Fund Purpose Provides one-year scholarships for Harrison County, IN resident graduating high school seniors who have attended Prosser School of Technology.
Fund Story In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of James L. Shireman, Inc. the Shireman family generously established the “Shireman Family Scholarship Fund”. The fund provides four scholarships annually to one graduating senior at each Harrison County high school. These scholarships recognize outstanding seniors who have attended the Prosser School of Technology and will pursue post secondary education. “It is the hope of our family that each scholarship recipient will make a positive impact in Harrison County,” said family member Becky Eckart.
Jim Shireman started his company in June 1957. Jim and his wife, Mary, have 5 children; Mike, Becky, Mark, David and Joe. They also have 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. All five of their children have worked for the company at one time or another and their oldest son, Mark, is now President of the company and another son, Joe, is Chief Operating Officer. “My Dad is very interested in vocations and realizes the importance of having and maintaining skilled people,” said Mark.
Jim is a World War II Marine Veteran and served as the County Republican Party Chairman from 1964-1974. He has served as a board member for the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce, Southern Indiana Health Systems Agency, Southern Indiana Mental Health Association and Prosser School of Technology. He also served as an advisor to former Indiana Governors Ed Whitcomb, Otis Bowen, M.D., and Robert Orr. In June 2006 Jim received the “Friend of Leadership Award” after creating an endowment with the Community Foundation to support Leadership Harrison County perpetually. Mary Shireman currently works part-time for James L. Shireman, Inc. and she is described by her children as a wonderful mother, attentive listener, and a great encourager.
Following in their parents’ footsteps, their children are also active servant leaders of Harrison County. The James L. Shireman family was the recipient of the Chamber of Commerce 2006 President’s Award for Community Service. At that event, 2006 Chamber of Commerce Board President Pam Bennett Martin said, “The family wants to and has made a difference in our community by their work, community involvement, and financial commitment.” Martin, now a current HCCF Board Member, later added “This scholarship fund is just one more way this family is making a difference in Harrison County.”
Scholarship Recipients: 2008: Lydia Robertson, Ashley Royalty, Paul L. Mathis, Jr., Chelsea Hall 2009: Ryan Johnson, Jessica Ayres, Courtney Sams, Timothy Morgan 2010: Kayelah Skelton, Victoria Smith, Steven Smith, Damian Schmelz 2011: Callie Franks, Whitley Hare, Darcey Thomas, Brooke Hoehn 2012: Keith Goodwin, Brooke Rowlett, Caleb Caldwell, Mary Pellman 2013: Marissa Ray, Jason Daugherty, Chad Seipel, Corey Barr 2014: Megan Evans, Jodi Elsler, Alissa Austin, Brendon Umensetter 2015: Lindsey Stockhoff, Caleb Gresham, Paul Miller, Andrew Battista 2016: Kimberly Simler, Marin Van Uitert, Brandon Crosier, Allison Dehn 2017: Mikayla Brown, Evan Peele, Grace Riley, Austin Schoen 2018: Lindsey Schmelz, Claire Sieg, Mackenzie Sonner, Madison Spalding 2019: Alexis Bruszewski, Brooke Gernand, Colton Sieberns 2021: Dalton Jenkins, Caitlin Johnson, Bradley Outland, Olivia Wise 2022: Allison Slaughter, Katie Phillips, Collin Cunningham, Camdyn Oberholtzer