Kathy Schnurr and Hannah Thompson
FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Hannah Thompson, a senior at Leo High School, received the Teacher-to-Teacher Scholarship for an outstanding lesson plan as part of the annual Teacher Cadet Day at the University of Saint Francis.
The Teacher-to-Teacher Scholarship is generously funded by Saint Francis alumna Kathy Schnurr, a dedicated educator and passionate advocate for the teaching profession. Thompson’s lesson plan stood out for its innovative approach and strong instructional design. Thompson attended the event as part of a group of students from East Allen Career Center.
A total of 142 high school students from teacher cadet programs and dual-credit early childhood education courses attended the Oct. 23 event at Saint Francis’ San Damiano Hall. The event focused on exploring the teaching profession through interactive, hands-on experience and connections with Saint Francis faculty and teacher candidates.
Students heard from an inspiring keynote speaker, Megan Johnson, the 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year. Johnson is a fourth-grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Plainfield, Indiana. Throughout the day, attendees participated in a variety of activities designed to give them a closer look at the college experience and the teaching profession. Students also competed in a Lesson Planning Challenge, putting their creativity and instructional planning skills to work for a chance to earn a scholarship.
Teachers who attended as chaperones also benefited from the event by earning Professional Growth Plan (PGP) points.
The University of Saint Francis is proud to provide opportunities that encourage high school students to explore education as a profession and to connect with the university community. Saint Francis looks forward to continuing this tradition and inspiring future educators for years to come. For more information about SF’s education programs, visit sf.edu.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Business and Leadership; Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 17 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 2,100 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.