Dede Rippetoe-Reed Scholarship Statement

The Community Foundation of Huntington County announces that the Indiana University Honors Program in Foreign Languages (IUHPFL) has been placed on hiatus, temporarily pausing the Dede Rippetoe-Reed Scholarship process. 

Established by former Huntington North High School Spanish teacher, Dede Rippetoe-Reed, the scholarship provides support for Huntington North students accepted into IUHPFL. The program, which for decades has provided students with immersive summer language and cultural experiences abroad, will not be offered until further notice. 

In a message to the IUHPFL community, program leaders noted that “enrollments have steadily declined despite the tireless efforts of our IUHPFL staff to recruit, promote and adapt. This trend, along with the changing needs and interests of today’s high school students and the shifting landscape of international education, makes it essential that we take the time to carefully consider how IUHPFL should be structured for the future.” 

“My life was shaped by my first study abroad experience in Mexico after high school, and IUHPFL has given Huntington North students that same life-changing opportunity for many years,” noted Rippetoe-Reed. “I am hopeful the program will return in the future so this scholarship can continue to help students experience the world through language and culture.” 

Supporters of IUHPFL are invited to share testimonials about the program’s impact, which will be collected and shared with Indiana University leadership. Community members can submit their stories HERE.

The Community Foundation is hopeful the program will resume and our team will provide updates as more information about IUHPFL’s future becomes available.