Delaney Strasser, a Caston High School graduating senior has been named the 2022 Fulton County Community Foundation Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.
Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement,academic achievement, character and leadership.
Delaney is the daughter of Adam and Scarlett Strasser and plans to study Veterinary Medicine. Delaney has been member of Key Club, Fulton County Youth Leadership Academy, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Yearbook Business/Chief Editor, National Honor Society, HNAC English Team, Student Advisory Committee, Caston Christian Club, Cross County, Track, and Basketball while in school. She also participates in a number of volunteer programs throughout the county.
The other students who were finalists and interviewed for the scholarship were Reagan Becker of Rochester High School, Elena Bode of Rochester High School, Cheney Canada of Tippecanoe Valley High School, and Peyton Hiatt of Rochester High School.
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 of undergraduate study on a full-time basis 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 scholars 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).
During the selection process, the identities of the applicants are removed from the applications before the Committee scores applicants on academic performance, volunteer and paid work, school activities and honors, as well as essays. Five finalists are then selected to write an impromptu essay and invited to a personal interview with the Scholarship Committee. The Committee submitted the top finalists to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the final selection of the recipient.
The quality of applications this year was amazing, you can tell these students dedicate a lot of time and effort into theirschoolwork and extracurricular activities.” – Alison Heyde, NICF Scholarship Coordinator.
Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Programfor the 1998-1999 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling in excess of$439 million. More than5,000 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception. 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.
Lilly Endowment Inc.is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic 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,educationandreligion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.
Since 1997,Independent Colleges of Indianahas 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.
