North Putnam student receives $1,000 scholarship

North Putnam High School student Josh Collisi was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Co-Alliance LLP. Collisi was one of 20 students who was awarded each year.

AVON -- For the sixth consecutive year, local students received a significant boost to their college funds. Farmer-owned Co-Alliance LLP, which serves energy and agribusiness customers across Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, has awarded 20 Solutions Scholarship awards to students in the company's trade area.

Co-Alliance created the scholarship program to benefit the children and grandchildren of local cooperative members who belong to Midland Co-op, IMPACT Co-op, LaPorte County Co-op, Frontier Co-op and Excel Co-op. They had just recently announced the awards.

Recipient Josh Collisi, a graduating senior from North Putnam High School credits his Dad, David, a first-generation farmer, for his love of farming.

Despite obstacles, he says, "My Dad continued his path of pursuing his dreams... not only did his tenacity eventually pay off, but it made him the honest and hardworking man he is today."

Josh plans to study agriculture at Purdue University.

"The agribusiness field must grow substantially... to support future population needs," he observes. "I want to bring knowledge back to the family farm and our community, to strengthen and build on what my Dad has started and inspire future generations to pursue this reward field."

The one-time awards are for $1,000 each and recipient families have been notified by mail or at school award programs. The company pledges to deliver 20 awards every year.

Co-Alliance CEO, Kevin A. Still views the investment as another example of the company's commitment to community and also to rural youth.

"These students show tremendous potential. Their dedication and passion to lead can be seen in their essays and in their achievements. We anticipate a very bright future for these young people," Still said. "It has been our pleasure over the years to welcome many of these same Solutions Scholarship students back to Co-Alliance through our Internship and Field Scouting Programs. They have demonstrated through their aggressive pursuit of their goals that they have much offer... and we are happy to play a role in their educational development."