WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – A community-wide Valentine’s Day encouragement card drive is coming up to collect handwritten messages for students and educators across Wayne County.

Communities In Schools of Wayne County (CISWC) is inviting community members, families, local businesses, faith groups, civic organizations, and neighbors to write Valentine’s Day cards and short notes of encouragement.

Notes can be as short as one or two sentences and are intended to boost morale during the winter months and provide motivation as Spring Break approaches.

Winter can be a challenging season for motivation and mental wellness, especially for students and teachers balancing academics, attendance, and everyday stress.

CISWC’s campaign offers a simple way for the community to show support and strengthen school connectedness, reminding students and educators they are seen, valued, and not alone.

The drive also highlights how small, low-cost acts of kindness can create a meaningful impact across local schools.

CISWC will distribute cards to students and teachers through partner schools. Cards and notes must be dropped off by Friday, February 13.

Drop-off locations include:

• Communities In Schools of Wayne County — 800 Mendleson Drive, Richmond, In 47374
• Any CISWC partnered school (drop at the front office and note they are for Communities In Schools): Centerville Elementary, Rose Hamilton Elementary, Northeastern Elementary, Northeastern Jr/Sr High, Hagerstown Elementary, and Hagerstown Jr/Sr High.

CISWC also welcomes encouragement notes throughout the year beyond Valentine’s Day.

RICHMOND, Ind. – Earlham will have another well-known figure on campus as part of their public lecture series.

Pete Buttigieg will be in Richmond on Wednesday, Feb. 18, as part of the College’s Presidential Lecture Series.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Druley Performance Gym, which is in the Athletics and Wellness Center on campus.

Buttigieg is the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and a former naval officer. He also previously served as the 32^nd mayor of South Bend, Indiana from 2012 to 2020.

Earlham’s Presidential Lecture Series serves to bring voices in public service, policy, and civic life to campus.

INDIANA – An Indianapolis-based company is helping Hoosier families navigate the FAFSA as the state approaches a key financial-aid deadline.

INvestED provides free guidance to students and parents completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the form required to access federal, state, and most college-based financial aid.

“Our sole mission is to help families in all the ways possible to get ready for education beyond high school, planning, preparation, have less student loan debt, all of those different things,” said William Wozniak with INvestED.

Wozniak said FAFSA remains central to that mission, noting that many families miss out on grants and scholarships simply by not filing.

“The FAFSA is the gateway to almost all types of financial aid,” said Wozniak. “It’s for federal student aid, it’s for state of Indiana financial aid, it’s for grants and scholarships. The generous money that comes from the colleges themselves, almost always is tied to filing the FAFSA.”

The priority deadline to submit the FAFSA is April 15. Wozniak said colleges are already preparing aid packages for the upcoming academic year. He encouraged families to begin the process now. “If you’re eligible, we want to make sure you’re in their planning.”

INvestED has operated for over 40 years, offering one-on-one assistance to families completing FAFSA, comparing college costs, and understanding financial-aid awards. While the organization provides information on student and parent loan options, it emphasizes borrowing only what is necessary.

INvestED also hosts workshops, school visits, and FAFSA events statewide. More information can be found on their website.

WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – The Wayne County Foundation has opened its scholarship applications for high school and college students.

The deadline to apply is Friday, February 6 at noon.

Four applications are available this year, including separate forms for high school and college students, along with the Caitlin Nichole Walter Memorial Scholarship and the Nixon Family Scholarship.

Students can find application materials and eligibility details on the Foundation’s website.