Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
Criteria and Application Instructions
The Community Foundation’s 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now open and will accept Letters of Intent until Thursday, August 21st at 4:00pm.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program will provide scholarships for otherwise unreimbursed 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 Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Use the resources below to complete the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application.
Eligibility
Applicants will initially complete an eligibility quiz. To be eligible for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be a Huntington County resident;
- Either be:
- a high school senior on track to graduate with a diploma by June of next year; or
- a high school graduate who is yet to enroll as a student at a college or university;
- Intend to pursue a four-year degree from a college or university located in Indiana; and
- Agree to be interviewed by the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee, if selected as a finalist.
Additionally, applicants should have:
- A cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher during high school; and
- Be able to showcase at least three of the following five attributes:
- ability to gain and apply knowledge,
- resilience/perseverance over obstacles,
- effective written and oral communication skills,
- initiative to take on challenges,
- passion for the community and service to others.
Letter of Intent (LOI) Evaluation
Your LOI will be evaluated independently by a group of community volunteers under the following measurements (in no particular order):
Acquiring Knowledge (0-10 points)
GPA; test scores; advanced/specialty courses
Activities Inside of School (0-10 points)
Quality of involvements; above average initiative
Activities Outside of School (0-10 points)
Quality of involvements; above average initiative
Financial Need / Family History (0-10 points)
Financial need; ability to be a first generation college graduate
Additional Criteria
Effective written communication skills; exhibition of good character, maturity, and leadership abilities
Application Evaluation
After the LOI stage, 10 to 15 applicants will be chosen to move on to the application stage.
Again, your application will be evaluated independently by a group of community volunteers under the following measurements (in no particular order):
Applying Knowledge (0-10 points)
Critical thinking; real-life application of knowledge exhibited in answers and references
Resilience/Perseverance (0-10 points)
Ability to overcome obstacles
Communication (0-10 points)
Effective expression of ideas and clear written communication skills
Initiative (0-10 points)
Above average initiative
Community (0-10 points)
Display of a love for community and others
Additional Criteria
Exhibition of good character, maturity, and leadership abilities; Demonstration to successfully complete your chosen degree program; and interest in improving the quality of life in Indiana, with a willingness to return to Indiana after completing degree work
Interviews
Based on application evaluations, five to eight applicants will be invited for a face-to-face interview stage. Each applicant will be asked similar questions with each interview lasting up to fifteen (15) minutes.
Each applicant will be ranked independently by the same group of community volunteers. The three highest ranked applicants on average will be invited for a final face-to-face interview. Each applicant will be asked similar questions with each interview lasting up to twenty-five (25) minutes.
After the final interview, each applicant will receive a final ranking. The highest average ranked applicant will be awarded the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. The second highest receives runner up and third highest receives alternate runner up.
In the event of a tie, the applicant with the highest application score is awarded the tiebreaker.
Program Information
The primary purposes of the 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.
On an annual basis, one scholarship will be awarded to a Huntington County resident.
From Our Blog
Meet Previous Lilly Scholars
River Fritz Receives 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Huntington County!
Ella Hall receives the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Huntington County.
Janna Teusch awarded 2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Huntington County
