CARROLL COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2019 LILLY ENDOWMENT COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Dec. 12, 2018 -- One Carroll County student has been named a recipient of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship as the Carroll County Community Foundation 2019 Lilly Endowment Inc. Community Scholar.

Katie Kleckner, daughter of John and Susan Kleckner, 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.

Katie, a Delphi Community High School student, is president of the National Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). She is a Student Council member and has helped to plan prom and participates on the Scholarship Committee.  Katie is captain of the varsity Soccer Team and has helped to coach middle school recreational soccer.  As a member of the Entertainers Choir, she performs at nursing homes and at other community events. Through Carroll County Junior Leaders, Katie has organized a nine-county game night and a community dinner for veterans.  As a 4-H member, she mentors younger 4-H members and serves on the Carroll County Expansion and Review Committee.  Through a community Christmas program, Katie helps to fill baskets with donated food and distributes them to families in need.  She also participates in community service activities as a member of her church Youth Group.

She plans to attend Grace College to study education.

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; potential for success; 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 22 Carroll County students who applied for the scholarship.  Lilly Endowment Inc. established the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program in 1998.

“Each year it is inspiring to see the level of academic achievement attained by our Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship finalists,” said Dr. Greg Norman, chairman of the Carroll County Community Foundation Services Committee. “This scholarship gives the recipients the opportunity to attend the college or university of their choice. Indiana is fortunate to have a program that recognizes the accomplishments of the recipients and one that promotes the role of foundations in improving the quality of life in their communities."

The finalists’ names were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) for the selection of recipients.  ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 30 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 Victoria Bagwell, Carroll High School; Mary Beth Piotrowski, Carroll High School; and Kalena Shidler, Delphi Community High School.

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.