From the rocky soil of Mound City, South Dakota to the rolling hills of Salamanca, New York, Ann Liederbach placed a high value on education.

Born in 1904 in Mound City, South Dakota, Anna Grenz Liederbach exemplified resilience and creativity throughout her life. Her early years on farmland in South Dakota, and later in Beulah, North Dakota, instilled a strong work ethic and an appreciation for beauty in everyday life.

An accomplished student, she graduated from Dickinson State Normal School in 1927 and began her teaching career in Dickinson, North Dakota before moving to New York State.

In July of 1933, she married Chester Liederbach, and together they raised two children, Hanford and Marilee.

Dedicated to education, Ann furthered her own studies at the State University of New York at Geneseo, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education. She later went on to teach kindergarten in Salamanca, where she was highly regarded for her ability to create a warm, nurturing and imaginative environment for her students.

Following her retirement in 1974 from the Salamanca City School District System, Ann remained an active and vibrant member of the community until her passing in 1980. Her artistic talents enriched both her classroom and her home, while her love for reading and crocheting reflected her creative spirit.

The Ann Liederbach Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation will support annual scholarship awards for students from Salamanca High School who are intending to or are currently pursuing a degree in elementary education.

Preference will be for a student already enrolled in a bachelor- or graduate-level college program (sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student), but graduating seniors of Salamanca High School are also eligible to apply. Preference in all cases would be for a student pursuing a degree in elementary education. Second preference would be for a student pursuing a degree in secondary education.

Applicants should demonstrate upstanding leadership and character as well as a strong academic performance (2.5 or better GPA). Applicants should also demonstrate financial need. Should no applicant meet the first two preferences, the final preference would be for a graduate of Salamanca who meets the character and academic-based criteria and demonstrates financial need. Recipients may apply each year.

The first award will be made in 2025. Applicants can apply for this scholarship and all other CRCF-managed scholarships beginning on January 31 at cattfoundation.org/apply-for-scholarships.

“This scholarship is a great way to honor Ann’s memory, by positively impacting students in the school district in which she spent many years of her professional career,” said Kirk Windus, CRCF executive director. “Her legacy as an educator and role model will endure through this scholarship.”

Donations can be made to the Ann Liederbach Memorial Scholarship Fund at CRCF, 301 North Union St., or online at cattfoundation.org.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email foundation@cattfoundation.org, or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).