Johnson County students named Lilly Scholars

Three Johnson County high school students received life-changing news as the fall semester of their senior year drew to a close; they can go to college for free.

John Gries of Greenwood Community High School, Emma Williams of Franklin Community High School and Adeline Jolley of Greenwood Christian Academy were all notified in late November they had received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships, which cover full tuition and fees for four years of undergraduate full-time study and up to $900 a year for required books and equipment. The three were chosen among 60 applicants in Johnson County, according to a news release from the Johnson County Community Foundation, which has administered the scholarship locally for 26 years.

Since Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation Lilly Endowment Inc. launched the scholarship program during the 1998-1999 school year, it’s distributed more than $486 million in tuition grants to more than 5,000 Hoosier students. The scholarships are eligible for any Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university, according to the release.

Students had to fill out lengthy applications, which included three essays and an interview for finalists. The essays asked students about an influential teacher they’ve had, the impact they’ve had on their communities and which career field they’re pursuing.

John Gries

For Gries, the scholarship could mean the chance to attend Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology without financial stress. The typical cost of freshman tuition and fees at the school without financial aid is more than $52,000, according to the college’s website.

He’s still awaiting a decision from the Terre Haute school, but he knows he wants to pursue a career in mechanical engineering, Gries said.

“What got me interested was my love for motorsports and generally cars,” he said. “Rose-Hulman also gives me the opportunity to double or triple major, so my plan is to double major in electrical and software engineering as well.”

Greenwood High School physics teacher Rich Perry had a major impact on furthering Gries’ love for engineering, he said.

“Mr. Perry didn’t steer me toward the career, I met him my sophomore year and I knew the field I wanted to pursue, but I confirmed that knowledge through his Physics II class, which was more like Intro to Engineering with a lot of project-based learning,” Gries said.

Alongside his academic pursuits, Gries finds time for volunteer work with The Historic Artcraft Theater and Johnson County Special Olympics. That work is inspired by his sister, he said.

“What got me involved in both of those things, my sister has special needs, and loves going to the Artcraft. I learned you can volunteer there starting at 13 and my parents took her there to get more experience and skills. She is also a participant in Special Olympics, so I can support here there,” he said.

The scholarship will help him follow his dream at a premier engineering college, Gries said.

“It’s really special to have this opportunity and I’m thankful for everyone who helped me with this process,” he said. “It makes my decision of what school to go to a lot easier financially. Rose-Hulman is a top engineering school for undergrads. I’ve been to camp there and I know my way around campus. I feel comfortable there.”

Adeline Jolley

As Jolley awaits a decision from Purdue University, she knows she won’t have to cover the cost of her biochemistry degree, which will help her prepare for the cost of medical school, Jolley said.

In medical school, Jolley plans to pursue neuroscience as a specialty, inspired by her great-grandmother’s battle with dementia.

“The biggest thing was watching my mom and grandmother while my great-grandmother had Alzheimer’s and how difficult it was for them to make the right decision, trying to give her freedom but keep her safe,” Jolley said. “If I could help someone in that position, I would love to. We were doing a career assessment and that was one of the careers I matched with. It sounded exactly like what I wanted to do.”

Jolley learned of her selection as a scholar Nov. 30, the same day Williams and Gries got the news.

“I didn’t really believe (I got the scholarship), it was surreal,” she said. “Medical students are known for going into massive debt to get their degrees because of the sheer amount of college necessary. To become a doctor is a huge financial burden. This gives me a chance to focus on academics rather than juggle multiple jobs while also being a student.”

While not in school, the Franklin resident gives back by serving as a ticket-taker at The Artcraft and distributing meals at Interchurch Food Pantry. She also does volunteer work through Hopewell Presbyterian Church, taking part in the annual summer corn roast which has raised money to give food to nurses who worked COVID units and to collaborate with KIC-IT to assist homeless youth in Johnson County, Jolley said.

She formed Greenwood Christian Academy’s Key Club during the 2021-22 sch0ol year, as she and fellow club members conducted a canned food drive and distributed shoes to people who need them through the Changing Footprints organization, she said.

Jolley wouldn’t be able to get to this point without her teachers, she said.

“It’s a huge honor, and getting this is just a testament to the teachers who have invested in me and spent time pushing me to be my best inside and outside the classroom,” Jolley said.

One of those teachers, Marsha Risi, taught her in pre-K, but has served as Jolley’s mentor long afterward, she said.

“She’s like a grandmother to me,” Jolley said. “She supported me and encouraged me to learn. I would go to her house and she would let me destroy her kitchen making weird foods, allowing me to be creative and try new things. She’s always been my inspiration.”

Emma Williams

Williams keeps an active presence at Franklin Community High School. She’s the president of the school’s student council andNational Honor Society chapter, treasurer for the Interact Club, and a member of the Franklin Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council, while also playing tennis and soccer.

“I try to better myself every single day and those around me, rather than something driving me. This scholarship didn’t drive me to do all those things, it was more me doing it out of my own free will,” Williams said.

While still undecided on a college, Williams said she wants to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon, inspired by her struggle with athletic injuries. After college, she wants to help people in the city she’s grown up in.

“I would like to come back to Franklin. I feel like people migrate north to get professional healthcare, and I want to own my own practice or guide a new practice here,” Williams said.

Giving back to the community has been a consistent part of her mantra, as she’s volunteered at the Interchurch Food Pantry and written cards to nursing home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Helping guide her into a more determined person was her tennis coach, Rusty Hughes, she said.

“He’s been my role model. He dedicates his entire life to tennis, he cares for his players and is so passionate about what he does that it inspired me to find my passion in life,” Williams said.

Now, with the help of a Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, pursuing her passion is that much easier, she said.

“I think it’s a lot more than the money. It’s an opportunity for me to go to the college of my choice,” Williams said. “The financial need is big, but being able to stay in Indiana allows me to come back and give back to the community rather than going out of state. It gives me more of an opportunity to spend money on medical school and do more things in college. It means a lot, it really does.”