After blinded review by community volunteers of the initial Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship applications, five finalists were selected and invited for an interview with another panel of community volunteers. In these 45-minute interviews, the committee learned more about each student’s aspirations and involvement within our community. This year’s finalists are Colorado Fields, Allie Howell, Riley Setser, Aidan Sommerman, and Shayla Summers. All finalists are senior class students at Crawford County High School.
Click here to see the finalists.
Colorado Fields: Colorado is the daughter of David and Elizabeth Fields. She is involved in Academic Super Bowl where she is part of the English and Social Studies teams, National Honor Society where she holds the office of Secretary, Drama Club, and Crawford County Youth Philanthropy Council. After high school, Colorado plans to attend the University of Evansville to major in education to become an English teacher.
Allie Howell: Allie is the daughter of Andy Howell and Allison Howell. She is involved in basketball and softball, National Honors Society, cattle sales, livestock judging, Crawford County Youth Baseball/Softball, and assisting at a veterinary clinic. After high school, Allie plans to attend the University of Southern Indiana to major in sonography. She plans to use her degree in multiple ways to benefit the community and its residents.
Riley Setser: Riley is the daughter of Bob and Heather Setser. She is involved in golf and tennis teams, National Honors Society where she holds the office of Treasurer, Student Council, where she holds the office of President, Drama Club, Crawford County Youth Philanthropy Council, Science Club, Academic Super Bowl where she is part of the English team, ALA Hoosier Girls State, Indiana Page Program, and Prom Committee where she holds the office of Vice President. Riley is employed by Pete Dye Golf Course, Patoka Lake Lodging, Patoka Lake Gas station, and Old Homestead Hotel. After high school, Riley plans to attend Butler University to major in Pre-Pharmacy studies to one day become a pharmacist.
Aidan Sommerman: Aidan is the son of Joshua and Daffney Sommerman. He is involved in the Academic Super Bowl where he is the captain of the Science and Social Studies teams, Crawford County 4-H, Student Council where he holds the office of co-president, Cross Country, National Honors Society where he holds the office of President, Drama Club, Model United Nations, Art Club, Science Club, State 4-H Junior Leaders, Hanover College Environmental Science Program, and is the Secretary of the Class of 2025. After high school, Aidan plans to attend Hanover College to major in Ecology, Environmental Biology, and/or Zoology.
Shayla Summers: Shayla is the daughter of Lisa Shelton. She is involved in Purdue Extension Agriculture, Theater and Booster Club. She volunteers with the CCHS Clothes Closet, Dubois County Humane Society, Tunnel Hill Church, Fairview Church, Lincoln Hills Church, and Community Tabernacle Church. She is employed by Benny’s off the Water, Todd Dickey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and Patoka Lake Marina. After high school, Shayla plans to attend Ball State University to major in Business Administration.
The 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. The scholarship is for undergraduate students studying 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 both current scholars and alumni 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) and Indiana Humanities.
The top 20% of the graduating class was eligible to apply for the Crawford County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Consideration was given to the student’s special considerations submitted by applicant, a personal essay, class rank, GPA, academic course work, a recommendation letter, leadership, and community involvement.
Following interviews, the nominee and alternate packets were submitted to the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, ICI, for the selection of scholarship recipients. The CFCC’s packet is awaiting review and approval, then the recipient will be announced.
Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $490 million. More than 5,300 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception.
The primary purposes of LECSP 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, education and religion. 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 Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. 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.
The CFCC was founded in April 1998 by a volunteer Board of Directors that represented a variety of interests from Crawford County. To date, the CFCC has awarded more than $9 million in grants for programs/projects supporting Crawford County children and youth, education, housing, health and human services, the environment, technology advancements, literacy and the arts, and has awarded more than $3 million in scholarships benefiting Crawford County students. The CFCC currently manages more than 80 charitable endowment funds on behalf of families, individuals, corporations and non-profit organizations.
For more information on the Community Foundation of Crawford County, visit www.cf-cc.org or Facebook.com/CFCC4ever, email us at cf-cc@cf-cc.org, or call us at 812.365.2900.