Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
Fueling Student Success
Attention Class of 2025!
2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Application Available July 15, 2024!
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.
Create an account, complete the application by 9/5/2024 at 11 pm.
Apply Now
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.
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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2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Interviews
Tuesday, October 15 at 6 pm at the Community Foundation of Noble County office at 103 West 3rd Street, Ligonier, IN.
Students selected to interview (check back in mid October for the list of students to be interviewed).
Students should arrive between 5:30 pm and 5:45 pm. Please do not arrive sooner than 5:30 pm. Location will be at the Community Foundation of Noble County office at 103 West 3rd Street, Ligonier, IN.
• Students should dress appropriate for the interview as if it is for a job. Interviews will start at 6 pm with the six judges. Interviews may last until 9 pm. If you have a school obligation that evening, please let Jennifer know as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your need to leave early.
• Enter the building on the North entrance.
• Student’s do not need to prepare anything in advance. You will know the answers to the questions we ask.
• Light snacks and sandwiches will be available before or after for students. However, feel free to eat something before you arrive.
• Please bring a photo/senior photo with your name, contact information, college major, college choice (if known) with you. If you do not have one, a photo will be taken during the evening. If you forget to bring one, that is okay. You can email it to us at Jennifer@cfnoble.org.
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Other scholarships offered through the community foundation for 2025 will be available to apply online through the community foundation’s website on November 25, 2024 to January 16, 2025 at 11 pm.
Scholarship questions may be directed Monday-Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm to:
Jennifer Norris
Director of Communications and Scholarships
Jennifer@cfnoble.org
260-894-3335
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Please read the scholarship criteria:
To apply, applicants must be a high school senior who resides in Noble County, plans to receive a diploma from an accredited Indiana high school by the end of June 2025, and will pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an accredited public or private nonprofit college or university in Indiana. Students must achieve a high school grade point average of at least 3.80 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application. Applicants must show evidence of their community service, volunteerism, extracurricular activities, work experience, and leadership roles. - Complete the required 3 essays. Each essay must have between 125 and 250 words.
- You must have a G.P.A. of 3.80 or better to apply. You cannot round up your G.P.A.
- Every applicant must list two references and request recommendation forms. You may not list relatives. Students are not disqualified if less than two references are submitted.
- ALL applicants are reminded to complete their high school rank, high school G.P.A., and their most current high school transcript with G.P.A. with the application.
- Track community service, volunteer activities, extra curricular, work experience and achievements on a spreadsheet including years involved and include leadership positions. This information will be helpful when completing the community foundation scholarship application.
APPLICATION TIPS
Every student’s application is important to us, and we hope the following tips will be useful:
- In addition to academic performance, the selection committee looks for scholarship applicants who display engagement in their schools and community. Indications of a qualified applicant include leadership positions within sports teams, clubs, and community organizations. Volunteering with nonprofit organizations is another way to improve an application. Some organizations are almost always in need of volunteers, including Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, Humane Society of Noble County, Noble House Ministries, or any of the food pantries just to name a few.
- Most importantly, all applications must be submitted online on or before the deadline. No scholarship applications or recommendations will be accepted past this time. Questions can be directed to Jennifer at the Community Foundation of Noble County by email Jennifer@CFNoble.org for call 260-894-3335 Monday – Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.