Two local students awarded with Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships

The Kosciusko County Community Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships recipients: Aliah Barkey and Amy Brown.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition scholarship that enables recipients from each participating Indiana county to attend an Indiana college or university of their choice. In Kosciusko County, the Community Foundation appoints a committee to lead a blind review process of all local applications.

Aliah Barkey

Aliah Barkey is a senior at Warsaw Community High School. She plans to major in architecture.

“I chose to major in architecture so I can integrate my love for art, craftmanship skills, and aspects of business while creating beautiful, sustainable designs, said Aliah. “Throughout my high school career, I searched for a pathway that balanced both my creativity and stability. My passions and experiences have taught me to embrace who I am, to use my voice to inspire others, and that high achievement means little if I’m not giving back,” she added.

Aliah has been a member of the WCHS Track, Cross Country, and Unified Football Teams. She also participated in Teen Court, Ultimate Frisbee Club, National Honor Society, Kosciusko Venture Challenge, Camp Mack youth camps, Legacy Leadership Summit, Legacy Council, Brethren Voices, national youth conferences, and local art fairs.

Aliah was celebrated with a surprise award ceremony on December 13 at Warsaw Community High School.

Amy Brown

Amy Brown is a senior at Whitko High School. She plans to major in agricultural marketing & communication.

“Being surrounded by agriculture all my life has helped me decide to pursue this career path. As a young entrepreneur with my own sheep business, it’s helped me understand the importance of communication, networking for my business, and the agriculture industry. Sharing my passion for agriculture will allow me to continue my love for agriculture where I hope to excite the same interest in others for the industry,” Amy said.

Amy has been a member of the Tennis Team, FFA, National Honor Society, Student Council, Gospel Choir, 4-H, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, and Whitko Students Against Destructive Decisions.

Amy was celebrated with a surprise award ceremony on December 13 at Whitko High School.

How Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are selected

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, fees, and an allocation for books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university.

The Kosciusko County selection process for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship begins as Community Foundation scholarship reviewers evaluate each application without access to the students’ names or other identifying information. Qualifying criteria include academic excellence, community service, extracurricular involvement, work experience, references and essay responses.

Once the committee selects the finalists, the Community Foundation submits these applicants to Independent College of Indiana (ICI), the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship program for the final selection of recipients.

Annually since 1998, Lilly Endowment Inc. has funded Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education in the belief that education is indispensable to the personal, civic, and economic well-being of Indiana communities and residents.

Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Inc. is a public charity whose mission is to bring caring people and charitable endeavors together to inspire generosity and strengthen communities. The Community Foundation grants over $4 million annually in the areas of education, health, arts and culture, recreation, civic projects, environment and human services. Gifts made to the Community Foundation are tax-deductible. For more information, visit www.KCFoundation.org, call 574-267-1901 or visit 102 E. Market Street, Warsaw.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private 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. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion and 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. 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.