Hensley, Lavalley receive $1,000 Legacy Scholarships

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HSPA Foundation annual awards aim to assist newspaper employee families

The Hoosier State Press Association Foundation has awarded two Legacy Scholarships to children of families tied to Indiana newspapers. One student will be heading to Indianapolis, the other is already taking classes in Chicago.


Addison Hensley is the daughter of Larry and Danielle Hensley, who live in Ellettsville. Larry Hensley is general manager of The Herald-Times (Bloomington).


Anna Lavalley of Valparaiso is the daughter of Andy and Amy Lavalley. Andy is a freelance photographer, who formerly was a photo editor and photographer for the Post-Tribune (Crown Point). Amy is a freelance writer and former staff reporter with the Post-Tribune.


Each scholarship is worth $1,000, which will go to pay for costs of the students to attend college.


Hensley will be a freshman at Butler University in Indianapolis. She plans to study psychology and Spanish with an eye toward a career in physical therapy.


“Physical therapy has directly affected my life because of athletics and would allow me to help others with issues I have experienced,” said Hensely who was a high school cross country runner.


In her application, Hensely recalled the pervasiveness of newspapers in her household filling the kitchen counter and how they informed her outlook.
“The influence of newspapers in my life has helped me make decisions on courses that I have taken, extracurriculars I partake in, and steered me towards my future path, “ Hensley said.


Lavalley will be a sophomore at DePaul University in Chicago. She is focussing on international studies and German. Currently, she’s looking after her undergraduate work to get a law degree and continue her involvement with nonprofit organizations.


Lavalley recounted how her parents took her and her brother along on weekend assignments. “Both my mother and my father have created a strong legacy of storytelling and beauty,” Lavalley said.


“While the career I will lead is quite different from theirs, the principles are fundamentally the same, as both careers center around people,” Lavalley said.


Applications are accepted each spring for the two awards.


“The HSPA Foundation Board created these new scholarships to give something back to the families that make newspapers happen across Indiana every day,” said Mark Miller, chairman of the Foundation Board’s Scholarship Committee. Miller is vice president and opinion page editor of The News-Banner in Bluffton.


Initially, the scholarships were awarded to students with plans to enter the field of journalism. But the focus changed to families who were already contributing to the profession.


“ ‘How about if we targeted these funds to our own employees — something for their children and grandchildren without regard to what they were studying?’ someone asked,” Miller said.


“The board sees this as an innovative way to say thanks.”