Life does not always follow a straight path. Sometimes you finish high school and head directly to college. But many times, things happen. Maybe you needed to work. Maybe you got married and started a family. Maybe finances got in the way, or health challenges took over, or you simply were not ready at 18 to commit to a course of study. None of that means your chance at higher education is gone. It just means your path is different from the traditional one.
If you are a returning adult student living in Lawrence County, Indiana, and you have been putting off going back to school because of the cost, there is a real opportunity waiting for you right now. The Lawrence County Community Foundation (LCCF) is currently accepting applications for its non-traditional scholarships, and the deadline is May 31, 2026. This article will walk you through every detail you need to know: what the scholarships are, who they are for, what each one covers, how the application works, and what you need to do to be considered.
What Is the Lawrence County Community Foundation?
Before getting into the scholarship specifics, it helps to understand the organization behind them, because knowing who LCCF is gives you confidence that this is a serious, well-established community institution with real resources and a genuine commitment to the people of Lawrence County.
Established in 1992, the Lawrence County Community Foundation serves Lawrence County, Indiana, by helping individuals, families, and organizations establish or grow permanent endowment funds to achieve their charitable goals for the community. The earnings generated from these endowment funds are given back to the community in the form of grants and scholarships. Because the funds are permanent, their impact will continue benefiting Lawrence County residents for generations to come.
LCCF currently administers 199 funds, which have collectively allowed for grants and scholarships totaling over $17.3 million directed back into the community. That is not a small number. It represents years of community donors, families, and local organizations investing in the long-term wellbeing of Lawrence County residents.
LCCF operates as part of the Community Foundation Partnership, Inc., which also serves Martin County through the Martin County Community Foundation. The Partnership is located at 3315 5th Street in Bedford, Indiana, and can be reached by phone at (812) 279-2215.
Over the years, LCCF has partnered with organizations including Duke Energy, General Motors Foundation, IU Health Foundation, United Way, Smithville Charitable Foundation, Regional Opportunities Initiatives, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the City of Bedford, and the Community Alliance to Promote Education. Through these collaborations, LCCF has brought over $5.5 million in additional resources into Lawrence County, including $71,250 in 2024 alone.
In short, LCCF is not a newcomer. It is a well-rooted, community-centered organization with over three decades of history and a proven track record of investing in the lives of Lawrence County residents. The non-traditional scholarships it offers are one of the most meaningful expressions of that commitment.
What Are Non-Traditional Scholarships?
The term “non-traditional scholarship” refers specifically to scholarship opportunities designed for students who did not go directly from high school graduation into college or technical school. Instead, these students took time away from formal education for one reason or another and are now ready to return and pursue a degree, diploma, or certificate.
LCCF defines non-traditional scholarship recipients as students who postponed pursuing secondary education for one or more years after graduating from high school. There are countless reasons why someone might take that pause: financial hardship, family responsibilities, military service, work obligations, health challenges, or simply not feeling ready for higher education at the time of high school graduation.
What matters is not why you waited. What matters is that you are ready now. And LCCF has made it clear that it values these students and recognizes the particular courage and determination it takes to go back to school as an adult. The non-traditional scholarships exist precisely to support that journey and to remove the financial barriers that might otherwise stop someone from making it happen.
As LCCF says on its scholarship page, there are many paths to higher education. Many students choose to postpone education for countless reasons and later decide to pursue higher education to improve their personal and professional opportunities. LCCF expresses genuine gratitude toward the community donors who established these non-traditional scholarships specifically for returning students, because these scholarships give preference to helping students begin or return to college years after leaving high school.
The 2026 LCCF Non-Traditional Scholarships: All Three Explained
For the 2026 cycle, LCCF is offering three distinct non-traditional scholarships. Each one has its own eligibility requirements and focus area, but here is something important to know upfront: you only need to complete one application, and your single application will automatically be considered for all scholarships for which you qualify. That makes the process more efficient and means you do not have to write multiple separate applications to maximize your chances.
Here is a full breakdown of each scholarship available.
1. The Bedford Elks Ladies Marie Disbennett Scholarship
This scholarship was established through a fund at LCCF and is one of the most broadly accessible of the three non-traditional awards. It is open to both male and female returning students, which makes it unique among the non-traditional awards and gives it a wider potential applicant pool.
