COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY ANNOUNCES 2011 LILLY ENDOWMENT COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Colten Fowler, son of Bradley and the late Angelique Fowler and grandson of Robert and Esther Cheek, and Zoe Wolfe, daughter of Jon and Karen Wolfe, will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their choice and an $800 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

Colten, a Western High School student, is active in the school's FIRST Robotics Team, where he is the electrical lead. Colten is a member of the National Honor Society, Japanese Club, Spell Bowl Team, Math Academic Super Bowl, Student Council and the cross country team. He is the president and founder of Western's Chess Club and captain of the Science Academic Super Bowl. Colten has earned two Academic Excellence Awards. Through his involvement with the Robotics Team, he volunteers at AndyMark. Colten plans to study electrical engineering. He is undecided on where he plans to attend college.

When asked his reaction to being awarded the scholarship, Colten said, "I was mostly speechless. I never dreamed I'd actually receive this and it was a bit of a shock when I opened the letter. I can't express how honored I am."

Zoe, an Eastern High School student, participates in track and field and is captain of the soccer team. She is president of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council and the National Honor Society, and vice president of the Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) Club and the EHS Chamber Orchestra Ensemble. Zoe is a member of Science Club, Interact Club, and Spelling and Science Academic Bowls. She is a four-year volunteer at the Kokomo Humane Society. Zoe has earned many awards and honors: Academic All-State for track and soccer, Mid-Indiana Conference Academic Award for soccer, MIC First Team Soccer, Team Academic award for track and soccer, Outstanding Girl as a Hoosier Girls' State Delegate, National Merit Commended Scholar and Classroom Excellence Award for geometry, orientation to life and careers, advanced biology and advanced history. In addition, she placed first in the senior division of the 2011 Howard County Science Fair. Zoe plans to study biology at Earlham College.

Zoe was excited to learn she was a Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipient. "I felt both incredibly honored and shocked after reading the letter," she said. "My family and I could hardly believe the news, and there was lots of whooping and hugging! It truly felt like a dream."

This is the 14th year that the Lilly Endowment has funded the Community Scholars program. The Community Foundation of Howard County defined the criteria based on the endowment's goal to "raise the educational attainment in Indiana." The criteria used in the selection process include academic achievement, financial need, potential for success, preference for first-generation college attendees, and school, community and work activities. There were 79 Howard County students who applied for the scholarship. There were 142 scholarships awarded statewide. For the 2011 recipient group, the average cost per scholar is estimated at $106,000 for four years.

"These students exemplify the high standards that Lilly Endowment hopes to achieve through its community scholarship program," said Glenn Grundmann, chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarship Committee. "This program looks to the future of Indiana and helps promote the value of higher education in our state. In addition, it highlights the vital role foundations play in Indiana counties."

After the Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarship Committee selected six finalists, the 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 Community Foundation of Howard County recognized the achievement of the other four finalists with $1,000 scholarships. They include Mercadies Brown from Taylor High School, daughter of Melinda Malicoat Brown and Roger Brown; Jami Burkholder from Eastern High School, daughter of Kenny and Kris Burkholder; Ryan Horner from Eastern High School, son of Jennifer Eshelman and Brian Horner; and Jacob Weeks from Taylor High School, son of Brian and Christine Weeks.

The Community Foundation of Howard County was formed as a not-for-profit public charity in March 1991. For more information about the Foundation, contact Hilda Burns at 765-454-7298 and hilda@cfhoward.org. The Web site www.cfhoward.org contains information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.