On Monday, May 16, 2016 the Rush County Community Foundation distributed 147 scholarship awards to 86 students at their 2016 Scholarship Celebration held at the Rushville Consolidated High School Cafeteria. These scholarships were awarded from 69 local scholarship funds endowed at the Foundation.  The 2016 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar was also recognized.  The evening’s celebration was attended by 270 donors, fund representatives, Foundation board and committee members, recipients and families.

Alisa Winters, RCCF Executive Director, welcomed everyone on behalf of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and staff.  After her introduction, she continued:  “Tonight’s scholarship celebration provides us with an opportunity to not only celebrate our deserving recipients, but also a moment to recognize our donors.  Without our donors, many of whom are with us tonight, we wouldn’t be here this evening.   Tonight’s awards total $158,658.48, and invested donations in our scholarship funds totaling 3.75 million are the reason your award is possible.  “

Phillip Morgan, RCCF Board President, thanked everyone for attending our annual Scholarship Celebration.  He gave special acknowledgements to the staff, Board of Directors, and scholarship committees for the immense time and dedication given throughout the busy months determining scholarship recipients.  Phillip then turned his focus to the scholarship recipients and the scholarship donors:  “…The real reason we are all here tonight is because of the founding donors of the scholarships being awarded.  If it weren’t for the generosity of the individuals, families, and groups that started the scholarship funds, we wouldn’t be here tonight, regardless of your achievements. “

Phillip concluded by thanking the donors present, “Thank you for believing in our future generation’s education and choosing to honor your friend or loved one by establishing a scholarship fund through the Foundation.  You are changing lives.  Donors, we know that while tonight is a joyous occasion, it can be bittersweet as well.  We hope the joy you receive tonight from being with the recipients can help ease the feeling of loss, even if for a little while. For many of you, this isn’t your first scholarship celebration, and I hope you have had positive experiences so far.  We look forward to continuing to work with you for years to come.”

Angie Bane, Kendra Steible, and Keith Perin joined Morgan, fund representatives, RCCF board members and Winters in presenting the scholarship awards to the students.

One of the highlights of the annual celebration is to have the past Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipient return after completing four years in the program to provide an update on their college experience and how the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship and Rush County Community Foundation made an impact on their life.  The 2012 recipient Natalie Kopf addressed those present.  She thanked her family, the Foundation and Lilly Endowment, Inc. for the support she had throughout her four years at Purdue University.  Natalie is looking forward to taking the next steps towards her future by getting married and working on her Masters’ Degree.

The 2016 scholarships awarded are as follows: