COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY ANNOUNCES 2012 LILLY ENDOWMENT COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
March 28, 2012 — Two Howard County students have been named recipients of four-year, full-tuition scholarships as the Community Foundation of Howard County 2012 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.
Glenda Hernandez, daughter of Angel and Glenda Hernandez, and Michael Jones, son of Ronald and Susanne Jones, will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.
Glenda, a Kokomo High School student, is a member of the FIRST TechnoKats Robotics Team, Future Business Leaders of America, Diversity Club, Mental Health America, National Honor Society, and the German and Spanish Clubs. She was the emcee for the TechnoKats Robotics Team’s 20th season event and Physics Class Student of the Month. Other honors include Outstanding Computer Applications Student Award, Honorary Mention in the painting category at Indiana University Kokomo’s Annual High School Exhibition and Outstanding Student Award in College Preparatory Chemistry. Glenda plans to attend Purdue Universit to study electrical engineering.
Michael, a Western High School student, is a member and manager of the varsity swimming team, Student Council president, a National Honor Society officer, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Grey T-Shirt Club president and an active church volunteer. He was a Hoosier Boys State Delegate and a recipient of the H. Dean Resler Outstanding Student of the Year Award. Michael plans to attend Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to study mechanical engineering.
This is the 15th year that the Lilly Endowment has funded the Community Scholars program. The Community Foundation of Howard County defined the criteria based on the endowment’s goal to "raise the educational attainment in Indiana." The criteria used in the selection process include academic achievement, financial need, potential for success, preference for first-generation college attendees, and school, community and work activities. There were 59 Howard County students who applied for the scholarship. There were 142 scholarships awarded statewide.
"This was an impressive group of students," said Glenn Grundmann, chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarship Committee. "This scholarship recognizes that a great portion of Indiana's future is dependent on retaining educated citizens. After interviewing the finalists, it's clear that our students are up to the challenge. It’s a great program and the Foundation is pleased to be a part of it."
After the Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarship Committee selected six finalists, the names were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) for the selection of recipients. ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.
The Community Foundation of Howard County recognized the achievement of the other four finalists with $1,000 scholarships. They include Kody Augustine from Western High School, son of Kevin and Vicki Augustine; E. Joseph Fipps from Eastern High School, son of Ernest and Melissa Fipps; Jordan Shoemaker from Kokomo High School, daughter of David Shoemaker and Dawn Williams; and Erin Weber from Western High School, daughter Anthony and Michaela Weber.
The Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc. was formed as a not-for-profit public charity in March 1991. The Foundation seeks to serve donors and make grants to benefit the citizens of Howard County. For more information about the Community Foundation, contact Ron Harper or Hilda Burns at 765-454-7298 or ron@cfhoward.org and hilda@cfhoward.org. The Web site www.cfhoward.org contains information about making gifts to endowment funds,scholarships and grantmaking.