Knox County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship 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. Since the program was first offered in 1998, Lilly Endowment has remained steadfast in its belief that education at all levels is indispensable to the personal, civic, and economic well-being of Indiana’s residents and communities.
Overview
Since the program was first offered in 1998, Lilly Endowment has remained steadfast in its belief that education at all levels is indispensable to the personal, civic, and economic well-being of Indiana’s residents and communities.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is a state-wide program administered by local community foundations throughout Indiana. The Community Foundation of Southwest Indiana administers the program locally and Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) provides statewide oversight of the program.
The program provides scholarships for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for up to eight semesters/ twelve quarters of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Warrick Community Foundation will nominate two students to receive the scholarship.
Scholarship Eligibility
Review all information below. Once you determine eligibility, click the Apply Now button at the bottom of the page to begin your application. You can always start your application and return later to complete and submit.
Scholarship Eligibility
Students named as Lilly Endowment Community Scholars must:
- Graduate from an accredited Indiana high school and receive a diploma no later than June 30, 2027. A high school is considered accredited for purposes of the program if it is accredited by the State Board of Education or by a national or regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the State Board of Education. Although home-schooled students are ineligible to apply for the LECS, students enrolled in accredited online high schools who also attend classes in person may be eligible. Contact Community Foundation staff for more information.
- Intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at any Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
- Select the college or university they will attend prior to May 1.
- Apprise the Community Foundation annually of their academic status while pursuing their baccalaureate degree and of their postgraduate status (education and employment) for at least ten years after graduation.
- Account for and return to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) any amount of the allocation for required books and equipment remaining at the end of each school year.
- Disclose additional scholarship offers. (When recipients receive additional scholarships, those additional scholarships will be reviewed in order to ensure that each Lilly Scholar receives the full scholarship amount(s) that are due. The amount awarded under the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program may be adjusted to avoid having a scholar’s total award package exceed the Cost of Attendance.)
- Agree to the conditions outlined in the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Agreement.
Eligibility Requirements
Qualified applicants will:
- Be a resident of Knox County, Indiana.
- Be a graduate of an accredited Knox County or Indiana high school or academy by the end of June 2027.
- Have an unweighted GPA of 3.80 or greater or a minimum SAT score of 1200 (ERW + M) or a minimum ACT score of 25.
- Be available for an impromptu essay and an interview with the scholarship committee if selected as a finalist.
- Apply for the scholarship in only one county.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be evaluated on:
First phase (60 points)
- Academic performance (GPA, class ranking, consideration of difficulty of courses taken, and consistency of grades over 3 years of high school – 30 points)
- Community service and volunteer activities (consideration of intensity and longevity of service, number and type of organizations serving, and leadership qualities demonstrated through service – 10 points)
- Personal statement of goals (consideration of grammar, overall presentation, clarity of goal statement, and community and civic pride – 5 points)
- School activities, sports, fine arts, and work experience (leadership roles in activities and/or sports, indicating a team spirit, working well with others, and commitment and drive; consistent work history, dependability, works well with others – 10 points)
- Honors and awards (academic honors and/or awards, honors from civic or volunteer work – 5 points)
Second phase (40 points) is the finalist impromptu essay and interview and includes the following:
- Impromptu essay (grammar, 4 points; clarity of thought, 8 points; depth of thought, 8 points – 20 points)
- Interview-(Answers questions clearly and thoroughly, answers reflect thought, uses appropriate grammar, has a professional appearance, demonstrates poise – 20 points)
All finalists begin Phase Two with a score of zero (0). Scores from Phase One do not carry over.
In the event of a tie between two candidates, each committee member will confidentially vote on the most worthy candidate, and the selection will be made by the majority vote.
Transcripts
Students should submit their most recent transcript directly to the Community Foundation by submitting a request to their guidance counselor.
Application Access Code
Use this code to access the application through your user account: kno
Your Questions Answered
We offer scholarships across a variety of fields, including academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need.
Eligibility varies by scholarship but generally includes local students pursuing post-secondary education or vocational training.
Applications are submitted online through our website, following the instructions.
Each scholarship has a specific application period and deadline, listed on our website.
Some scholarships are one-time awards, while others may be renewable; details are provided with each opportunity.
Selection is based on criteria set by each scholarship, which may include academic performance, financial need, or community service.
es. We provide guidance and resources to help students and families submit strong, complete applications.
We offer resources and encouragement to help students succeed academically and personally.
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