This month, we pause to honor the legacy of Ronald “Ron” Bella, a lifelong South Bend resident and a driving force behind the South Bend Alumni Association and its predecessor the South Bend School Boosters Club. Ron’s tireless work helped create opportunities for students—raising funds for scholarships, extracurricular activities, and the South Bend Hall of Fame—leaving a lasting mark on our schools and community.

We also recognize fellow SBAA founders Louis Baker and Joe Fragomeni, as well as the early leaders of the South Bend Education Foundation—Dr. Virginia Calvin, Dr. James Wilson, Mendel Piser, and Margaret King—whose vision and dedication have enriched the educational experiences of countless students.

With our recent merger, we are grateful for their contributions and committed to carrying forward their legacy: supporting every student, strengthening every school, and building a brighter future for South Bend.

With gratitude and hope,

Kris Arizmendi Choinacky,

Executive Director

EDISON STUDENTS PROVIDE ART FOR DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELELBRATION

This year’s Día de los Muertos celebration brought the South Bend community together for a vibrant, free concert honoring tradition, culture, and remembrance. The South Bend Education Alliance was proud to support student creativity by providing materials for the beautiful masks created by Edison K–8 students, who spent October exploring the meaning and artistry behind Día de los Muertos. Their colorful work decorated the stage, adding a powerful and personal touch to the event.

Now in its fourth year, this community celebration was made possible through a partnership among the Equity and Arts Program of Venues Parks & Arts, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, La Casa de Amistad, and the South Bend Community School Corporation—an inspiring example of what collaboration can bring to our city.

ADAMS BOYS SOCCER HAS BEST

POST-SEASON RUN IN 26 YEARS

The Adams Eagles capped an outstanding season with a trip to the semistate round, falling just short to Harrison in a hard-fought 1–0 match. This year marked a major milestone for the program, as the Eagles secured their first regional title since 1999. Their defensive strength was remarkable—allowing just 10 goals all season and only two goals across their final 14 games.

The team will graduate a talented senior class of ten, including standout goalkeeper Garcilazo, top scorers Asim Elhag (20 goals) and Diego Cruz (15 goals), and defensive leader Yoni Omer-Springs. They are joined by seniors Leonel Vega, Frank Flores, Pedro (Alonso) Trana, Robin Gecaj, Josue Ojeda, and Emrah Ejup. Under the leadership of head coach Cristian Mihut, this group helped elevate Adams soccer to new heights.

The SBEA was proud to support the entire Adams Soccer Program with new warmups through our Apparel Grant program, and we celebrate the talent and commitment these students bring to our community.

TEACHER WISHLIST OPENS TO HUGE RESPONSE

The SBEA Teacher Wishlist officially launched in November for the 2025-2026 school year—and the response was overwhelming! In just two weeks, teachers submitted $17,000 in funding requests. This year’s wishlist items reflect teachers’ creativity and dedication, ranging from basic supplies like pencils and markers to books, hands-on science materials, alternative seating, sensory supports, educational games, and other tools that make learning engaging and meaningful.

Thanks to community support, South Bend teachers can bring their creative ideas to life and provide students with enriched, engaging learning experiences every day.

We are grateful to share that the South Bend Education Alliance has received generous support from two corporate partners this fall. The AEP Foundation has awarded more than $29,000 in grants to strengthen the AEP Foundation Elementary Field Trip Fund and expand resources available through our Teacher Store & Wishlists. We also extend our sincere thanks to Comcast, whose $7,500 contribution will support the Teacher Store & Wishlists along with our Co-Ex Grants.

Together, these investments help ensure students and teachers across the SBCSC have greater access to meaningful experiences, essential supplies, and opportunities that enrich learning every day. We remain deeply grateful for all of our supporters and community partners who make this work possible.

We’re excited to share that the South Bend Education Alliance is hiring a full-time Director of Operations. This role will help strengthen our programs, support our schools more effectively, and advance our mission of serving students and teachers across the SBCSC. Full position details and application information are available on our website.

GIVE BACK TO OUR SCHOOLS!

Donations play a vital role in our the work of the SBEA, funding

programs for students and teachers in the

South Bend Community School Corporation. 

CONNECT WITH ALUMNI