One Franklin student and two Center Grove students have been selected as the 2024 Johnson County Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.
From over 50 applicants, these students were selected by the Johnson County Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee based on their impressive community service and academic dedication throughout their high school careers.
Winners of the scholarship are Maya Alvey of Franklin Community High School, and Camille Grove and Meghna Pillai of Center Grove High School. The three will receive the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, which provides for full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study at any eligible Indiana public or private college or university, according to JCCF.
Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects scholars with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), according to JCCF.
“Meeting the talented and personable young individuals who qualify for the Lilly Scholarship, assures me that our future will be in good hands,” Anne Young, scholarship committee chair, said in an announcement.
This is the 27th year that JCCF has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship locally. Each year, the JCCF scholarship committee puts a great deal of time and thought into nominating these scholars.
“Congratulations to our Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients as the deserving recipients of this full tuition scholarship. In recognizing their exceptional dedication, passion and potential, we are proud to be able to invest in their academic journey and look forward to witnessing the positive impact they will undoubtedly make on the world,” Kim Kasting, JCCF president and CEO said in a statement on the awards.
Applicants were evaluated based on volunteer community service, academic preparation and performance, leadership and good character. Finalists were invited to the interview round, from which final nominees were submitted to ICI for the final selection of the recipients, according to JCCF.
The Lilly Endowment created the Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-1999 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $439 million. More than 5,000 Indiana students have received the scholarship since the program’s inception.