To be eligible for the Bedford Elks Ladies Marie Disbennett Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a returning male or female student currently enrolled in, or accepted to, an accredited college, university, or technical school
- Have at least a one-year gap between high school graduation and the start of their current enrollment or acceptance
- Be a current resident of Lawrence County, Indiana, who has lived in the county for at least one year prior to applying
- Maintain a local, permanent mailing address in Lawrence County
- Submit all requested information to the Scholarship Committee
It is also important to understand what this scholarship is designed to do: it is intended to help cover tuition and fees for the upcoming semester. It is not meant to reimburse debt that has already been incurred. The scholarship funds are paid directly to the institution, not to the student.
This scholarship honors a connection to the Bedford Elks Ladies organization, reflecting the deep tradition of civic giving in the Lawrence County community. Named scholarships like this one represent the lasting legacy of generous donors who wanted to give back in a meaningful and lasting way.
2. The Walk with Excellence Returning Women’s Scholarship
The Walk with Excellence Returning Women’s Scholarship is designed specifically for women who are returning to school after a period away from formal education. Its name reflects a value that is central to its purpose: that returning to education as a woman, often after significant life experiences, is an act of excellence that deserves to be recognized and supported.
The eligibility requirements for this scholarship are as follows:
- Applicant must be a female returning student currently enrolled in, or accepted to, an accredited college, university, or technical school
- At least one year must have passed since high school graduation before the start of current enrollment or acceptance
- Applicant must be a current resident of Lawrence County who has lived in the county for at least one year prior to applying
- Applicant must maintain a local, permanent mailing address in Lawrence County
- All requested information must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee to be considered
Like the Bedford Elks Ladies Marie Disbennett Scholarship, funds from this award are paid directly to the institution to cover tuition and fees for the upcoming semester. It is not a reimbursement for existing debt.
For women in Lawrence County who have been juggling work, family, caregiving responsibilities, or any number of other life demands while quietly holding onto the dream of finishing or starting a college education, this scholarship is a direct message that your community sees you and wants to help you get there.
3. The Amalie Ford Barger Scholarship
The Amalie Ford Barger Scholarship has a more specific focus than the other two. Its primary purpose is to provide scholarship funding for qualified Lawrence County students who are attending or planning to attend Oakland City University. The scholarship has a particular preference for female students who are returning to school after a period of time away from education, with special consideration given to women who have returned to school after raising a family.
Here is what makes this scholarship distinctive: it centers on a very specific life experience that many women in Lawrence County and across Indiana share. Raising a family is a full-time commitment, and for many women, it means putting their own educational and professional goals on hold for years. The Amalie Ford Barger Scholarship acknowledges this reality and actively honors it by offering financial support to women who are ready to take that next step.
Key eligibility considerations for this scholarship include:
- Applicant must be a Lawrence County student attending Oakland City University (preference is noted for the Bedford Campus)
- Preference is given to female students returning to school after a period away, especially those returning after raising a family
- Applicant must be a current resident of Lawrence County
Oakland City University is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the General Baptists. It offers associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees across a range of disciplines, and its Bedford Campus serves students in the Lawrence County area who may not be in a position to relocate for their education. The Amalie Ford Barger Scholarship specifically supports students studying there, making it a highly targeted and locally relevant award.
Core Eligibility Requirements That Apply to All Three Scholarships
While each scholarship has its own specific criteria, there are two eligibility requirements that apply to all three non-traditional scholarships offered by LCCF:
First, applicants must be current residents of Lawrence County, Indiana. Specifically, applicants must have lived in Lawrence County for at least one year prior to applying for the scholarship. This is a residency requirement designed to ensure that the scholarships serve the local community they were established to support.
Second, applicants must maintain a local, permanent mailing address in Lawrence County. This reinforces the residency requirement and ensures that scholarship funds are reaching students who are genuinely part of the Lawrence County community.
It is also worth noting that these scholarships are forward-looking by design. The funds are intended to help pay for tuition and fees in the upcoming semester, not to reimburse students for costs they have already paid. This means the scholarship is most useful when applied for before beginning or continuing a semester of study, allowing the funds to make a real difference in whether you can afford to enroll.
What Schools and Programs Qualify?
For the Bedford Elks Ladies Marie Disbennett Scholarship and the Walk with Excellence Returning Women’s Scholarship, applicants must be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college, university, or technical school. This is deliberately broad language that includes a wide range of institutions and programme types. You do not have to be attending a four-year university. A two-year college, a community college, a vocational school, or a technical school can all qualify, as long as the institution holds proper accreditation.
This matters because it means that returning students pursuing practical, career-focused credentials in fields like healthcare, trades, business, information technology, cosmetology, early childhood education, or similar vocational areas are just as eligible as students pursuing a traditional bachelor’s degree. The scholarships are designed to support all pathways to meaningful employment, not just the most academic ones.
