2008 Lilly Scholars Announced

Ashley Gilbert of Hamilton High School and Kara Bischak of Angola High School are this year’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. As such, they each will receive a four-year, full tuition scholarship to the Indiana college or university of their choice, along with an annual stipend of $800 for books and required equipment.

Gilbert, who plans to attend Valparaiso University is the daughter of Dennis Gilbert and Peggy Buell. Her preferred field of study is English/Pre-Law. Bischak, daughter of Robert & Denise Bischak, is considering both DePaw and St. Mary’s, and will major in English/Literature.

“The Community Foundation staff and volunteers work for months to prepare for this award” says SCCF Scholarship Associate Lisa Caudill. “We received 33 applications, and narrowed it down to seven finalists. We then made our recommendation for the two top finishers to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), who give us the final approval on our selections. It is a long, difficult and emotional time for everyone involved; I hope the public understands the diligence that our volunteers undergo.”

The program began in 1998 as 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. As Lilly Scholars, Gilbert and Bischak will join 214 others, from all 92 counties in becoming the tenth graduating class to receive such an honor.

Historically, Steuben County has awarded three non-traditional scholars, 12 Angola Scholars, five Fremont Scholars, four Hamilton Scholars, and one Prairie Heights Scholar. Congratulations!

Scholarships are a donor's way of offering continuing education opportunities for students- providing the keys to the future. Individuals and organizations who place a high value on education have contacted the Foundation to establish permanent funds that annually produce the revenue needed for granting to deserving students. For those going on to school in the 2006-2007 school year, SCCF awarded $49,900.

Most people think of scholarship recipients as straight-A students; rewarding academic ability makes sense. Yet average kids often work just as hard and show determination to learn. They too dream of college and careers, and someday B and C students will fill the majority of important roles in our society. History has shown that many so-so high school students had outstanding successes in life (for example, David Letterman).

As a donor, you can become as involved in the process as you choose to be- name the scholarship, help decide the selection criteria, serve on the committee that names the recipient, and even present the award at the student's school.

Some Things to Know:

• A permanent scholarship fund established at the Community Foundation will be carried out for generations to come (permanence).
• When creating a scholarship fund, donors have a great deal of flexibility in shaping the scholarship. You may decide how often the scholarship is awarded, a school the student comes from or must attend, the type of study or degree to be pursued, academic standing, status of graduate (traditional or non-traditional), participation in a specific course or activity (drama, math, 4-H), and much more (flexibility).
• By establishing a scholarship at the Community Foundation, you have essentially hired a permanent, experienced staff to administer your scholarship (accountability).
• In accordance with the law, a scholarship program must benefit a broad pool of applicants, and the selection process must not be discriminatory.
• SCCF honors each scholarship recipient with an award certificate, a bookmark that tells the story of the donor who made the gift possible, and an opportunity to attend the award banquet where the recipient can meet the donor.