The 2017 Rush County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar will be named early in December 2016. Previous scholarship recipients were identified in March of the year they graduated from high school. The change affects the program for all Indiana community foundations. The advanced timeline is the result of a statewide evaluation of the program conducted by Lilly Endowment in 2015. During the evaluation process, a number of community foundations suggested that identifying Lilly Scholars earlier in the school year would give more time for them to decide which college or university to attend.

Program Coordinator Kendra Steible is excited about the change; “every year the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is renewed it is a huge gift in the life of our community, and it is a game-changer in the life of a student. Now our Lilly Scholar will have more time to dream-big, knowing that this scholarship has given them the freedom not to worry about tuition costs.” The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is a four-year full tuition scholarship to any accredited college or university in the state of Indiana.

The new Rush County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship timeline is as follows:

  ·         September 16, 2016: College Cost Estimator due.

          ·         October 7, 2016: Applications due.

          ·         December 2016: The 2017 Rush County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar will be announced!

All current seniors graduating from an accredited Indiana high school who are permanent Rush County residents are eligible to apply.

The deadline for all other RCCF Scholarships will continue to be in spring semester; the general application will be made available in early December; the College Cost Estimator and all applications will be due February 15, 2017. For questions about the Lilly Scholarship, or other Rush County Community Foundation scholarships, grants, or giving, stop in at 117 N. Main St., call 765-938-1177, email info@rushcountyfoundation.org, or visit www.rushcountyfoundation.org.