For the Amalie Ford Barger Scholarship, the institution must be Oakland City University, specifically noting the Bedford Campus as the primary focus.
The Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
The application deadline for all three 2026 LCCF non-traditional scholarships is May 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM. This is a firm deadline, and applications submitted after this date and time will not be considered for the current cycle.
If you are a returning student in Lawrence County who is thinking about applying, the time to act is now. Do not wait until the final days. Give yourself enough time to complete the application thoughtfully, gather any supporting materials, and review everything before submitting. A rushed application is never your best application.
It is also worth knowing that LCCF accepts only one application per applicant, and that single application is considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible. This means you do not need to fill out separate forms for each scholarship. You complete one online application, and the scholarship committee reviews your eligibility across all three awards. That streamlined process is a genuine convenience for busy adult students who are already balancing work, family, and study.
Why These Scholarships Matter for Lawrence County Returning Students
It would be easy to look at a scholarship announcement like this and file it away as something to think about later. But for many returning students in Lawrence County, these scholarships are not just nice to have. They can genuinely be the deciding factor in whether going back to school is possible at all.
The cost of higher education in the United States continues to rise. Even community college tuition, which is far more affordable than a four-year university, can be a significant burden for adults who are already paying rent, utilities, groceries, and possibly supporting children or aging parents. Add in the cost of textbooks, course materials, transportation, and childcare while attending class, and the financial math can become very discouraging very quickly.
Non-traditional scholarships like the ones LCCF offers recognize that adult returning students often face financial pressures that traditional college-age students do not. Many returning students do not qualify for the same levels of federal student aid that recent high school graduates receive. They may be working full-time and taking classes part-time, which limits the financial aid programs available to them. They may have family financial obligations that make taking on student loan debt feel genuinely unwise or impossible.
The LCCF non-traditional scholarships cut through some of that difficulty by providing direct financial support that does not need to be repaid. Unlike student loans, these scholarships are gifts from community donors who believed in investing in people exactly like you. That is worth something beyond just the dollar amount.
A Closer Look at the Community Behind These Scholarships
One of the most meaningful things about the LCCF non-traditional scholarships is that they were established by real people from Lawrence County who cared deeply about their neighbors and community. Named scholarships like the Bedford Elks Ladies Marie Disbennett Scholarship and the Amalie Ford Barger Scholarship carry the names and legacies of individuals or groups who chose to direct their charitable giving toward supporting returning students.
The Bedford Elks Lodge and its associated Ladies auxiliary have a long history of civic engagement and charitable work in Bedford and Lawrence County. Their involvement in establishing a scholarship for returning students reflects the organization’s commitment to supporting the educational advancement of community members at every stage of life.
The Amalie Ford Barger Scholarship honors a particular vision of who deserves educational support: women who have given years of their lives to raising families and are now ready to invest in their own futures. This kind of targeted, values-driven giving is what community foundations do best, channeling the generosity of individuals into programs that serve genuine community needs.
The Walk with Excellence Returning Women’s Scholarship similarly reflects a commitment to women’s educational advancement in Lawrence County, recognizing that women who return to school as adults often do so against significant odds and with tremendous personal motivation.
All of this is possible because community members have trusted LCCF to steward their charitable gifts over time. The 199 endowment funds currently managed by LCCF represent decades of giving from hundreds of individuals and organizations who believed that the best way to strengthen Lawrence County was to invest in its people.
Tips for Putting Together a Strong Application
Since you will submit one application that is considered for all eligible scholarships, it is worth taking that application seriously and making sure it represents you as fully and accurately as possible. Here are some practical tips to help you put together the strongest possible submission.
Be Honest About Your Journey
Non-traditional scholarship committees understand that applicants have complex life stories. Do not be afraid to explain why you took time away from school and what has motivated you to return now. Whether it was financial hardship, family responsibilities, health challenges, or a shift in your sense of purpose and direction, telling your story honestly and clearly helps the committee understand who you are and why this scholarship would make a real difference in your life.
Be Clear About Your Goals
What do you want to study, and why? What do you hope to do with the education you are pursuing? Scholarship committees want to support students who have a genuine sense of purpose and direction. You do not need to have every detail figured out, but being able to articulate your goals clearly and specifically shows that you are serious about your commitment to completing your education.
Follow the Instructions Precisely
LCCF is clear that all requested information must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee in order to be considered. An incomplete application can result in your submission not being evaluated. Read the application instructions carefully, answer every question, and make sure you have provided all required supporting documents or information before you hit submit.