(Ripley County, July 29, 2024) The 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Ripley County through the Ripley County Community Foundation. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Ripley 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 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 Ripley County through the Ripley County Community Foundation, is open to all Indiana residents who:
• graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2025 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2025;
• 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 https://rccfonline.org/scholarships/lilly-endowment/ for complete information regarding the Ripley County’s application criteria.
Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Ripley County and apply for this scholarship by visiting https://rccfonline.org/scholarships/lilly-endowment/. Applications must be completed and submitted by August 30, 2024 at 11:59 P.M. to be considered.
Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: GPA, SAT/ACT scores, course difficulty, extracurricular activities, community service, essays, a letter of recommendation, and an interview. Three finalists will be nominated by the Ripley County Community Foundation, and their names will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipients. Scholarship recipients 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 $490 million. More than 5,300 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 Ripley County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 28th year in Ripley County. “At the Ripley County Community Foundation, we are committed to empowering our community by fostering generosity and investing in initiatives that create a lasting impact,” stated Amy Streator, Executive Director of the Ripley County Community Foundation. Streator further noted, “We are thrilled to offer the LECSP in Ripley County because it aligns perfectly with our mission of growing and sustaining a culture of giving and investing resources to meet community needs. This incredible program offers graduating seniors in Ripley County the opportunity to pursue their educational dreams at any Indiana college or university, debt-free. We encourage all high-achieving students with a passion for serving their communities to apply. This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a remarkable scholarship program with a proven track record of success!”
The Ripley County Community Foundation is committed to Connecting People Who Care with Causes that Matter and is located at 13 E. George Street, Suite B, Batesville. To learn how you can invest in the future of Ripley County, or to leave your legacy, contact the Ripley County Community Foundation at (812) 933-1098 or visit www.rccfonline.org.
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The Ripley County Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists donors in building an enduring source of charitable funds to benefit the citizens and qualified organizations of Ripley County. The Foundation manages 209 funds and $18 million in assets which are used to improve the Community and serve Ripley County residents through various grants and scholarships. The Foundation is dedicated to partnering with and serving the local communities as a trusted source for charitable giving now and forever. Learn more about the Foundation and how to donate at www.rccfonline.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.
(RCCF Press Release)
