(Batesville, IN) — Five Ripley County high school seniors have been named finalists for the 2027 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, which covers four years of college tuition.
The Ripley County Community Foundation announced the finalists Wednesday after narrowing a field of 27 applicants through an anonymous selection process.
The finalists are Avery Austin of Oldenburg Academy, Viktor Aylor, Grace Gutzwiller and Braydin Hughes of Batesville High School, and Gracelyn Wise of South Ripley High School.
A committee representing five public school corporations serving Ripley County evaluated applicants based on academic performance, citizenship, leadership, personal attitude, community involvement, school activities and work experience.
“The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is an extraordinary opportunity for students in Ripley County, and we are honored to play a role in the selection process,” said Brady Westerfeld, grants and scholarships manager for the foundation. “One of the most rewarding parts of managing scholarships is recognizing the hard work students have already put into their education while opening the door to future academic possibilities.”
Meet the finalists
Avery Austin, daughter of Trent and Carla Austin, is a senior at Oldenburg Academy. She participates in National Honor Society, Student Council, swimming and soccer, and volunteers with the Mayor’s Youth Council and Ripley Youth Outreach.
During her senior year, Austin added golf and theater to her activities. She enjoys visiting parks, painting and origami, and plans to study architectural design.
Viktor Aylor, son of Mitch and Gerlinde Aylor, is a Batesville High School senior involved in Academic Team, Robotics and Archery.
His interest in automotive mechanics led to a part-time job at a local garage, while his curiosity about technology has prompted him to explore information technology. He has also volunteered at Versailles State Park and plans to pursue a degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field.
Grace Gutzwiller, daughter of Tony and Amy Gutzwiller, is a Batesville High School senior who has participated in Student Council, tennis and soccer.
Outside school, she enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, and caring for children. Gutzwiller plans to major in political science before attending law school.
Braydin Hughes, son of Jeremy and April Hughes, is a Batesville High School senior involved in basketball, the Kiwanis Student Leadership Academy and National Honor Society while also working part time.
Hughes enjoys caring for animals and plans to pursue a career in medicine, potentially specializing in anesthesiology or surgery.
Gracelyn Wise, daughter of John and Jenni Wise, is a senior at South Ripley High School. She has participated in Art and Drama Clubs and volunteered with the Ripley County Humane Society.
Wise enjoys drawing, writing poetry, spending time outdoors and caring for animals. Her volunteer experiences helped inspire her plans to pursue a degree in veterinary science.
Scholarship decision ahead
Finalist scores have been submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, which will select the scholarship recipient.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition for four years at an eligible Indiana college or university, along with a $900 annual book stipend.
The four finalists not selected will each receive a $2,000 scholarship from the Ripley County Community Foundation for their freshman year, followed by the Grateful Family Scholarship during their sophomore year and the Jane Deiwert Scholarship during their junior year.
Since the 1997-98 school year, Lilly Endowment Inc. has provided more than $486 million in support of the statewide scholarship program. Nearly 5,300 Indiana high school graduates have received the award.
More information about the Ripley County Community Foundation is available at rccfonline.org.
