The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe Country has announced Monroe County’s 2017 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients. Ms. Betsy Beggs and Ms. Frances Kincaid will each receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana public or private college of their choosing. In addition to the cost of tuition, they will receive a $900 annual stipend for books and other required materials.
Betsy Beggs of Bloomington High School South is the daughter of Bill and Sarah Beggs. She is president of Student Council and a member of Sounds of South Advanced Choir, French Club, Golf Team, and National Honor Society. Her community efforts include volunteering with Dance Marathon for Riley Children’s Hospital, Sherwood Oaks Christian Church-Kids Ministry, and Operation Friendship Youth International Exchange. Through her participation with American Legion Auxiliary Hoosier Girls State, Betsy became passionate about how Indiana’s state government works and hopes to expand knowledge of the duties, rights and responsibilities of Indiana’s citizens as a future politician.
“I am grateful and humbled to have been chosen as one of this year’s Lilly Scholars,” said Beggs. “Many thanks to the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, the Bloomington South administrators and teachers, and my family for giving me opportunities to grow as both a student and a person. I am excited for this next chapter in my education and look forward to giving back to the community.”
Frances Kincaid of Bloomington High School North is the daughter of Jay and Jenny Kincaid. Frances is president of BHSN National Honor Society, a senior leader and founding member of the BHSN Life Skills Academy, and has participated in Student Council, Jazz Band and Diving. She has volunteered for several organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Best Buddies, Catholic Heart Work Camp and Community Kitchen. Following an illness her junior year, Frances developed an interest for a career in medicine and desire to make a difference in peoples’ lives the way her doctors have made in hers. She plans to attend medical school after college to become a trauma surgeon.
“I am so honored and humbled to be chosen to represent my community as a Lilly Scholar,” said Kincaid. “It is a wonderful gift and a great responsibility. I am very grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from my family and friends as well as my teachers and coaches at Bloomington North.”
“The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship allows us the opportunity to keep these talented, young people here in Indiana for post-secondary education to become the future leaders in our communities,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson. “Today, Betsy and Frances join an incredible network of talented young people committed to community engagement and leadership. As a community, we need to do our part by providing them with experiences and eventually jobs that will allow them to stay Indiana. We look forward to the contributions they will make to ensure a bright, prosperous future for our Indiana communities.”
Eleven area high school seniors were selected as finalists for the scholarship from among 100 applicants for this year’s scholarship, the largest number of applicants ever received in Monroe County. Evaluation of Monroe County’s Lilly Scholarship applications is a two-part blind review process. Applications are first reviewed and independently scored by members of a Lilly Scholarship committee at each Monroe County high school. The scored applications are then submitted to the Community Foundation, and finalists are identified from each school. The Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee, which is made up of members of the Monroe County community, blindly reviews and scores applications from each of the finalists. Each finalist is interviewed, with their interview scores tallied alongside the scores from the written portion of their application. The rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations are submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., a nonprofit corporation representing 31 regionally accredited degree-granting colleges and universities in the state.
“Every year, I’m reminded of the amazing potential of the young people in our community,” said Jessika Hane, chair of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee. “They bring talent to the table and hopes for the future. It’s an inspiring process, getting to know each one of these outstanding, rising stars.”
“Historically, our application and interview process has happened in the spring, and I’m so glad that we moved our timeline to the fall,” added Hane. “Meeting with these students and spending time with them as the year 2016 draws to a close fills me with optimism and faith in the future and that is something of tremendous value. I’m so thankful to participate in this process.”
Since 1998, the Lilly Endowment Scholarship Program has assisted more than 4,000 Indiana high school graduates with more than $300 million in tuition for pursuing baccalaureate degrees at Indiana colleges and universities.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has also announced that the nine other 2017 Lilly Scholarship finalists will receive $1,000 scholarships to use at a college or university of their choosing:
2016 JPMorgan Chase Bank Scholarship Recipients
- Ellen Bergan, Edgewood High School
- Ivy Kehoe, Bloomington High School South
- Naomi Showalter, Bloomington High School North
2016 Community Foundation Scholarship Recipients
- Nathan Browning, Lighthouse Christian Academy
- John Garrett, Edgewood High School
- Hannah Kasak-Gliboff, Bloomington High School South
- Alex Newquist, Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship
- Anthony Sparks, Indiana Academy
- Connor Starks, Bloomington High School North
Previous Lilly scholarship recipients from Monroe County include:
2016
Greer King (BHSN); Indiana University
Brian Emmons (BHSN); Indiana University
2015
Sidrah Din (BHSS); Rose-Hulman
Riley Callahan (Lighthouse Christian Academy); Rose-Hulman
2014
Emma St. John (BHSN); Indiana University
Winston Winkler (BHSN); Indiana University
2013
Hannah Alani (BHSS); Indiana University
Shannon Jager (BHSN); DePauw University
2012
Evelyn Bauman (BHSS); Notre Dame
Alex St. John (BHSN); Indiana University
2011
Maha Elsarrag (BHSN); Indiana University
Lynne Bauman (BHSS); Notre Dame
2010
Bhavin Patel (BHSN); Indiana University
Stephen Zerfas (BHSN); Notre Dame
2009
Miranda Arthur (Edgewood); Butler
Audrey Ernst (Edgewood); University of Indianapolis
2008
Ashley Larason (BHSS); Purdue University
Thomas Weakley (Edgewood); DePauw / Indiana University
2007
Meehan Lenzen (BHSN); Notre Dame
Kristen Miller (BHSS); Indiana University
2006
David Kim (BHSN); Notre Dame
Jenna Beasley (BHSN); Indiana University
2005
Manisha Patel (BHSN); Indiana University
Jesse Pontius (BHSN); Purdue University
2004
Ryan Hodge (Indiana Academy); Rose-Hulman
Isaac (Ike) Dolby (BHSN); Purdue
Jennifer (Laird) Black (BHSS); Butler
Tara Langvardt (Edgewood); DePauw University
Caitlin (Odya) Homenda (Edgewood); Indiana University
Mark Strother (BHSN); Indiana University
2003
Amber (Knowlton) Todd (BHSS); Indiana University
David Courtney (BHSS); Earlham
Jennifer Richardson (BHSN); Indiana University
Robert (Matt) Hawkins (Edgewood); Rose-Hulman
Abram Hess (Indiana Academy); Indiana University
Anand Patel (BHSN); Indiana University
2002
Theodore (Tio) Savich (BHSN); Earlham
Aliese Sarkissian (BHSN); DePauw University
Virginia Chappell (BHSS); Indiana University
Michael Kruszynski (Indiana Academy); Rose-Hulman
James Moynihan (Edgewood); Butler
Andrea (Stalcup) Wallace (Edgewood); University of Evansville
2001
Lindsay Kile (Edgewood); Purdue
Ruthie (Willsey) Sterrett (BHSS); Purdue
Ann Marshall (BHSN); Indiana University
Elizabeth Sloan (BHSN); Indiana University
Reed Carmichael (BHSN); DePauw University
Talialin Fehrenbach (BHSS); Butler
2000
Andrew Krebbs (Edgewood); Indiana University
Michael Goodman (BHSN); Indiana University
Alison O’Malley (Edgewood); Butler
Morgan Volrich Riggs (BHSN); Indiana University
1999
Kathleen Tran (BHSS); Indiana University
Aaron Ray (Edgewood); Indiana University
Amanda Horvath (BHSS); Notre Dame
Nathan Fuller (BHSN); Rose-Hulman
1998
Amber (Martindale) Yount (BHSS); Butler
Rebecca (Strain) Spriggs (Edgewood); University of Evansville
About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County:
Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $25 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $27 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.