News

The Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) announces that three Johnson County students have been selected as the 2024 Johnson County Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.

From over 50 applicants, the following students were selected based on their impressive community service and academic dedication throughout their high school careers. Maya Alvey of Franklin Community High School, Camille Grove of Center Grove High School, and Meghna Pillai of Center Grove High School will receive the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship which 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 of undergraduate study on a full-time basis 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 scholars 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).

“Meeting the talented and personable young individuals who qualify for the Lilly Scholarship, assures me that our future will be in good hands.” said Scholarship Committee Chair Anne Young.

Kim Kasting, JCCF President & CEO stated, “Congratulations to our Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients as the deserving recipients of this full tuition scholarship. In recognizing their exceptional dedication, passion and potential, we are proud to be able to invest in their academic journey and look forward to witnessing the positive impact they will undoubtedly make on the world.”

This is the 27th year that JCCF has administered the the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship locally. Each year, the JCCF scholarship committee puts a great deal of time and thought into nominating these scholars. Applicants were evaluated based on volunteer community service, academic preparation and performance, leadership, and good character. Finalists were invited to the interview round, from which final nominees were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the final selection of the recipients.

Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-1999 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling in excess of $439 million. More than 5,000 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 Johnson County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1991 to serve donors, award grants and provide leadership to improve Johnson County forever. We are pleased to continually support our community through grants and scholarships.

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. 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.