Lynnsey Degitz Receives 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship

The Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Huntington County – Lynnsey Degitz of Huntington North High School! Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are recognized for their community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership.  

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees, and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Scholars also join the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects them with resources and opportunities to lead on campus and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI). 

“This scholarship will make a world of difference in allowing me to pursue my college and career goals,” said Lynnsey Degitz, 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. “With this opportunity, I will continue my service within my career with the goal of improving the communities around me.”  

Lynnsey plans to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Environmental Science. While she is still exploring college options, her ultimate goal is to work as an engineer in the aerospace field for an agency such as NASA. She also hopes to be involved with servant-minded organizations and serve in faith-based capacities as well.  

Lynnsey currently serves as Class Council Treasurer, Co-Treasurer for Huntington North’s Green Team, National Honor Society President and Junior Rotarian. She has participated in the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, That Viking Thing, Huntington Youth Leadership, Lady Viking Basketball and Leadership Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Freshman Mentoring. Outside of school, she volunteers as a Junior Volunteer Librarian at the Huntington City-Township Public Library, serves as a Children’s Ministry Leader and Children’s Special Needs Assistant at Life Church, and works as a barista at Cafe of Hope. Lynnsey has also been nationally recognized as a Carson Scholar by the Carson Scholars Fund.  

In nominating Huntington County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee gave consideration based on the candidates’ ability to demonstrate application of knowledge, resiliency and perseverance, communication skills, strong initiative and community-centered involvement. Additional themes for consideration focused on character, maturity, leadership abilities and a conveyed interest in improving quality of life in Indiana. After narrowing the field of applicants, nominees were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), the statewide administrator of the program, for final selection. For more information on the selection process, read the full Q&A Blog.

This year, twenty-seven high school seniors from Huntington County began the application process by submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI). After reviewing the LOIs, twelve applicants were invited to submit full applications. The Foundation’s Scholarship Committee, comprised of five community volunteers, then selected six candidates for the initial round of interviews. Three finalists advanced to a second round of interviews. Following these interviews, the committee submitted its top nominee and two alternates to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) for final approval. 

“The 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipient stood out not only for academic excellence, but for exceptional interpersonal skills and a commitment to service,” noted Amber Rensberger, Community Foundation Program Manager. “The strength and diversity of this year’s applicant pool reflect the promising future of Indiana students, and the program’s lasting impact on our communities statewide.” 

Since its inception in 1997–98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefiting over 5,400 Indiana students. The program’s primary purposes are: 

• To raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana. 
• To increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana Community Foundations play. 
• To encourage and support Lilly Scholars’ engagement with Indiana leaders to improve quality of life statewide.  

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 Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment supports community development, education, and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana.  

Independent Colleges of Indiana was founded in 1948 and serves as the collective voice for Indiana’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year graduation rates and produce 30% of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20% of its undergraduates. 

For more information on the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship and other Foundation scholarships, visit our Scholarship Page.