The 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application will be available in Noble County through the Community Foundation of Noble County. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one in Noble 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 Noble County through the Community Foundation of Noble County, is open to all Indiana residents who:

• graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2025 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2025;
• intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana; and
• meet the criteria specific to their local community foundation.

Criteria for Noble County’s 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship

To apply, students must be a high school senior residing in Noble County.  Applicants will be required to complete three essays, submit two references, and must have a high school grade point average of at least a 3.80 on a 4.00 scale at time of application.  Applicants may not round up their GPA. Additionally, applicants must show evidence of community service, volunteerism, extracurricular activities, any work experience, and leadership roles.

Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Noble County and apply for this scholarship by visiting www.CFNoble.org. From the scholarship tab, click on the  Applications must be completed and submitted by Thursday, September 5, 2025, at 11 pm to be considered.

Ten students will be invited to an interview on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, to begin at 6 pm at the office of the Community Foundation of Noble County, 103 W. Third Street, Ligonier, IN. Students should arrive between 5:30 pm and 5:45 pm. One finalist will be nominated by the Community Foundation of Noble County and their name will be submitted to ICI for final selection. The scholarship recipient will be notified in December.

On July 15th click here begin the application process. Or visit www.cfnoble.org click on the “Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship” tab from the “Scholarships” drop down menu to begin the application process.

Community Foundation of Noble County is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 28^th year in Noble County.  “We are excited to be a part of this opportunity provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.” said Jennifer Norris, Dir. of Communications and Scholarships for the Community Foundation of Noble County.

The Community Foundation of Noble County was established in 1991 with the mission of improving the quality of life in Noble County by serving as catalyst for positive change, enabling donors to carry out charitable intent, and making grants.

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.

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 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.

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We are excited to announce that Amrie Trappe has been named the recipient of the Peter R. Bottomley Scholarship! Amrie will be attending Ball State University and pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus on music. Amrie’s first band director enlightened her of the possibilities of music and the need to share it. Amrie wants to pursue her desire for music through performance and growth while sharing music with others.

The 2025 Scholarship season opens on November 25th. Visit https://cfnoble.org/scholarships/ and take the Eligibility Quiz to find out what scholarships you are matched with AND complete the 2025 CFNC Main Application that collects activities, community service, essays, references, etc.

My name is Grant Flora, and I have the opportunity to serve as the Marketing/Administrative Intern this summer! As a past beneficiary of the Foundation’s work and the amazing community in Noble County, I’m glad to be able to pour back into the community that helped me develop into the person I am today. I am currently studying Multimedia Communications at Indiana Wesleyan University, where I also compete in the sports of Cross Country and Track and Field! I enjoy playing and watching a variety of different sports in my free time, as well as playing the piano and spending time with friends and family. I’ve been blessed in many different ways throughout my life, and I want to help return the favor in as many ways as possible, which includes what I can do here for the Foundation. I’m grateful for it all, and I’m looking forward to what we can do together!

PICTURE: Superintendent Nate Lowe on the left, Mrs. DeeDee Schermerhorn on the right, 4th graders of Mrs. Schermerhorn’s classroom.

The Community Foundation of Noble County is proud to announce that West Noble School Corporation has been awarded a $1,500 grant from the Noble County Chess Fund. This grant will support the revitalization of chess education and clubs in West Noble schools, providing students with access to quality chess instruction and opportunities to participate in chess competitions.

The Noble County Chess Fund was established in December 1996 by a close friend, in memory of Chet Dekko. Mr. Dekko was a respected entrepreneur, business and community leader, and dedicated family man who believed in education as the key to an independent, successful life. To honor Mr. Dekko’s legacy and support chess education for elementary school children in Noble County. This donor created this fund in lieu of flowers.

West Noble School Corporation will use the grant to rejuvenate the West Noble Chess Club. Although some chess activities currently take place in classrooms and clubs across all four school buildings, the existing chess sets are outdated, the boards are worn out, and many pieces are missing. Furthermore, there are no clocks or notation books available. With the new equipment purchased through this grant, it is anticipated that chess participation will significantly increase during lunch periods, study halls, and classroom sessions.

“I spent an afternoon one week in a 5th-grade math class teaching chess etiquette and some basic patterns,” said Dr. Nate Lowe, superintendent of West Noble School Corporation. “The kids and the teacher were hungry for more …This grant will enable us to provide the necessary equipment and resources to foster a thriving chess culture in our schools.”

Dr. Nate Lowe also shared a heartwarming story that highlights the unifying power of chess.

“In Mrs. Kiser’s first-grade classroom at West Noble Primary, there are two students currently learning English. These children do not speak much since they are learning the language, but when they see the chess board, they beam with excitement. Both students had played chess with their families. These two first graders then taught their entire classroom how to play chess. It was a beautiful moment that demonstrated how chess can unite people of all backgrounds, no matter their language, abilities, age, or anything else.”

The grant will also be used to purchase chess clocks and notation books for students ready to advance to the next level of competition.

“When I coached the chess team at the high school 15 years ago, we participated in several scholastic chess tournaments in our area. We have students who could and should be competing at this level again,” added Lowe. “It is time to bring chess back to West Noble in a significant way.”

The Community Foundation of Noble County is excited to support West Noble School Corporation in this initiative through the Noble County Chess Club.

For more information about the Noble County Chess Fund, grant opportunities, or to learn how you can support educational initiatives in our community, please contact Program Director Jazmín Herrera at jazmin@cfnoble.org or 260-894-3335.