2022 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Finalists Celebrated

On February 17, the Community Foundation of Morgan County (CFMC) hosted a dinner to celebrate the 2022 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship finalists from Morgan County.

The scholarship will provide full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Endowment funded Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects scholars with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities.

The 2022 Morgan County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application opened on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Seniors had until Friday, August 8 to submit their applications. Applicants were required to be a current Morgan County student or reside in the county and be graduating by June 30, 2022. We are thankful for the assistance of our high school staff and guidance counselors who helped share information about the scholarship opportunity and assist students with their applications.

This year, CFMC received a total of 67 applications representing seniors from most high schools, including Tabernacle Christian School. After a rigorous application and interview process, CFMC welcomed eight finalists for an in-person interview where they presented on what they are most passionate about and answered questions from the interview committee.

Our Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Finalist Dinner welcomed these eight finalists and their families for a celebratory dinner, graciously hosted at Brickhouse on Main in Martinsville. This year’s Lilly Endowment finalists are Paydin Baker – MSD Martinsville High School, Holli Reuter – MSD Martinsville High School, Madi Varnell – Tabernacle Christian School, Jenna Everett – Monrovia High School, Ava Ash – Monrovia High School, Reilly Gaunt – MSD Martinsville High School, Sydney Schloemer – Monrovia High School, and Emily Crouch – Monrovia High School.

Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-1999 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling in excess of $439 million. More than 5,000 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception.

The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to 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.

We are proud to celebrate these eight Morgan County finalists and announce that Emily Crouch and Sydney Schloemer, both from Monrovia High School are this year’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. This is the first year both Morgan County scholars are from Monrovia High School.

Congratulations to Monrovia High School’s staff and leadership and to our finalists and scholars!