Calen Campbell, a Rochester High School graduating senior, has been named the 2021FultonCounty Community Foundation Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.
Calen will receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana college or university of his choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.
Calen is the son of Shawn and Alyssa Campbell and plans to attend the University of Evansville, where he wants to study Mechanical Engineering or Architecture. He has been involved in Key Club, NHS, FCA, Spanish Club, Tri-Epsilon, Peers Educating Peers, Manitous, First Robotics, Sources of Strength and a New Tech Ambassador. He also participated in Men’s Soccer, Track and Field and Tennis. He has been active in mission trips, worship team, and Camp-We-Can.
Calen was nominated for the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship from a field of 23 applicants by the Fulton County Community Foundation Scholarship Committee.
During the selection process, the applications are ‘blinded,’ meaning that the identities of the applicants are removed. The Committee scores applicants on academic performance, volunteer and paid work, school activities and honors, as well as essays. Of the all the applicants, five finalists were selected for a final review. These finalists were asked to write an impromptu essay and had a personal interview with the Scholarship Committee. The Committee narrowed the field and finalists’ applications were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the final selection of the recipient. Lilly Endowment Inc. has provided over $424M in grant support for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, since its inception in 1998.
ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 30 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.
The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree.
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 2021 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Finalists included Kimberly Batten, Carlee Blackburn, Grant McCarter, and Olivia Boldry.
