COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY ANNOUNCES 2014 LILLY ENDOWMENT COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

March 26, 2014 —Two Howard County students have been named recipients of four-year, full-tuition scholarships as the Community Foundation of Howard County 2014 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.

Joowon Lee, son of Kuyul and Sukhee Lee, and Graham Ortmann, son of DelRoy and Donna Ortmann, will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

Joowon, a Western High School student, is a member of the National Honor Society, marching band, Future Christian Athletes, Western Union, Gray T-Shirt Club, Academic Super Bowl, Mayor's Youth Council, and is the vice president of the Japanese Club. He is treasurer of the senior class, president of his Church Youth Club and captain of the Spelling Bowl. Joowon also volunteers at a local hospital, where he has volunteered more than 100 hours. His awards include an Academic Award his sophomore and junior years and State Academic Super Bowl. 

Joowon plans to attend Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis to study biology.

Graham, a Northwestern High School student, is the captain of the basketball and soccer teams, leader of the Catalyst Youth Group and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and president of the National Honor Society. He is a member of the Student Council, Discipleship Group, Social Studies Academic Team, Tutoring Club, Rotary Interact Club and Math Academic Team. Graham is a Sunday school assistant at his church. His awards and honors include a Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, Soccer Academic All-Conference, Spanish Student of the Year, Soccer All-State Academic Player, Academic 'N,' Most Outstanding Math Student, Soccer Second Team All-Conference, President's Education Award and Most Outstanding English Student.

Graham plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University to study finance.

This is the seventeenth 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 33 Howard County students who applied for the scholarship. 

"Education is vital to the development of our youth and we are fortunate to have Lilly Endowment’s commitment to increasing educational attainment through this program," said Glenn Grundmann, chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarship Committee. "Howard County students are outstanding and this is an excellent way to recognize their academic ability and contributions to the community. The program also highlights the role of community foundations and how they help to produce a positive change in the communities they serve."

After the Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarship Committee selected the five 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 accomplishments of the other three finalists with $1,000 scholarships. They include Austin Elliott from Western High School, son of James and Vicki Elliott; Marie Holkenbrink from Eastern High School, daughter of Henry and Patricia Holkenbrink; and Joel Van Auken from Western High School; son of Jerry and Robin Van Auken.

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