27 Apr 2026 Cole Porter Scholarship Winners Announced
As the birthplace of renowned musician Cole Porter, Miami County continues to celebrate his legacy through a long-established scholarship awarded to local students. The Cole Porter Scholarship was established in 1967 in memory of Cole Porter and his mother, Kate Cole Porter. Funding for the scholarship has been generously provided by Cole’s cousins: the late Jules and Josephine Cole, the late James O. and Alice F. Cole, and the late Joey Cole and Sidney J. Kubesch.
The scholarship is awarded annually to graduating seniors from Miami County who plan to major in the fine arts, including music, visual arts, performing arts, or teaching in any of these fields.
Two scholarships are awarded each year and distributed over four years. The top award is $15,000, and a second award of $10,000 is also given. Each scholarship is divided into four annual payments to assist with tuition and related expenses.
In 2026, six students applied from Peru, North Miami, and Maconaquah High Schools, as well as homeschool programs. Recipients were selected following auditions held on Wednesday, April 22.
The recipient of the $15,000 scholarship is Vivian Freije, a homeschooled student who plans to attend the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music to study Violin Performance.
The recipient of the $10,000 scholarship is Jayke Merritt of Maconaquah High School, who plans to attend Ball State University to study Theatre Education.
An alternate is selected each year in the event a recipient is unable to continue their studies in the fine arts. The 2026 alternate is Emma Sturch of Peru High School, who plans to attend Indiana University Kokomo to study Art Education.
The goal of the Cole Porter Scholarship is to encourage and support students pursuing performance or teaching careers in music, art, and drama. Recipients are selected not only for their talent, but also for their potential to be strong representatives of an award bearing the name of Cole Porter.
$10,000 Scholarship Recipient Jayke Merritt, Alternate Emma Sturch, $15,000 Scholarship Recipient Vivian Freije, and Cole Porter Family Representative Polly Dobbs