Sue & Lee Harman Scholarship Fund

“Oh kids, look!” is a phrase that has a special meaning for the Harman family. Sue had such a zest for life and was the navigator for most of the family travels. Lee recalled many trips in the car that provided their family with time together while seeing the best views of the world. He shared that they all can still hear Sue saying, “Oh kids, look!” as they experienced new adventures together.

Sue and Lee met in college when the school was hosting a Sadie Hawkins dance. “I never let Sue forget that she was the one who asked me out that very first time,” said Lee. The couple dated for over a year and were married for over 56 years before Sue unexpectedly passed in 2022. Together they had three children and five grandchildren.

Lee, a Warsaw native, attended Indiana Central College to study education. He received his master’s degree from St. Francis and his doctorate from Ball State University. He returned to Warsaw to teach, later becoming principal at Washington Elementary School. His career also led him to become the superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools. He then finished his career as a professor at Ball State University.

Sue was born and raised on a farm in Wabash, Indiana. Valedictorian of her high school class, she received her bachelor’s from Manchester University and her master’s in mathematics from Purdue University. Sue taught math for 30 years, with Algebra II being her favorite. She was well-loved by generations of Warsaw High School students.

While family was their number one focus, they also enjoyed reading, hiking, biking, watching sports, and traveling. “We made traveling and time to have fun together a priority,” Lee said. “You never know when your time will end so I encourage all to say yes to the trips.”

Lee shared that Sue was the most influential person in his life. “She was my cheerleader, and my biggest supporter. To know she always had my back, and that we had each other’s backs, was a gift. I spent quite a bit of time trying to measure up to her.”

“Kosciusko County has been our home. We loved the mid-western values and found this area not only a good place to rear a family, but also a good place to form lasting friendships and to sustain our faith,” he said.

The Sue & Lee Harman Scholarship Fund provides support for students who pursue a career in teaching math or science and/or public school administration. Lee’s goal with this scholarship is to continue supporting public education, and to use Sue’s example to encourage women to teach math or science.