Scholarship established in name of Greencastle graduate

Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Charles Todd Wagoner

CAYUGA — A scholarship for Vermillion County students has been initiated in honor of a Greencastle High School graduate.

The Vermillion County Community Foundation has announced the establishment of the Charles Todd Wagoner Scholarship Fund, which will benefit graduates of North Vermillion who are pursuing a college major or career in any art-related field.

Wagoner started teaching 7-12 visual art at North Vermillion in 1986. He studied fine art and art education at Ball State, the University of Wisconsin and completed his undergraduate degree at Indiana State where he also received his MA in fine arts in 2002.

A 1975 graduate of Greencastle High School, Charles is the son of the late Ken and Beverly Wagoner. Professor Ken Wagoner was chairman of the psychology department at DePauw University for 25 years, retiring in 1977.

“The scholarship was initiated by Dr. Gregory and Lisa Childress Larkin to honor the Professor Ken and Beverly Wagoner family and to specifically encourage future artists and teachers like Charles Todd Wagoner,” Community Foundation CEO Dale White said.

Wagoner has been a professional potter since 1978 and ran the pottery at Billie Creek Village with his wife, Sue, for 30 years until they moved their pottery to the Old Bridgeton Mill, where it now resides. He feels to be an effective art teacher it is also important be actively involved in creating your own art.

His students have won more than 750 awards in local and regional art shows. Participation in art shows is encouraged throughout both junior high and senior high art classes. Five of his former students have gone on to be art teachers and many of his students have found employment in art-related fields.

The North Vermillion Visual Art Department is known for its strengths in ceramics, sculpture, traditional film and digital photography areas. Projects are centered on a discipline-based program rooted in basic art skills.

Being a teacher and mentor to young people has always been Wagoner’s most important priority and he cites his own experiences with teachers who helped him to follow his dreams.

“If I can make a difference in the life of one of my students in a positive way then I feel I have paid it forward and been a success,” Wagoner said “I’m proud to be part of North Vermillion and I am very grateful that fate brought me here to be a Falcon.”

Wagoner has helped run the d’Arlier Spring Art Show for more than 30 years and has been the longtime fine arts coach for the school Academic Bowl team, having had two teams make it to the state finals with one team being a runner-up.

In 2006 he received the Arts Iliana “Bravo the Arts” award as an art educator. Wagoner felt a special honor being awarded the North Vermillion “Teacher of the Year” award given in recognition of Tony Martin, one of NV’s most respected teachers. He has been a WTHI “Golden Apple Award” finalist twice.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with Mr. Wagoner in establishing the scholarship criteria,” White said. “He did a nice job in thinking through the ways he wants the scholarship to benefit North Vermillion students.”

Donations may be mailed to: Vermillion County Community Foundation, ATTN: Charles Todd Wagoner Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 532, Clinton, IN 47842 or made online at www.wicf-inc.org.

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  • Very Cool! Congratulations Todd!

    -- Posted by hometowngirl626 on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 5:32 PM
  • Congratulations, Todd! Such a nice guy!

    -- Posted by letspulltogether on Thu, Mar 25, 2021, at 8:54 AM
  • Congratulations Chuck!!!!

    -- Posted by foxtrotter on Fri, Mar 26, 2021, at 3:26 PM
  • Kudos Chuck! We always enjoy visiting your place in Bridgeton! Your students are lucky to have such a dedicated teacher!

    -- Posted by jake71 on Sun, Mar 28, 2021, at 3:26 PM
  • Congrats to Todd/Chuck!! A very nice article about him professionally and personally. You make the GHS Class of '75 proud. Thanks to Greg and Lisa Larkin for starting this scholarship, too.

    -- Posted by gustave&zelma on Thu, Apr 1, 2021, at 7:19 PM
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