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The 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Daviess County through the Daviess County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Daviess 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 Daviess County through the Daviess 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 Daviess County Community Foundation. Visit daviesscountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program for complete information regarding the Daviess County application criteria. Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Daviess County and apply for this scholarship by visiting the Daviess County Community Foundation website. Applications must be completed and submitted by August 25, 2025, to be considered. Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: academic performance, community service, volunteer activities, personal statement of goals, essay, school activities, sports, and work experience. Three finalists will be nominated by the Daviess 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 $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. Daviess County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 29th year in Daviess County. “The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program offers an amazing opportunity for students to pursue higher education with financial support, enabling them to achieve their career goals,” said Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact.

The Daviess County Community Foundation distributed more than $100,000 to 28 local Daviess County students from its Community Scholarship Program. These scholarships are funded by generous donors who have established a scholarship fund with the Daviess County Community Foundation. This year’s scholarship luncheon to celebrate and recognize these exceptional students was held at the Washington Community Building, with fund founders, recipients, and parents attending. In addition to announcing the recipients, the Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact, Laura Hazelman reflected on how important the community is in stewarding education in Daviess County.

Each year, the Daviess County Community Foundation announces the recipient of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Daviess County, a full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years scholarship. Alongside, two alternates are designated, ensuring readiness in case the initially selected scholar cannot accept the award due to special circumstances. This year, after the initially named recipient, Brynna Knepp, graciously declined the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, the scholarship was offered to the First Alternate, Jack Murrie, North Daviess High School.

The Daviess County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Daviess County – Brynna Knepp, Barr-Reeve High School . Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. “We were impressed with the caliber of applicants this year,” said Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact. “The Daviess County applicants have a strong dedication to their academics, educational goals, and a willingness to give back to their community.“ Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship 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. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students 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 both current scholars and alumni 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) and Indiana Humanities. “With so many worthy applicants, I am extremely grateful to have received this honor, said Brynna Knepp, 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. “I plan to utilize this opportunity to obtain a law degree and use my career to help families in our community.” In determining Daviess County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominees, consideration was given to academic performance, community service, and volunteer activities, personal statement of goals and essay; school activities, sports, and work experience; those advancing to phase two were scored on an in-person interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee and impromptu essay, designed to demonstrate the student’s verbal communication skills and overall civic pride and interest in the quality of their community. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1997-98 school year. Since then, grant funding in excess of $490 million has supported more than 5,300 Indiana students who have received scholarships through the program. 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 Daviess County Community Foundation awarded more than $217,000 in grants to nonprofits through its 2024 Community Good Grants program. These nonprofits are committed to supporting the needs of Daviess County. Congratulations to this year’s grant recipients!  $73,172.56 to Odon Volunteer Fire Department to assist with the purchase of radios for all fire departments in Daviess County, which will improve communication in the rural areas between departments $12,500 to RSVP of Daviess County to assist with the purchase of a newer model minivan or SUV $3,673 to Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana to assist with the cost of program administration, curriculum materials, volunteer training, and recruitment, insurance, and program evaluation $4,200 to Bread of Life Ministry Inc. to assist with the cost of two semi loads of donated food products that will be distributed to partnering food pantries in Daviess County $30,000 to Youth First, Inc. to support the Youth First School-Based Social Work Program that provides free access to expert mental health support to students in seven K-12 Daviess County schools $10,000 to Washington Catholic Schools to assist with the cost of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for all Daviess County children $15,159 to Washington Band Boosters Association to assist with the purchase of band instruments to build an inventory for students to use for a minimal charge and ensure proper care and return of instruments $12,571 to DSI Diversified Solutions, Inc to assist with the cost of the Pre-ETS Plus Curriculum, which includes the complete curriculum, instructor's guide, assessment manual, and workbooks, as well as access to online Instructor's Hub; Pre-ETS Promotional Flyers to provide to four Daviess County High Schools; transportation for summer months of June and July; and seven GOTALK Lite Touch 20 Communication Devices with GoTalk Design and three-year web-based subscription for updates $3,525 to Christ United Methodist Church to assist with the cost of supplies for the ESL Program to assist the Haitian population with real-life applications to assist with their transition to the Daviess County community $5,500 to Daviess County Partnership Inc. to assist with the cost of materials and supplies for the Moving Forward, Taking Charge program to educate families on budgets and financial literacy $12,000 to Children & Family Services, Corp to assist with the training, credentialing, and creation of a Play Therapy program $10,000 to First Choice Solutions to assist with the purchase of cribs, mattresses, mattress covers, crib sheets, convertible car seats, infant car seats, high-back boosters, booster seats, and the Bright Course program for English and Spanish-speaking clients $10,000 to Cannelburg Fire Department to assist with the cost of repairing bumps and paving the end of the drive for the ambulances and fire trucks $15,475 to Borrowed Hearts Daviess County to assist with the purchase of supplies and necessities for foster families and the children they serve

Many of our donors have chosen to honor their loved ones, communities, high schools, colleges, and professions by establishing scholarship funds through their local Community Foundations in Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties. These funds support the annual Community Scholarship programs, providing valuable opportunities for students in Southwest Indiana. Thanks to their contributions, applications are being accepted now, with a deadline of Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. "We are excited to once again provide scholarship opportunities to students in our Southwest Indiana region,” says Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer at the Community Foundation Alliance. “By offering these scholarships, we are not only investing in individual students but also in the future of our communities. We encourage all eligible students to apply and take a step towards achieving their educational and career goals." Students may apply for one or more scholarships if they meet the eligibility requirements and selection criteria established by donors. Details about each scholarship and the application are posted on the website at communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships . Each scholarship is unique and supports students with a variety of backgrounds, educational goals, and economic statuses. Awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, or national origin and are based on a competitive process that may consider academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal aspirations, educational goals, and financial need. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply today!

Pictured (left to right) Jaylynn Allen, Foundations Childcare Ministry; Denise Walden, Daviess County Community Foundation Advisory Board member; Brittany Clark, Tim Stone, Kim Conder, and Adam Condor, Foundations Childcare Ministry; Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for Daviess County Community Foundation; Amy Matteson, Cheryl May, Lesley Bledsoe, Daviess County Community Foundation Advisory Board members; Savannah Linenburg, Director of Development for Daviess County Community Foundation; and John Dudenhoeffer, Daviess County Community Foundation Advisory Board member.

The 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Daviess County through the Daviess County Community Foundation. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Daviess 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 Daviess County through the Daviess 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://www.daviesscountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program for complete information regarding Daviess County’s application criteria. Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Daviess County and apply for this scholarship by visiting https://www.daviesscountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program . Applications must be completed and submitted by Wednesday, August 14, 2024, by Noon to be considered. Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: Academic Performance, Community Service and Volunteer Activities, and an Essay. Three finalists will be nominated by the Daviess 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. Daviess County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 28 th year in Daviess County. “We are grateful that Lilly Endowment has continued the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program. This scholarship will impact the recipient’s life and educational goals. I’m honored to be part of the process,” said Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Daviess County Community Foundation.