Dustin Jackson awarded 2026 Owen County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship

The Owen County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Owen County: Dustin Jackson of Owen Valley High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are recognized for their community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership.

"It is an honor to award Dustin the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. His leadership, character and commitment to learning, both in his own pursuits and in supporting others within his community, embody the values this prestigious award is intended to recognize. We are confident that his passion for computer science will continue to have a positive impact," remarked Ronda Stogsdill, 2026 Committee Chair – OCCF Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Committee.

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Scholars also join the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects them with resources and opportunities to lead on campus and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).

"The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is what grants me the perfect opportunity to pursue my dreams. I am grateful to be granted this opportunity from the Community Foundation, and I promise I will not take it for granted. Not only will this make college more affordable for me, but it will also make it easier for me to give back to the community I've grown up in," shared Dustin Jackson, Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.

In nominating Owen County's Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, the Committee considered eligibility, academics, leadership and accomplishments. After narrowing the field of applicants, nominees were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), the statewide administrator of the program, for final selection.

"This year's scholarship applicants brought exceptional talent, dedication and heart to the process. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship requires students to demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, community involvement and strong communication skills, and this year's candidates rose to the challenge. Each student who applied showed impressive potential and a genuine commitment to making a difference, embodying the qualities that strengthen our community and inspire the next generation," expressed Janet Rummel, President & CEO of the Owen County Community Foundation.

Since its inception in 1997–98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefiting over 5,400 Indiana students. The program's primary purposes are to raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana, to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations play, and to encourage and support Lilly Scholars' engagement with Indiana leaders to improve quality of life statewide.

About 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.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.:

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment supports community development, education and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana.

About Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI):

Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for Indiana's 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana's highest four-year graduation rates and produce 30 percent of Indiana's bachelor's degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.