Mr. Ben Eade, teacher and mentor from 1919-1962.

The DeKalb County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the Ben C. Eade Scholarship Fund. The Fund will award two scholarships annually to graduating seniors from Sandwich High School in Sandwich, IL.

The scholarship was created in memory of Ben Cooper Eade who was born in Elizabeth, IL to Joseph and Jerusa Eade in 1893. He was the fourth of seven children and attended a one room school house with his siblings. After high school he attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a degree in agriculture in 1917.

In 1919, Eade married Vera Kegel and was also hired by Sandwich High School as the agriculture teacher. A portion of his salary was funded by a grant from the United States Agriculture Department. As part of this grant, Eade was required to educate young farmers on the most modern and effective farming methods. Eade began by visiting local farmers and recruiting their sons for his agriculture class which was originally held in the basement of the Woodward Elementary School because the high school (now Herman E. Dummer Elementary School) was still under construction.

Eade taught agriculture and biology in Sandwich until 1962 and was known for his hands-on approach to teaching. He inspired many students to further their education by pursuing secondary degrees after high school. Eade retired in 1962 to care for his ailing wife. The Eades had two children, Dean and Ruth (Hartman), as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom have attended Sandwich Schools.

Fund representatives Tom Dunlop and Harry Hartman with the first year scholarship award recipients from Sandwich High School.

Due to the inspiration Eade gave his students to excel in various trade-school based careers, the Fund will distribute two scholarships. One of the scholarships will be awarded to a student attending a 2-year trade school, junior college, business school, nursing program, or similar educational institution to acquire special skills. The second scholarship will be awarded to a student attending an accredited four-year college or university.

Donations to any Fund at the Community Foundation, including the Ben C. Eade Scholarship Fund, can be made online at dekalbccf.org/donate, or by mail to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178. For questions or additional information on how to start your own Fund at the Community Foundation, please contact Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.