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 Leah Byerly, Devin Decker, Hays Ferriell, Levi Richardson, and Jace Roser. All finalists are senior class students at Crawford County High School.
Leah Byerly: Leah is the daughter of Jonathan and Ashley Byerly. She is involved in the cheer team, dance team, National Honor Society, Student Council, FFA, Prom Committee, 4-H, and Booster Club. She has volunteered at the Crawford County Historical & Genealogical Society, West Crawford Elementary, Churchill Downs, the Sherriff’s Department Back to School Bash, the Crawford County Youth Expo, Soup Kitchen, and is the current Miss. Crawford County. After high school, Leah plans to attend the University of Southern Indiana to major in nursing.
Devin Decker: Devin is the son of Sherman and Kim Decker. He is involved in basketball, baseball, golf, intramural dodgeball, softball, volleyball, National Honor Society, Booster Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, and Youth Philanthropy Council. He has volunteered with the blood drive, Lego drive, Churchill Downs, biddy ball, and West Crawford Elementary School. After high school, Devin plans to attend Purdue Polytechnic Institute to major in electrical engineering technology.
Hays Ferriell: Hays is the son of Mitchel and Stephanie Ferriell. He is involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, Prom Committee, tennis, baseball, tae kwon do, Youth Philanthropy Council, National Catholic Youth Conference, and National Eucharistic Congress. He has volunteered with the blood drive, Lego drive, Crawford County United Ministries, West Crawford Elementary, Crawford County Historical & Genealogical Society, Fuller Center for Housing, Headstart, Churchill Downs, and Catalyst Catholic Gala. After high school, Hays plans to attend Indiana University Bloomington to major in accounting.
Levi Richardson: Levi is the son of Kyle and Megan Richardson. He is involved in basketball, baseball, cross country, tennis Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Booster Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, Youth Philanthropy Council, Prom Committee, and intramural dodgeball, softball, and volleyball. He has volunteered with Red Cross, East Crawford Elementary School, Lego Drive, Headstart, biddy ball, and Churchill Downs. He is employed by Valley Links Golf Course, Richardson Construction and Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. After high school, Levi plans to attend Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to major in mechanical engineering with a minor in aerospace engineering.
Jace Roser: Jace is the son of Tanya Roser. He is involved in National Honor Society and Esports Club. He has volunteered for the 5th grade through high school girls’ volleyball games, Churchill Downs, elementary school science fairs, Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club of Harrison-Crawford Counties and manages for the high school girls’ basketball team. After high school, Jace plans to attend Depauw University to major in computer science.
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 $505 million. More than 5,400 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.
The Community Foundation of Crawford County (CFCC) is again pleased to offer the LECSP to our graduating seniors. “Once again, the CFCC is proud to offer this life-changing opportunity to one of Crawford County’s finest, well-rounded students. We are so appreciative to Lilly Endowment Inc. for their generosity,” said Christine Harbeson, executive director of the CFCC.
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 $5.5 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.