TWO EARN LILLY ENDOWMENT COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS

December 13, 2023 -- The Community Foundation of Howard County is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Howard County – Kelsie Avery and Shelby Stepler. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.

“We truly appreciate the opportunity to get to know the exemplary students that apply for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Kelsie and Shelby both are a great representation of the quality and abilities of Howard County Students” said Joe Dunbar, 2023 Chair of the Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarship Committee. “This scholarship encourages students to remain in Indiana and contribute to the communities where they reside. The Endowment utilizes the Community Foundation to administer the program to emphasize the value of education and to support Indiana’s community foundations.”

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities.

Kelsie Avery

Shelby Stepler

About Kelsie Avery

Kelsie, daughter of Amy Trine and Tim Avery and granddaughter of Janie Trine, is a Northwestern High School student graduating with an Academic Honors diploma. She has been an FFA member since eighth grade and has been president of her chapter since tenth grade. Kelsie is also president of FFA District 5 this year. She is a ten-year 4-H member and has been secretary of her Junior Leaders club for four years. Kelsie participates in various community service activities. She is the captain of the softball team at Northwestern High School and the manager of the cross-country team. She also works part-time as a veterinary assistant. Kelsie plans to attend Purdue University and major in Animal Science.

About Shelby Stepler

Shelby, daughter of Kelly Stepler, is a Kokomo High School student graduating with an Academic Honors diploma. She is very active in marching band and indoor wind ensemble. Shelby is positioned as a leader in her school through service clubs such as Girls League, student council, and Leadership Academy, in which she mentors incoming freshmen. She also works part-time as a hostess throughout the school year. Shelby plans to attend Ball State University and major in nursing.

In determining Howard County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar(s) nominees, consideration was given to academic achievement, activities in and out of school, potential for success, financial need, if the student is a 1st generation college student and an interview by the Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarship Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to interact with the students of Howard County as they pursue higher education.” said Todd Moser, President of the Community Foundation of Howard County. “The thorough application process allows us to get a glimpse into the excellence of the graduating classes of 2024 in Howardy County. All of us at the Community Foundation extend our congratulations to Kelsie and Shelby!”

Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year since with grants totaling in excess of $505 million. More than 5,200 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception.

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 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 Todd Moser at 765-454-7298 or todd@cfhoward.org. The Community Foundation website can also be visited at www.cfhoward.org and contains information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.