COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY ANNOUNCES LILLY ENDOWMENT COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

April 5, 2010 — Two Howard County students have been named recipients of four-year, full-tuition scholarships as the Community Foundation of Howard County 2010 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.

Shelby Beasley, daughter of Charles and Pamela Beasley, and Stephen Chou, son of Thomas and Nellie Chou, will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their choice and an $800 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

Shelby Beasley, an Eastern High School student, is a member of the school's orchestra and is the first chair violinist, Academic Bowl Team where she is captain, Spanish Club, Spell Bowl, Youth Group and Robotics Team. Shelby has earned many academic recognitions and awards for her work. She is a member of the Eastern Academic Hall of Fame, an academic honors student and a Trig Star winner. Shelby plans to study psychology at Indiana Wesleyan.

When asked her reaction to winning the scholarship Shelby said, "I was elated. The first words out of my mouth were praise God. I ran down the stairs and hugged my mom and said that college was paid for."

Stephen Chou, a Northwestern High School student, is a member of Drama Club, concert choir, Student Council, National Honor Society, Science Club and the International Thespian Society. Stephen is active in sports and has participated on the wrestling, track, tennis, swimming and diving teams. His academic accomplishments include the Indiana Junior Academy of Science Competition, Academic Competition and the Spell Bowl where he is the captain. While participating in Boy Scouts, he achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. Stephen has earned many honors and awards that include All-State Honor Choir, Kokomo-Howard County Public Library Web site Artists' Contest, Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award, Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence in Mathematics, President’s Education Awards Program, Air Force Award for an Outstanding Science Fair Project and was named grand champion in the Howard County 4-H Creative Writing Level 3 competition. Stephen plans to study chemistry and mathematics at Taylor University.

Stephen was excited to learn that he was selected to receive the Lilly Scholarship. "When I opened the envelope and saw my name, I was speechless and almost dropped the letter," he said. "Then I ran through the house screaming, but no one else was home."

This is the thirteenth year that the Endowment has funded the Lilly Endowment Community Scholars program for outstanding students in Indiana. The Community Foundation of Howard County defined the criteria based on the Endowment's stated goal to "raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana." The criteria used in the selection process included: academic achievement, financial need, potential for success, preference for first-generation college attendees, school, community and work activities. There were 69 Howard County students who applied for the scholarship.

After the Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarship Committee narrowed the field to seven nominees, the finalists' names were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana Inc. (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.

Because each student is exceptional, the Community Foundation of Howard County recognizes the outstanding achievements of the other five finalists with $1,000 scholarships. They include: Madeline Cassidy, daughter of Steve and Laura Cassidy; Mitchel Hill, son of Gregory and Vicki Hill; Amanda McKinney, daughter of David and Angela McKinney; Olivia Ortmann, daughter of DelRoy and Donna Ortmann; and Casey Shipley, daughter of Tim Shipley and Leslie Carpenter.

"The Lilly Endowment is committed to helping Indiana residents further their education through the generosity of its community scholarship program," said Glenn Grundmann, Scholarship Chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County. "The program is designed to raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana and increase awareness of the potential of Indiana's community foundations to improve the quality of life of the state's residents. This is a wonderful opportunity for the students, Indiana and the Community Foundation of Howard County to have a positive influence on the future."

The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor's degree. There were 216 scholarships awarded statewide.

The Community Foundation of Howard County 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 Ron Harper or Hilda Burns at 454-7298 or ron@cfhoward.org or hilda@cfhoward.org. The Web site www.cfhoward.org contains information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.