Fund Purpose
Provides scholarships to graduating students of Lanesville High School, one male and one female, who have participated in at least 2 years of school-sponsored athletics.

Fund Story
David, Angela, Larry, Kenneth and Rick Schmelz established the Alphonse A. and Dolores A. Schmelz Memorial Scholarship Fund in 2002 to celebrate, honor and remember their parents.  This memorial scholarship fund is held at the Harrison County Community Foundation and is designated for graduating seniors who have participated in athletics at Lanesville High School.

Alphonse Schmelz was a 1947 graduate of Lanesville High School and Dolores a 1948 graduate of Ursuline Sisters of Mt. Joseph Academy in Maple Mount, Kentucky.  Dolores’s family moved to Indiana in the 1950’s.  Alphonse was a lifelong resident of Harrison County and Dolores a transplanted resident who loved her family, neighbors, and community.  They owned and ran a dairy farm which has been in the family for four generations.

Alphonse was born May 23, 1928 and died Feb. 11, 2002, at age 73 after battling cancer. He drove a bus for the Lanesville schools for more than 30 years, logging more than 170,000 miles on his regular school route plus another 50,000 plus miles for sporting events and field trips. He was an enthusiastic supporter of sports, with his first love always being basketball.  He was a member and supporter of many organizations in the community, including Knights of Columbus, Franklin Township Athletic Club, Franklin Township Farm Bureau and the Indiana School Bus Drivers Association.

Dolores was born May 26, 1929 and died June 4, 1994.  She was a full time homemaker and a farmer’s wife.  She was best remembered for her caring for others, always there to lend a shoulder to lean on or a hot meal. She was a member of the St. Anne’s Society and both she and Alphonse were members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lanesville.

All of their five children were graduates of Lanesville High School.  David and Angela in 1971, Larry in 1974, Kenneth in 1977 and Rick in 1979. The entire Schmelz family was always actively involved in athletics at Lanesville.  There are seven grandchildren who all attended Harrison County schools as well.

The family wants to share this short story about their parents.  Alphonse always purchased two season tickets for all home basketball games for him and Dolores.

Alphonse and Dolores Schmelz left a lasting imprint on the Lanesville community and Lanesville schools with their love and dedication to their children and love and dedication to their community.  Their children were certainly proud to honor their father and mother with this scholarship fund.

Scholarship Recipients:
2004 - Jessica R. Walter
2005 - Steve Lewis
2006 - Brandy Ramsey
2007 - James Fisher III, Ashley Simler
2008 - William P. Hambley, Jordan Price
2009 - Erin Dorgay, Christopher Ehalt
2010 - Faith Johnston, Nicholas Hammond
2011 - Ashley Schoen, John Kissel
2012 - Hannah Bays, Micaiah Skelton
2013 - Erica Kennedy, Kevin Zollman
2014 - Erica Daly, Micah Lane
2015 - Gabe Sronce, Annabelle Parsons
2016 - Luke Walker, Emily Purdy
2017 - Ridge Hess, Mckenzie Randolph
2018 - Noah Jones, Hailey Reas
2019 - John Kaufer, Mackenzie Miller
2020 - Abby Duncan, Daniel Oberdieck
2021 - Jonas Powers, Elizabeth Turner
2022 - Haley Gowens