Big Shoulders Fund NWI Supports Annual Transition to Teaching Reception at Calumet College of St. Joseph

Calumet College of St. Joseph was filled with celebration and purpose on Saturday, February 7, as it welcomed Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana for the annual Northwest Indiana Teachers Scholarship Reception. The event honored recipients of the Transition to Teaching scholarship and celebrated the next generation of educators preparing to enter classrooms across the region.

The Transition to Teaching Program is designed to prepare future educators through rigorous, experience-based training rooted in best practices and guided by the pillars of preparation, reflection, and transformation. For Dr. Amy McCormack, President of Calumet College of St. Joseph, the annual reception is one of the highlights of the year.

“This program is incredibly meaningful to me,” McCormack said. “It’s a true partnership — Calumet College, Big Shoulders Fund, and the Diocese of Gary working together to invest in these scholars. In the end, the real beneficiaries are the students they will goon to teach.”

Launched in 2022, the Northwest Indiana Teachers Scholarship provides full tuition for individuals enrolled in the Transition to Teaching program at Calumet College of St. Joseph, and a two-thirds tuition scholarship for participants at Valparaiso University. The program supports approximately ten aspiring educators each year. Scholarship recipients must complete the program at their respective institution, pass the Indiana teacher licensure exam, and commit to teaching at a Big Shoulders Fund network school in Northwest Indiana for three years.

Calumet College’s Education Department plays a critical role in preparing mission-driven educators, equipping them for professional success while emphasizing equity, service, and impact in the classroom.

“As the only Catholic college in Northwest Indiana, this work matters deeply to us,” McCormack added. “These teachers are formed at faith-based institutions and then return to serve Catholic schools throughout the region. That continuity — from kindergarten through college — strengthens our entire community.”

Dan Kozlowski, Executive Director of Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana, emphasized the program’s importance amid a nationwide teacher shortage.

“This program is incredibly important right now,” Kozlowski said. “Across the country, schools are struggling to find teachers. This initiative gives people — many of them entering teaching as a second career — the opportunity to earn the credentials they need to become licensed educators in Indiana. Because it directly serves schools in the
Diocese of Gary, the impact is immediate and lasting.”

The Transition to Teaching program requires a significant time commitment, often including weekend coursework in addition to full-time jobs.

For many participants, financial barriers can be the greatest hurdle.

“Our goal is to remove that barrier,” Kozlowski explained. “At Calumet College, the scholarship is funded through a three-way partnership — one-third from the college, one-third from the Diocese of Gary, and one-third from Big Shoulders Fund — allowing students to receive full tuition support. At Valparaiso University, funding is shared
between the university, Big Shoulders Fund, and the student. These partnerships allow future teachers to focus on learning rather than worrying about how they will pay for it.”

Diocese of Gary Superintendent Dr. Colleen Brewer has witnessed the program’s impact firsthand, watching graduates step directly into teaching roles across diocesan schools.

“This work only happens because of collaboration,” Brewer said. “Schools, Big Shoulders Fund, and our partners come together with a shared commitment to developing strong, dedicated teachers for our students.”

As the newest cohort of scholarship recipients begins the next chapter of their journeys, Brewer is eager to see how their passion translates into the classroom.

“There’s nothing like those first few years of teaching,” she said. “New educators grow so quickly, and their enthusiasm is contagious. It’s inspiring to watch them develop their craft and discover the joy that comes with teaching.”

This year’s Northwest Indiana Teachers Scholarship recipients include Lori Bonnel, John Bergerson, Bianca Cardenas, Savannah Frazier, Marie Garcia, Ronald Mack, Heather Margraf, and Louis Santellano.

To learn more about Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana, visit bigshouldersfund.org/NWI.