By Jennifer Gasiorek—
Muncie, IN — The Muncie Campus of Ivy Tech Community College announces its newest endowed scholarship; Irie’s Guiding Fund. The new scholarship opportunity is named for Irie Elisabeth O’Shea, who tragically passed away in a house fire at the young age of 17.
Irie was a stand-out Junior at Wes-Del High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, captain of the color guard team, and a tutor to younger students. Irie was known for her kindness and willingness to help others learn and grow. It was Irie’s passion to help others. It was that passion that fueled her desire to attend Ivy Tech Community College and then Ball State University to become a Guidance Counselor.
Irie’s friends and family raised over $10,000 to establish an endowed scholarship in her name to honor her memory. “It is our wish that whoever receives this scholarship keeps Irie in head and heart—working to make the world a better, more accepting place. That’s what Irie strived to do,” said Ariel Ream, Irie’s Aunt, and instrumental part of establishing the scholarship fund. “When the idea of creating an endowment came up, we had no idea how long it would take to raise $10,000. Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we simply did not know what the results of this effort would be. We never could have imagined how quickly we were able to raise the funds for Irie’s endowment, but also how much the supporters of this fund showed up. We had donations from as far as Afghanistan. We cannot adequately express our gratitude to the supporters of this fund. Irie would be so proud. She would be so honored and excited for this. We miss Irie more than words can describe, but we are honored to be able to remember her with this scholarship and keep her legacy going.”
The Muncie Campus of Ivy Tech Community College and the Ivy Tech Foundation are committed to honoring Irie’s memory through investing in our students. “We believe that every student should have the opportunity to receive an affordable, high-quality education that ultimately leads to the ability to live out their dreams. We hope that this new scholarship will support and inspire our students to work hard to help others learn and grow, just as Irie did,” said Qiana Clemens, Executive Director of Resource Development for the Muncie-Henry County campus.
Irie’s Guiding Fund Scholarships will be distributed annually each fall to students enrolled in classes at the Muncie Campus of Ivy Tech Community College. Students also be in good academic standing, must have a GPA of 2.5 or better and preference will be given to those with financial need. Ivy Tech Community College students can apply on the internal scholarship website beginning in the fall semester of 2021. For more information about scholarship opportunities at Ivy Tech, please contact Qiana Clemens at qclemens@ivytech.edu.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering associate degree and short-term certificate programs, and trainings that align to the needs of the community. The College also offers courses and associate degree programs that seamlessly transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a Bachelor’s degree.
