The 2027 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Knox County through the Knox Community Foundation. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide, including one in Knox County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs of required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study, leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs 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. The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Knox County through the Knox County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, is open to all Indiana residents who: Graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2026 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2026; Intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana; and Meet the criteria specific to their local community foundation. Visit the Knox County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship page for complete information regarding the Knox County application criteria. Applications must be completed and submitted by Friday, August 14, to be considered. Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: academic performance, community service and volunteer activities, personal statement of goals, work experience, and school activities. Three finalists will be nominated by the Knox Community Foundation, and their names will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipients. The scholarship recipient will be notified in December. Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million. More than 5,400 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of LECSP 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 Southwest Indiana is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 30th year in Knox County. “We encourage all eligible high school seniors to apply. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is a life-changing opportunity, and we’re here to support students through every step of the process,” said Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer.

The Knox County Community Foundation distributed more than $42,000 to 18 local Knox County students from its Community Scholarship Program. These scholarships are funded by generous donors who have established a scholarship fund with the Knox County Community Foundation. This year’s scholarship breakfast, held at The Pantheon to celebrate and recognize these exceptional students, was attended by the fund founders, recipients, and parents. In addition to announcing the recipients, the Community Impact Director, Laura Hazelman, reflected on how important the community is in stewarding education in Knox County. “We are grateful to the fund founders and donors who make these scholarships possible through the Knox County Community Foundation. Their support creates lasting opportunities for local students. Each year, a dedicated committee of board members and community volunteers thoughtfully reviews applications, a challenging task in a community filled with so many outstanding young people,” said Hazelman. Congratulations to the Community Scholarship Program recipients! Heather Bird Memorial Scholarship - Jennifer Noel James (Jim) Jenks Memorial Scholarship - Natalee Rickard Kathleen W. Rinsch Memorial Educational Scholarship - Leslie Kaetzel Lester M. Baughman Scholarship - Kayleigh McKinney McKinley Avenue Presbyterian Church Student Scholarship - Natalee Rickard Persis McClure Hurst Memorial Scholarship - Leslie Kaetzel Robert W. Nordhorn Memorial Scholarship - Adelynn Lange Roger Montgomery, M.D. Memorial Scholarship - Hayden Limbach Schott North America-Vincennes Scholarship - Brynna Collins Southwest Indiana Purdue Scholarship - Brenden Cornelius Velma and Herbert Pepmeier Scholarship - Kameryn Bowers Zack Arnold Memorial Scholarship - Natalee Rickard Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program Jaclyn Campbell - Recipient Anna Stevenson - First Alternate Kassandra Small - Second Alternate Alli Hayden - Finalist Adelynn Lange - Finalist Brody Page - Finalist Emily Dreiman - Finalist Lucas Doggett - Finalist Madelaine Mitchell - Finalist Natalee Rickard - Finalist