Latest News
Your Support is Needed
Hello Readers, We’re taking a pause from reporting on our conference to let you know we have a record number of applicants again this year… 25 in all. Last year we had a record number at 19, and this year we outdid that number. It is gratifying to know that we are reaching the students…
Read MoreReflections of the Plain Roots Conference
Our Plain Roots conference in Middlebury, Indiana went well last week… so well! The stories that speakers had to tell were equally heartwarming and inspiring. Many of the stories were about overcoming major obstacles on the way to academia, and the deeper the struggle, the greater the triumph. We will be going into detail about…
Read MoreConference Updates and Last Call for Registrations
The Plain Roots: Community, Story, and Support for Higher Education Conference is just around the corner. The link leads you to much more information about the conference, including an updated schedule of events. The team at ADSF has decided to extend our deadline for the conference to the 24th, so if you were thinking of…
Read MoreAmish Roots Conference: Breaking the Eighth-Grade Barrier
The deadline for signing up for the Amish Roots Conference is four days away. If you have been meaning to register and haven’t yet, now is your chance. Or if this is your first time hearing about it, you still have time. You can go to our Events page to learn more and register. Just…
Read MoreTwo Exciting Announcements!
Registration: Our registration for scholarship applications for the 2026-2027 academic year is now open to students. If you would like to apply, please visit our Scholarships page to determine whether you are eligible. If so, there is a link on that page to take you to our application form. We look forward to receiving your…
Read MorePlain Roots: Community, Story, and Support for Higher Education
Did you grow up in a Plain community and dream of attending college? Do you still have this dream? Are you a formerly Amish college student who needs support to continue this difficult journey? Have you earned a college education and enjoy the idea of exchanging stories with others who were raised Amish or Plain? If…
Read MoreExciting New Developments at ADSF
We hope you have been enjoying the success stories over the past several months of current students and those who have graduated from a college or university and now have careers. The latest story of Leon Hostetler that starts here is truly awe-inspiring because it is rare for someone to be raised Amish and to…
Read MoreNew Website, Same Scholarship Fund
It has been quite a few years since the Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund (ADSF) put out a blog post, and many changes have taken place. In 2012, Emma Miller and Naomi Kramer Yoder co-founded the fund and had been managing it together since then. They awarded scholarships of more than a total of $250,000 to…
Read MoreAny former Amish Entrepreneurs out there?
We’ve spent a lot of time engaging with former Amish students on their academic ambitions but today we’d like to hear from those of you who have left the Amish and started your own business. Since I’ve started working in business finance, I realize that good business practice starts with honesty, integrity and some common…
Read MoreEmma Miller: Founder of Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund
About a year ago, I wrote a blog post about the founder of the Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund on my own blog. I am updating and reposting that here. I think Emma’s story is such a wonderful example of someone who is committed to helping others embark on their journey to education. For those young…
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