Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) administers the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide. ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 30 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state. The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment Inc. initiative to:
- help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana;
- increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities;
- encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.
Nearly 5,000 full-tuition scholarships have been awarded, and over $424 million in scholarship tuition has been provided since the program’s inception in 1998.
The Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County is tasked to select one student from Jefferson County. Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. then awards the scholarship each year on behalf of the Lilly Endowment.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides a 4-year, full-tuition scholarship to one selected graduating senior in Jefferson County, Indiana. The scholarship must be used to pursue a baccalaureate degree at any accredited public or private Indiana college or university. Recipients are also granted a $900 yearly stipend for books and required equipment.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is awarded based on a blind competitive process that is overseen by the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County.
To be eligible for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Jefferson County, applicants MUST:
- Reside in Jefferson County, Indiana
- Attend an accredited high school located within Jefferson County, Indiana (accredited by the State Board of Education or a national or regional accreditation agency recognized by the State Board of Education)
- Be in the top 10% of their graduating class (min. 3 per school)
- Be graduating from an accredited Indiana high school by June 30 of their graduating year
- Intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate degree at an accredited Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university
- Have two letters of recommendation – one from a teacher; one from a source outside of the applicant’s school system such as an employer, volunteer coordinator, church leader, 4-H leader, etc.
(This timeline is for the 2023-24 school year process)
- Sat. July 1 – Applications available at cfmjc.org on the Scholarship page
- Wed. August 16 (noon) – Deadline to submit applications (includes 2 letters of rec.)
- Fri. September 15 – Finalists are notified; essays and interviews are scheduled
- Sat. September 23 – Essays completed at the Community Foundation office
- Sun. October 1 – Interviews completed at the Community Foundation office
- December – 2023 winner announced
All finalists must agree to appear at the Community Foundation office to complete a timed essay and for an interview with the selection committee. Dates and times are provided to finalists at the time of their notification of continuing in the process.
These scores are highly encouraged. The committee often relies on these standardized scores to make decisions about academic credentials, so you could be at a disadvantage without them. You may also submit your PSAT score if you have not completed the preferred tests.
All successful applicants must adhere to the announced timeline. Late applicants, or those unable to participate in the essay or interview will not be considered for the award.
Contact Julie Wells at the Community Foundation – (812) 265-3327 or [email protected].
John Mitchell Adams - 2023 Jefferson County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar
John Mitchell Adams is the son of Troy and Kristy Adams of Madison. He attends Madison Consolidated High School, and is planning to pursue a degree in Sports Media and Broadcasting. He is currently undecided on his institution of study.
Among his many accomplishments, Mitchell is ranked at the top of his class. He is involved in band, plays the piano and organ for local churches, is a member of the National Honor Society, and attended Hoosier Boys’ State. He works at WORX/WXGO Radio and is a commentator for the World Racing Network.
Upon learning of the award, Mitchell commented, “I am so grateful to the Community Foundation, Lilly Endowment, and everyone involved in this process. This has opened up a lot of new opportunities for me that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. I could not be more honored to have been selected and to have been a part of a great group of finalists.”
Five Jefferson County students ranked in the top ten percent of their classes were selected as finalists for the 2023 scholarship. In addition to Adams, the remaining finalists were Jordan DeAtley (Southwestern), Brady Jackson (Shawe Memorial), Kaitlyn Rutledge (Madison Consolidated), and Elijah Turner (Shawe Memorial). These four finalists will each receive a $1,500 Community Foundation Scholar Award from the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County for their efforts and achievements.
Past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars
Year | Lilly Endowment Community Scholar |
---|---|
2023 | John Mitchell Adams |
2022 | Lina Leatherman |
2021 | Abigail Fulton |
2020 | Luka Chabukashvili |
2019 | Grace Brautigam |
2018 | Benjamin Hardin |
2017 | Catherine Fisher |
2016 | Seth Brawner |
2015 | Abigale Wynn |
2014 | Katie Browning |
2013 | Brittany Dicus |
2012 | Erin Saige Sentell |
2011 | Chelsea Stephan |
2010 | Candi Cain & Maggie Thomas |
2009 | Hilary Deuser & Jordan Fry |
2008 | Levi Hamner & Haley Owens |
2007 | Brittany Drossert & Shawna Finney |
2006 | Van Green & Kara Ricketts |
2005 | Kevin Brittain & Jordan Wilkerson |
2004 | Christopher Deaton, Brandon Kocher, & Ashly Trantham |
2003 | Ashley Bruther, Brian Consley, & Tiffani Kring |
2002 | J. Chase Crafton, Angela Hamilton, & Brianna Howard |
2001 | Jaman Ferguson, Lance Gassert, & Brooke Johnson |
2000 | Douglas Carpenter & Maureen Davis |
1999 | Sarah Brandenburg & Laura Edwards |
1998 | Gabriel Freeman |