross.

The value of the scholarship is $8,750, $3,750 for the internship and up to $5,000 in tuition scholarship, and it is renewable for up to four years.

Launched in 2009, the Jon and Sonja Laidig Community Service Scholarship awards are based on academic excellence, financial need, community service, leadership, and a desire to contribute to one’s community and society.