The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe Country has announced Monroe County’s 2019 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients. Christian Gettelfinger and Calvin Prenkert will each receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana public or private college of their choosing. In addition to the cost of tuition, they will receive a $900 annual stipend for books and other required materials.
Christian Gettelfinger of Bloomington High School North is the son of Gary Gettelfinger and stepson of Karen Hrisomalos. His school activities have included Dance Marathon for Riley Hospital for Children, Hoosiers Outrun Cancer, Student Athletic Board, Cougar Leaders, Habitat for Humanity, and Best Buddies. He has participated in a number of athletic programs including Bloomington High School North Tennis and Lacrosse, United States Tennis Association, Russell Road Racquet Club, and Palm Springs Racquet Club. For 11 years, Christian has been active with Camp Kasem, a free summer camp for children impacted by a parent’s cancer. Most recently serving as a counselor-in-training, Christian is regarded as a compassionate and inspiring leader to fellow campers. He is planning to attend Indiana University in the fall and major in biology.
“I would like to thank God, my friends, family, coaches and teachers for support over the years,” said Gettelfinger. “I am blessed to be a Lilly Scholar and want to thank the Lilly Endowment and the Community Foundation for this opportunity.”
Calvin Prenkert of Bloomington High School South is the son of Jamie and Debra Prenkert. His school activities have included National Honor Society, Panther Activity Council, Peer Mediators, Bloomington South Dance Marathon, Student Council, Quill and Scroll, and the Optimist Newspaper. He has volunteered at The Nest at New Hope for Families, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, and First Presbyterian Church. He has participated in athletic programs, including Bloomington High School South Tennis, Bloomington Bullets Ultimate Frisbee, and the Bloomington Ultimate Frisbee Adult Recreational League. Calvin has also been passionately involved in theater and choir programs at South and in the Bloomington community with significant roles in Hello Dolly, Guys and Dolls, and Footloose. Calvin plans to attend Indiana University in the fall.
“I am extremely humbled and blessed to be a recipient of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship,” said Prenkert. “I would like to thank the Lilly Endowment, the Community Foundation, my teachers and administrators, and my parents for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I recognize that I have been given a great gift and I know I will do whatever I can to help generate a positive impact in the world.”
“If you are looking for affirmation that the future holds promise, I invite you to learn more about our Lilly Scholars, Calvin and Christian, Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson. “Both are humble, caring and hardworking individuals who have excelled in school and in life. It is our pleasure to introduce them not only as Lilly Scholars but also as exceptional representatives of our community.”
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has also announced that the eight other 2019 Lilly Scholarship finalists will receive $1,000 scholarships to use at a college or university of their choosing:
2019 JPMorgan Chase Bank Scholarship Recipients
- Jerrett Alexander, Bloomington High School North
- Nidhi Krishnan, Bloomington High School South
- Noelle Simoneaux, Edgewood High School
2019 Community Foundation Scholarship Recipients
- Caroline Cherry, Bloomington High School North
- Hope Gummere, Bloomington High School South
- Jordan Monson, Bloomington High School South
- Jonathan Rickert, Bloomington High School North
- Wilson Zinkan, Bloomington High School South
The ten finalists were selected from among 22 semifinalists and 69 total Monroe County applicants. Applications for the 2019 scholarship were blindly reviewed and independently scored by members of a scholarship committee at each Monroe County high school to identify semifinalists. Semifinalists were selected from each Monroe County high school that had applicants. The number of semifinalists selected was reflective of the relative size of each Monroe County high school’s senior class. This year’s 22 semifinalists included eight seniors from Bloomington High School South, seven from Bloomington High School North, four from Edgewood High School, and one each from the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and the Indiana Academy. See complete list of semifinalists.
The Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee, which is made up of members of the community and former Monroe County Lilly Scholars, blindly reviewed and scored the semifinalists’ applications to select the ten finalists. Next, the finalists were interviewed, and their interview scores combined with scoring from the written application. The finalist’s rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations for scholarship recipients, were submitted to the statewide scholarship administrator Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection of Monroe County’s two 2019 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.
