Christine and Howard Berliner Science Scholarship Fund

Year Founded
2007

Purpose of Fund
The primary purpose of the Fund shall be to provide educational financial support to a student(s), graduating from Cloverdale High School, intending to pursue a two or four year degree in science. The Board of Directors of the Putnam County Community Foundation has final approval of all scholarship nominees. It is understood that scholarship recipients may not be members or family members of Fund donors, Foundation staff, advisory committees, or the Board of Directors.

History of Fund
Howard and Christine have lived in Cloverdale since August of 2000. They previously lived in Martinsville, Indiana, where they both taught in the Martinsville school system.

Christine, who grew up in Chicago, received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and a Master's degree and administrative certification from Butler University. She taught for 30 years, including teaching at the Indiana School for the Deaf and at Smith Elementary and West Middle School in Martinsville, Indiana. She has taught deaf and hearing impaired students, mildly mentally handicapped students, sixth and seventh grade English and reading, and also served as assistant principal at West Middle School prior to retirement in 2000.

Howard, who is a native of Cincinnati, received a Batchelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Cincinnati, a Master's degree in Geology from Indiana University, and teaching certification from Butler University. He taught chemistry and physics at Center Grove High School, earth science at both Avon High School and Martinsville High School, and seventh grade science at Martinsville West Middle School. He taught a total of fifteen years before retiring to work full-time in his mineral business.

Christine and Howard are owners of Dino-Stor Storage in Greencastle, and Stonecraft Minerals, a wholesale mail-order mineral business supplying caves, gift shops, and mineral collectors throughout the world.

Christine and Howard have two grown daughters, one in Orlando, Florida, and one in Rockville, Indiana. They have five grandchildren, ranging in age from three to sixteen.

Both Christine and Howard believe strongly in the value of higher education. Recognizing the need for highly skilled scientists in the future, and knowing the financial burden that a college education can carry, they decided to establish two scholarships for graduating Cloverdale High School seniors who intend to go to college to pursue a science career.