Participation in IUHPFL is an investment in a high school student's future studies and career and can enrich the student's life in countless ways. However, we understand that the cost can be significant. We offer the following information and resources to help students find ways to raise the funds to participate in the program.
Please Note: If you have questions about whether 529 Funds can be used to pay IUHPFL Program Fees, please consult with a financial advisor. While IUHPFL is a program of Indiana University, its participants are not IU students.
Fundraising and Financial Assistance
Once accepted into the program, students and their families can apply for financial assistance through IUHPFL. Students who receive financial assistance through IUHPFL will see their award as a reduction in Program Fees on their program invoice, which is first emailed to students and their parents/guardians in February. Awards typically range between $500 and $1,500; therefore it is necessary for applicants to have additional funding sources to pay for Airfare and remaining Program Fees.
IUHPFL scholarships vary in amount, based on the financial need of the individual student, the overall demand for assistance from applicants, and the availability of scholarship funds as a result of donations from program alumni and other supporters.
This list of scholarships is not exhaustive, so ask your school counselor or do your own research to learn what additional scholarships might be available.
| Language | Scholarship Details | Amount | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Languages | Grafton & Laura Trout Endowment Grafton Trout was Director of IUHPFL from 1977 to 1994. Shortly before his passing in 2016, he and his wife, Laura, agreed to establish an endowment fund for IUHPFL scholarships. | Varies | Students who are accepted into the program in January must complete the IUHPFL Financial Assistance process with their parents/guardians to be considered for this award. Instructions will be emailed upon acceptance. |
| All Languages | Dave Hefner International Exchange Fund, Inc. Available to high school students living in northeastern Indiana, this fund provides financial assistance for participation in study abroad programs, like IUHPFL. Students must apply on their website. | Unknown | See their website |
| All Languages | The Road Scholarship is available to individual students, as well as groups of 3 or more. Applicants must be under the age of 18 and nominated by a teacher or administrator in the school they currently attend. Only home-schooled students can be nominated by IUHPFL. For details, students are encouraged to contact the SYTA Youth Foundation directly and consult the list of Frequently Asked Questions on their website. | Unknown | See their website |
| French | The 1966 Saint-Brieuc Scholarship Endowment This scholarship fund was established by a dedicated group of IUHPFL alumni who participated in the 1966 Saint-Brieuc, France program. It gives first preference to students in the Saint-Brieuc, France program who have financial need. Award amounts vary, depending on the number of students at that site with need. | Varies | Students who are accepted into the program in January must complete the IUHPFL Financial Assistance process with their parents/guardians to be considered for this award. Instructions will be emailed upon acceptance. |
| French | The John and Barbara Busch Scholarship This fund provides awards to French students attending North Central High School who are accepted into IUHPFL. Mr. and Mrs. Busch graduated from North Central in 1969, and Mr. Busch participated in the 1968 Saint-Brieuc program. They hope that award recipients will simply "pay it forward" someday and help future students to study abroad. | Varies | Students who are accepted into the program in January must complete the IUHPFL Financial Assistance process with their parents/guardians to be considered for this award. Instructions will be emailed upon acceptance. |
| French | The Jessica Feddersen Scholarship Fund Jessica attended Elkhart Central High School and is an alum of the IUHPFL 1997 Brest, France program. She wishes to help other Indiana students experience IUHPFL. Awards will be given to two or three recipients per year and will be applied directly toward their IUHPFL Program Fees. Preference will first be given to Elkhart County French students placed in the Brest program, but other applicants with financial need can be considered. | $1,000 - $1,500 | Students who are accepted into the program in January must complete the IUHPFL Financial Assistance process with their parents/guardians to be considered for this award. Instructions will be emailed upon acceptance. |
| German | Max Kade Fellowships Each year, 3-5 IUHPFL Graz applicants are selected to receive this award, based on academic merit. Funds are applied directly to recipients' IUHPFL Airfare. Every German student who is accepted into the Graz program is considered for this award; no additional application materials are required. | $1,200 | No application required |
| German | Indiana German Heritage Society Scholarship The Indiana German Heritage Society works to increase interest in German language and culture throughout the state and endeavors to provide scholarships to high school students participating in educational programs in German-speaking countries. Germanic heritage is not required to apply for and receive this award. Graz program applicants are encouraged to visit the IGHS website for more information. | $1,000 | February 18th, 2023 |
| Spanish, French & German | Dede Rippetoe-Reed Scholarship This award was established for students with financial need at Huntington North High School. Applicants should contact The Huntington County Community Foundation. Preference is given to Spanish students at Huntington North. Ms. Rippetoe-Reed is a former Spanish teacher at Huntington North, whose life was profoundly changed by her first study abroad trip to Mexico in high school. She wishes to help students at HNHS reap the benefits of IUHPFL. | Varies | Students who are accepted into the program in January must contact The Huntington County Community Foundation to be considered for this award. |
Past IUHPFL students have raised funds for the program in a variety of ways, from part-time jobs to individual and group fundraisers. Here are a few ideas we have heard students use to raise funds toward their participation in the program:
- Individual or group fundraisers (e.g., bake sale, car wash, yard sale, pancake breakfast)
- Sponsorships (i.e., asking local businesses or organizations to contribute toward or sponsor a student's experience)
- Local scholarships (e.g., some community foundations and local organizations such as Lion's Club, Kiwanis, or Rotary have travel scholarships for or other mechanisms to support students in their area)
- Online fundraising platforms (e.g., GoFundMe)