Lauryn Rhodes & Kirstyn Yoder Named Kosciusko County’s 2020 Lilly Scholars

Lauryn Rhodes, pictured above, was named a 2020 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar and will receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the Indiana college of her choice. Pictured are (left to right): Troy Akers, Principal of Warsaw Community High School; Ronna Kawsky, Principal of Warsaw Area Career Center; Deborah Rhodes, mother; Lauryn Rhodes; Sean Rhodes, father; Suzie Light, CEO of Kosciusko County Community Foundation; David Hoffert, Superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools.

Kirstyn Yoder, pictured above, was named a 2020 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar and will receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the Indiana college of her choice. Pictured are (left to right): Suzie Light, CEO of Kosciusko County Community Foundation; Brandon Kresca, Principal of Tippecanoe Valley High School; Christopher Yoder, father; Kirstyn Yoder; Blaine Conley, Superintendent for Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation; Tracy Yoder, mother; Stacey Donato, Indiana State Senator for District 18, Stephanie Overbey, Associate Director of Kosciusko County Community Foundation.

Each year, Kosciusko County recommends two students to receive the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship award; a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the Indiana college or university of their choice. We are pleased to announce the Lilly Endowment Community Scholars for 2020 are Lauryn Rhodes and Kirstyn Yoder.

Lauryn Rhodes is a senior at Warsaw Community High School. She is the daughter of Sean and Deborah Rhodes. At the time of application, Lauryn held a 4.32 grade point average. An active member of her school and community, Lauryn has participated in Student Council, Future Farmers of America, National Honors Society, Red Cross Club, Mathletes, Academic Superbowl, Kosciusko County 4-H, FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America), Octagon Club, Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program, and the WCHS Riley Committee to fundraise for Riley Children’s Hospital. She has worked at Pottery Bayou and is currently employed as a manager at Kelainey’s Ice Cream Shop. Additionally, Lauryn has completed a medical internship at the Kosciusko Community Hospital, which has helped reinforce her desire to pursue a degree in the medical field. Upon graduation from high school, Lauryn plans to enroll at Purdue University to major in biology and chemistry. Lauryn is described as an exceptional leader with a passion to succeed.

Kirstyn Yoder is a senior at Tippecanoe Valley High School. She is the daughter of Christopher and Tracy Yoder. At the time of application, Kirstyn was ranked first in her graduating class. She has participated in Math Academic Team, Science Academic Team, Girls Who Code, Varsity Softball, National Honor Society, Leo Club, and Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy. Throughout her extracurricular activities, Kirstyn has held many leadership roles. She has also raised money and awareness for the American Heart Association, tutors fellow students in algebra and calculus, and is employed at Mentone B&K. Upon graduation from high school, Kirstyn plans to attend either Purdue University or the University of Notre Dame to study mathematics and pursue a future career as an actuary. Kirstyn is described as a self-starter with a passion for helping others.

The selection process for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship begins at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, where committee members review the applications without access to student names. The criteria evaluated by the committee members includes academic excellence, community service, extracurricular involvement, work experience, references, and essay response. Once the committee has made their selections, the Community Foundation recommends the recipients to Independent College of Indiana (ICI), the administrators of the Lily Endowment Community Scholarship Program, for final approval and selection.

Annually since 1998, Lilly Endowment has funded the 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. Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis based philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by members of the Lilly family through stock gifts of their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Lilly Endowment supports community development, education and youth, and religion.