Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Now Open

The 2027 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Owen County through the Owen County Community Foundation. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Owen County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university.

The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Owen County through the Owen County Community Foundation, is open to all Indiana residents who: 

• graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2027 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2027
• intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana
• meet the criteria specific to their local community foundation. Visit www.owencountycf.org/students for complete information regarding the Owen County application criteria.

Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Owen County and apply for this scholarship by creating an account as bit.ly/OCCFscholarship.  Applications must be completed and submitted by Monday, August 31 by 11:59pm to be considered.

Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: eligibility, academics, leadership, and accomplishments.  One finalist will be nominated by the Owen County Community Foundation, and their name will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipient.  The scholarship recipient will be notified in December.

Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million. More than 5,400 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception.

The primary purposes of LECSP 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. 

The Owen County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 28th year in Owen County.  “The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship reflects the belief that investing in young people is one of the most important ways we can build a stronger future for Owen County. This scholarship not only opens doors for outstanding students to pursue higher education, but it also encourages them to develop their talents, leadership skills, and commitment to service. We are proud to be part of a program that helps our students achieve their dreams while strengthening the quality of life in our community for generations to come,” said Janet Rummel, President & CEO of the Owen County Community Foundation. 

About the Owen County Community Foundation: The Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is a public charity founded in 1994 as a resource to connect caring individuals with causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. Since its founding, the OCCF has been able to grant more than $12.3 million to local students, area nonprofits and charitable organizations in our community. The OCCF is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Owen County, now and for generations to come. For more information on the scholarships awarded or how to begin your own philanthropic journey, please visit owencountycf.org, call 812-829-1725, or stop by our office located on the Courthouse Square at 60 E Market Street in Spencer!

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, Lilly Endowment Inc. is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 28 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,400 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5.3 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.

Contact Information: Karah Bobeck, 812-829-1725, karah@owencountycf.org