Some summer jobs pay the bills. Others change the direction of a life.

For Daniel Hartz of Evansville, Indiana, a summer at Camp Carson in Princeton did the second thing. Now the Community Foundation of Southwest Indiana is proud to name Daniel the recipient of the 2026 Mark Kniese Scholarship.

A Scholarship Built on One Counselor’s Legacy

August Neal established the Mark Kniese Scholarship in memory of Mark Kniese, a former counselor at Camp Carson. Each year, the scholarship goes to a camp counselor who demonstrates genuine dedication to campers and embodies the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

2026 marks the 24th year of the scholarship, with awards totaling more than $71,000.

That is what a permanent fund makes possible. One person’s passion for a place, carried forward year after year, reaching students who never met him.

A Summer Job That Shaped a Future

Daniel is enrolled at the University of Southern Indiana, where he is pursuing a double major in Elementary Education and Special Education. He credits camp with shaping the teacher he is becoming. “It started as a summer job, but it quickly became a place where I discovered the kind of person I want to be.”

The work asked something of him every day. “Every day challenged me to be patient, adaptable, and present for the kids who depended on me,” Daniel said.

It also changed what he thought leadership meant. “I learned that being a leader isn’t about having all the answers,” he said. “It’s about showing up consistently, listening, encouraging others, and creating an environment where everyone feels like they belong.”

Carrying the Impact Forward

Receiving a scholarship that bears Mark Kniese’s name is not lost on Daniel.

“Knowing that I was selected for a scholarship that carries Mark Kniese’s name makes me proud to be part of a community that values service, leadership, and making a difference in the lives of young people,” he said. “Mark’s commitment to camp shows that one person’s passion can continue impacting others long after they’re gone.”

He plans to bring the same values into his own classroom. “Camp Carson has given me a strong foundation built on compassion, patience, and service,” Daniel said. “Those are values I will carry with me for the rest of my life, whether I’m at camp or in my own classroom.”

Why Your Gift Matters

Twenty-four years ago, one person made a decision. Because of it, a student he never met will soon walk into a classroom of his own, ready to shape the next generation.

That is what giving through the Community Foundation does. Your gift is invested, protected, and put to work year after year, so it keeps working for generations to come.

If you’d like to create a legacy of impact, our team will help you find an approach that meets your goals and serves your community.