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Leora Elizabeth Eisenmenger Melton Memorial Scholarship Fund

Fund Number: 078

Fund Purpose
Provides scholarship support to graduating seniors of Corydon Central High School who attended grades 1-6 at New Middletown Elementary School.

Fund Story
In 2005, the children of Leora Melton honored their mother by creating a scholarship fund at the Harrison County Community Foundation.  The Leora Elizabeth Eisenmenger Melton Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to graduating seniors at Corydon Central High School who also attended grades 1-6 at New Middletown Elementary School.

Leora Eisenmenger was born December 7, 1916, the daughter of Henry and Louisa Weis Eisenmenger.  She graduated from New Middletown High School in 1934 and went on to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University.  Leora taught at a one room school house west of New Middletown for five years and then taught first grade at New Middletown Elementary School for 29 years for a total of 34 years in teaching.  Leora married Denzil Melton on December 23, 1939.

“My grandmother loved learning and education her entire life,” said Jennifer DePriest, Leora’s granddaughter.  “She taught the first grade at New Middletown for 29 years and had a huge impact on many lives and the community.  She took great pride in the school where she started the first school library, instilled the love of reading into her students, and volunteered during her retirement.  Her imprint continues to touch many former and current students and she will always be remembered for her generosity, compassion, and spirit.”

Leora and Denzil’s children are: Bill Melton of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Carole Olsen of Greensboro, North Carolina, Karen Troutman of Corydon, Joyce Spalding of Corydon, Denise Harmon of Depauw, Penny Fessel of New Middletown and Marilyn Wiggam of Columbus, Ohio.

Leora died on October 6, 2004 and is buried in the Salem United Church of Christ Cemetery in New Middletown.

A pink and white dogwood tree is planted next to a stone marker behind the New Middletown Elementary School to honor Leora for the many lives she touched in her time.

Scholarship Recipients:
2006: Jeanne Hood
2007: Tiffany Allen
2008: Lori Weis Stroud, Kara Wolfe
2009: Sara Allen
2010: Michael Allen
2011: Shelby Royalty, James Hodges
2012: Danielle Albin, Emily McIntire
2013: Chad Seipel
2014: Jeremy Buess, Danielle Uesseler
2015: Ryan Seipel, Kristen Alcorn, Kyle McPhillips
2016: Dakota Shewmaker, Cortlin Engleman
2017: Oliver Fleace, Megan Gorin
2018: Morgan Poole, Andrew Uesseler
2019: Madison Engleman, Ryan Shewmaker
2021: Sarah Grimes
2022: Colin Blackburn, Frankie Wilkerson, MacKenzie Hill