Once again this year, the annual awards day at Ely Memorial High School brings cause for both celebration and concern.
The celebration part is easy. As always, this community can be proud of another group of high school seniors.
This year’s group of 38 has achieved in the classroom, in activities and athletics and collectively they walked away with about $150,000 in scholarship funds. Over 90 scholarships were given out on Wednesday.
Yet there remains concern as well - both given the size of the group and the fact that many have chosen to leave the high school early and take some or all of their classes at Vermilion Community College.
While the post secondary enrollment option program is great for students and families, it comes with a steep cost to the local school district.
And from all indications, there’s no relief in sight. At least as of yet, state officials have shown no indication they’ll grant any relief to school districts that are hemorrhaging students to area colleges, and in Ely it appears the PSEO trend is on the rise. Well over half of Ely’s 85 juniors and seniors will go to Vermilion in 202627, according to current projections.
When a high school student opts to take an online physical education class at Vermilion rather than an in-person class at the high school, there’s a real cost.
Multiply that by the students who are choosing English, math, history or other courses at the college and there’s a very, very big reason that our school district is in the financial state that it’s in.
Which brings us back to scholarship day. For a small community such as Ely, the amount of money being awarded on the auditorium state each year is remarkable and impressive, and there’s no doubt that each year graduating seniors benefit from the generosity of those devoted to education and with a fondness for Ely.
Yet we can’t help but think that there are even more ways to benefit Ely’s students - beyond college scholarships and helping more than a few students.
For a third straight year, the district has made budget reductions that not only have an impact on staff, but on the offerings the district provides.
The Ely Educational Foundation has been called on more and more to help out, and in addition to funding some “extras” the group has come to the aid of the district with contributions that have directly funded school operations.
For the 2026-27 school year, the EEF has come to the rescue with a gift of about $215,000 to directly fund school operations.
Wouldn’t it be great if the EEF were able to provide an annual source of revenue to the district? A sizable amount that the district could count on every year?
Already in place to oversee a slew of scholarship programs, the EEF is a fitting arm to help the district continue its course and remain afloat.
As graduating classes continue to shrink and are a fraction of what they once were, there’s an argument to be made that Ely is already wellstocked when it comes to scholarships.
The existence of the EEF makes it easier to contribute funds, whether one-time or annual donations, or a gift upon one’s passing that can truly last a lifetime.
That’s something to consider moving forward, and a robust EEF aided by Ely graduates, their families, or those who simply love Ely and its schools, can be a significant player in making sure quality education and programming continues well into the future.
