CARROLL COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2018 LILLY ENDOWMENT COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Dec. 13, 2017 -- One Carroll County student has been named a recipient of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship as the Carroll County Community Foundation 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.

Grace Filbrun, daughter of Sally Hernandez and Jared Filbrun, will receive full tuition to an accredited public or private nonprofit Indiana university or college of her choice and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment.

Grace, a Carroll High School student, is a member of Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society, Key Club and Cougars for Christ.  She has been a member of the volleyball and softball teams for four years. Grace is captain of the volleyball team.  She is a volunteer for Brady’s H.O.P.E. and the Cougar Paw P.A.L.S. Mentor Program. Grace is a member of her church’s youth group and serves food at the Kokomo Rescue Mission. Through her church, she has participated in mission trips to a children’s home to help abused and neglected children.

She plans to attend Purdue University to study business.

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.

The Carroll County Community Foundation’s criteria include academic achievement; school, community and work activities; essay; and financial need. A committee of volunteers evaluated the applications and selected the four finalists who were interviewed by the Carroll County Community Foundation board.  There were 14 Carroll County students who applied for the scholarship.  For 20 years Lilly Endowment has funded the Community Scholars program.

“For many students, attending the college of their choice can be out of reach,” said Dr. Greg Norman, chairman of the Carroll County Community Foundation Services Committee. “The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship has given the recipients the opportunity to focus on their studies while attending college. This program has provided 4,340 scholarships in the State of Indiana and improved the life of many students.”

The finalists’ names were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) for the selection of recipients.  ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

The Foundation recognized the achievements of the other three finalists with $1,000 scholarships. They are Emily Hudson, from Delphi Community High School, daughter of Micah and Jennifer Hudson; Gracie Meyer, from Carroll High School, daughter of Timothy and Patty Meyer; and Kristina Powlen, from Delphi Community High School, daughter of Elyce Powlen and Bradley Powlen.

The Carroll County Community Foundation was established in 1997 as a not-for-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of local citizens.  Its purpose is to serve the interests of donors, to make grants and to act as a catalyst around issues of community importance in Carroll County.  For details about making a charitable gift or establishing a permanent endowment fund to benefit a charitable organization or interest in Carroll County, contact the Carroll County Community Foundation.