SCCF Announces 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar Finalists
Six 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar finalists have been selected by the Steuben County Community Foundation (SCCF). After reviewing twenty-one highly competitive applications from the schools serving Steuben County, the committee named six finalists to continue with the three-step selection process. The 2025 Steuben County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar will receive a full tuition scholarship and a $900 annual book stipend to attend an Indiana college or university.
Caleb McMullen, Ashland Benner, Delaney Bock, Tressa Howey, Harlee Henney, and Jedidiah Mortorff met on September 30th for phase two of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application process, which included an interview success workshop and an impromptu essay. The final step for these young community leaders consists of an interview with the selection committee and a presentation of their personal portfolio.
Hamilton Jr-Sr High School senior, Caleb McMullen intends to study Computer Science. Fremont High School senior, Ashland Benner, plans to attend Butler University to study Statistics. Fremont High School senior, Delaney Bock plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University to study Elementary Education. Fremont High School senior, Tressa Howey plans to attend Purdue University to pursue Aerospace Engineering. Angola High School senior, Harlee Henney, plans to attend Purdue University to study Nursing. Angola High School senior, Jedidiah Mortorff plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University to dual major in Global Ministry and Business Administration.
“The Foundation is honored to participate in the 28th year of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program,” said Lisa Biers, Vice President of Programs at the Steuben County Community Foundation. “All six finalists have demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom.”
The Steuben County Lilly Scholar recipient will be selected by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), the state-wide administrator of the program, and announced in mid-December. SCCF awards a $2,500 Circle of Friends scholarship to the other five finalists.
The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to:
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.
There are 147 scholarships awarded statewide; the number awarded in each county is based on population. Steuben County is eligible to nominate one student for this award.
Standing, from left: Delaney Bock, Harlee Henney, & Tressa Howey. Seated, from left: Ashland Benner, Caleb McMullen, & Jedidiah Mortorff.
The Steuben County Community Foundation, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses to support the causes they are passionate about through our philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership. With $55 million in assets, our mission is to bridge the gap between those who care and the needs of our community. We strive to enhance the quality of life by evaluating, supporting, and coordinating philanthropic giving and endowment building. Our vision is to lead the community in these efforts. To learn more about our work, please visit our website at www.steubenfoundation.org.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic 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. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, 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 Inc. 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.