Two graduating high school seniors — an Ella and an Elle — have been named as recipients of the 2020 HSPA Foundation Legacy Scholarships.
A panel of retired Indiana newspaper publishers chose the college-bound students, Ella Miller and Elle O’Bannon, from among this year’s applicants. Each will receive $1,000 toward their education. Two scholarships are given each year to children or grandchildren of employees or independent contractors of an Indiana newspaper.
Ella Miller of Fort Wayne is the granddaughter of Mark Miller, opinion page editor for the Bluffton News-Banner. In his 45-year career, he also served in a vast range of roles including president, publisher, editor, ad sales, ad manager, and general manager.
“Indiana newspapers do so much for their communities, the HSPA Foundation Board of Directors decided to give something back to the dedicated families that make real news happen.”
Stephen Key, HSPA executive director and general counsel.
His granddaughter Ella is graduating from Carroll High School and plans to study music education at Anderson University.
Ella said she is a show choir enthusiast and her grandparents and parents were always supportive of her interests. In her application, Ella wrote about how her grandfather Mark would come to her high school performances with flowers to cheer her on.
Ella said she is excited to pursue her music interests at Anderson which has an excellent program.
“With music education, I’ll not only stay connected to my passion, but I’ll get to share it with others, and that’s very important to me,” Ella wrote in her application.
“I’m a show choir person, so hopefully someday I can direct someone through their passion,” she said.
Elle O’Bannon of Floyds Knobs is the daughter of Jon and Soni O’Bannon. For 16 years, Jon has been the publisher of The Corydon Democrat and Clarion News and has been involved with the family’s newspaper operation for more than 30 years. Soni has been the newspaper’s chief operating officer for the last 15 years.
Elle is graduating from Our Lady of Providence High School and plans to study business management/law and ethics in the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University in Bloomington.
In her application, Elle said she is eyeing becoming a lawyer or judge. She has interned with Judge Maria Granger’s office, Floyd County Indiana Superior Court 3, with a focus on the Veterans Court that helps veterans who have had legal issues get back on track.
“I want to go where I can do the most good,” Elle said. “I believe I can help the most inside the courts of this country.”
Elle said she has wanted to go into the law since age five.
“I saw lawyers as the modern day super heroes. They put the bad guys away and helped the good guys get out of jail and get their justice,” she said.
The Legacy Scholarship applications are accepted in early spring each year as a way to support families of the state’s newspaper workers.
“Indiana newspapers do so much for their communities, the HSPA Foundation Board of Directors decided to give something back to the dedicated families that make real news happen,” said Stephen Key, HSPA executive director and general counsel.
