An Irrepressible Spirit
Tonight I am introducing a new story — this one of Emma Gingerich, who I have been corresponding with for more than two years. She first got in touch with me about publishing her story. I am certain she will get her story published, for hers is an amazing one of someone who had the…
Read MoreMy Dream of Being a Nurse
Today we have an education story from Laura Miller Burress, who grew up in an Amish community in rural South Central Kentucky. As a little girl, while visiting her father in the hospital she developed an interest in nursing. Soon after her eighteenth birthday she left her Amish community and didn’t look back. While working at…
Read MoreFrom a Farm Boy to the Outer Limits of a University Education, Part II
Continued from previous post: After a few years, I came across an advertisement in a magazine for a high school correspondence course, offered by American School in Chicago. I secretly enrolled – secretly, because I knew that my parents would not approve. I took some courses, including algebra, biology, psychology, and English. I completed the…
Read MoreFrom a Farm Boy to the Outer Limits of a University Education, Part I
Today we have a story from Henry Troyer who left the Amish in 1958 in pursuit of more education. For his full bio visit About Amish. His story will be posted in two parts. At an early age, I longed for knowledge. I read everything I could get my hands on, which in our Amish…
Read MoreFrom a One-Room Amish Schoolhouse to Smith College
I would like to offer a special thanks to Saloma Miller Furlong for joining us in our effort and for the help she has extended to other former Amish people in need. No one knows the challenges these young people face when choosing a life away from the Amish community better than she does. And…
Read MoreADSF Scholarship Winner #2
Thanks to Naomi’s hard work in organizing a fundraiser and our generous donors, we were able to offer two scholarships this year. We can’t tell you how thankful we are to those of you who offered us words of encouragement and donations for the fund. There is one lady in particular on my mind who I…
Read MoreADSF scholarship winner #1
We started working on this fund a long time ago and it feels amazing to finally reach our end goal and award the scholarship money to someone who is working hard to overcome the challenges of studying without parental support. If you come from an Amish background and wish to go to college, please get…
Read MoreAccepting Applications for 2012 Scholarship
We are now accepting applications. There are two scholarships available worth $1000 each for the 2012 fall semester. The deadline to have your application in is Sept. 9th, 2012. In order to qualify for the scholarship you will have grown up Amish and your family is still Amish. You must have your GED or high…
Read MoreFundraiser in Nappanee, Indiana – join the fun!
ADSF Fundraiser: Hog Roast and Community Social When: Friday, August 3rd Food will be served from 5-8pm Where: United Christian School 29522 County Road 52 Nappanee, IN 46550 Naomi is organising our first fundraiser in Nappanee, Indiana. There will be a whole hog roast and delicious side dishes and desserts prepared by friends and family…
Read MoreIs FAFSA broken for Amish youth?
As I mentioned in an earlier blogpost, it’s hard for former Amish youth under the age of 24 to get Financial Aid. That’s because in order to fill out a FAFSA, students also have to fill in their parents’ information because parents are deemed responsible to help their children pay for education until they are 24…
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