In selecting the recipients for the Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, consideration is given to student activities and achievements, community and civic service, academic performance, and leadership potential.
Since 1998, the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program has assisted more than 4,600 Indiana high school graduates statewide with more than $392 million in tuition to pursue baccalaureate degrees at Indiana colleges and universities. The program is administered by Independent Colleges of Indiana and community foundations in each of Indiana’s 92 counties.
Previous Lilly scholarship recipients from Monroe County include:
2018
Aaron Nunes (BHSS); Purdue University
Greta Stephenson (BHSN); Indiana University
2017
Betsy Beggs (BHSS); DePauw University
Frances Kincaid (BHSN); Indiana University
2016
Greer King (BHSN); Indiana University
Brian Emmons (BHSN); Indiana University
2015
Sidrah Din (BHSS); Rose-Hulman
Riley Callahan (Lighthouse Christian Academy); Rose-Hulman
2014
Emma St. John (BHSN); Indiana University
Winston Winkler (BHSN); Indiana University
2013
Hannah Alani (BHSS); Indiana University
Shannon Jager (BHSN); DePauw University
2012
Evelyn Bauman (BHSS); Notre Dame
Alex St. John (BHSN); Indiana University
2011
Maha Elsarrag (BHSN); Indiana University
Lynne Bauman (BHSS); Notre Dame
2010
Bhavin Patel (BHSN); Indiana University
Stephen Zerfas (BHSN); Notre Dame
2009
Miranda Arthur (Edgewood); Butler
Audrey Ernst (Edgewood); University of Indianapolis
2008
Ashley Larason (BHSS); Purdue University
Thomas Weakley (Edgewood); DePauw / Indiana University
2007
Meehan Lenzen (BHSN); Notre Dame
Kristen Miller (BHSS); Indiana University
2006
David Kim (BHSN); Notre Dame
Jenna Beasley (BHSN); Indiana University
2005
Manisha Patel (BHSN); Indiana University
Jesse Pontius (BHSN); Purdue University
2004
Ryan Hodge (Indiana Academy); Rose-Hulman
Isaac (Ike) Dolby (BHSN); Purdue
Jennifer (Laird) Black (BHSS); Butler
Tara Langvardt (Edgewood); DePauw University
Caitlin (Odya) Homenda (Edgewood); Indiana University
Mark Strother (BHSN); Indiana University
2003
Amber (Knowlton) Todd (BHSS); Indiana University
David Courtney (BHSS); Earlham
Jennifer Richardson (BHSN); Indiana University
Robert (Matt) Hawkins (Edgewood); Rose-Hulman
Abram Hess (Indiana Academy); Indiana University
Anand Patel (BHSN); Indiana University
2002
Theodore (Tio) Savich (BHSN); Earlham
Aliese Sarkissian (BHSN); DePauw University
Virginia Chappell (BHSS); Indiana University
Michael Kruszynski (Indiana Academy); Rose-Hulman
James Moynihan (Edgewood); Butler
Andrea (Stalcup) Wallace (Edgewood); University of Evansville
2001
Lindsay Kile (Edgewood); Purdue
Ruthie (Willsey) Sterrett (BHSS); Purdue
Ann Marshall (BHSN); Indiana University
Elizabeth Sloan (BHSN); Indiana University
Reed Carmichael (BHSN); DePauw University
Talialin Fehrenbach (BHSS); Butler
2000
Andrew Krebbs (Edgewood); Indiana University
Michael Goodman (BHSN); Indiana University
Alison O’Malley (Edgewood); Butler
Morgan Volrich Riggs (BHSN); Indiana University
1999
Kathleen Tran (BHSS); Indiana University
Aaron Ray (Edgewood); Indiana University
Amanda Horvath (BHSS); Notre Dame
Nathan Fuller (BHSN); Rose-Hulman
1998
Amber (Martindale) Yount (BHSS); Butler
Rebecca (Strain) Spriggs (Edgewood); University of Evansville
About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County:
Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $27 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $32 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes and community resources.