Owen County congratulates 2026 Lilly Scholarship finalists, announces upcoming student opportunities

The Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is proud to announce six outstanding local students as finalists for the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, which is one of the most prestigious scholarship opportunities in the state of Indiana.

This year, nine Owen County students applied for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, which provides full tuition, required fees, and up to $900 annually for books and equipment for four years of undergraduate study at an eligible Indiana college or university.

Following a competitive first round of evaluations, six students advanced to the second phase of the selection process, which included in-person interviews with the OCCF Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Committee.

The 2026 Owen County finalists are:

• Serenity Ferguson – Owen Valley High School
• Sean Goss – Owen Valley High School
• Dustin Jackson – Owen Valley High School
• Mason Paauwe – Cloverdale High School
• Kaitlynn Padgett – Owen Valley High School
• Phuc Tran – Owen Valley High School

One finalist will ultimately be nominated by the Owen County Community Foundation to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) for final selection. The 2026 Owen County Lilly Scholar will be announced in December 2025.

"The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is one of the most transformative opportunities available to our students," said Janet Rummel, OCCF President & CEO. "We're incredibly proud of each of our finalists and grateful to Lilly Endowment Inc. for continuing to invest in Indiana's future leaders."

OCCF scholarship application opens Nov. 26

Local students will soon have another opportunity to pursue scholarship funding through the Owen County Community Foundation. OCCF's 2026 Scholarship Application opens Nov. 26, offering more than 60 local scholarships totaling over $140,000 for students who reside in Owen County or attend Owen Valley High School.

Applications must be submitted by Jan. 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Students can apply at bit.ly/OCCFscholarship and can learn more at owencountycf.org/students.

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 area nonprofit and charitable organizations in our community, and over $3.2 million in early childhood – adult education funding since 1994. 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, visit owencounty.org or call 812-829-1725.

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 their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders' wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders' hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

About Independent Colleges of 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 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5.5 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.