Two graduating high school seniors, both from Bloomington High School North, will each receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana public or private college of their choosing. Ms. Emma St. John and Mr. Winston Winkler were chosen as the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County’s 2014 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars from among 62 applicants representing six high schools in Monroe County. In addition to the cost of tuition, they will each receive a $900 annual stipend for books and other materials.
“These two recipients are incredible young people selected from an outstanding group of finalists,” said Jean Emery, chair of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee. “The committee was highly impressed with their poise during the interview process. We were truly amazed with not only their academic achievements but how each finds the time to volunteer in so many ways in our community, which was a major component of the selection criteria. The entire group of finalists should be congratulated.”
Emma St. John is the daughter of David and Karin St. John and plans to pursue post-secondary studies in Human Biology at Indiana University. At BHSN, Emma has served as President of the Student Athletic Board, Co-President and Leadership Board Member of Habitat for Humanity, and President of the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer team. She is an Academic Scholar Award recipient and a member of the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and Business Professionals of America. Emma has been recognized as an outstanding athlete, being named to the Herald Times All-Area Track & Field First Team and All-Area Basketball Second Team and was selected as senior captain.
“I am honored to have received the Lilly Scholarship, especially among such a talented group of finalists.” St. John said. “I am truly grateful that The Lilly Endowment and The Community Foundation chose to invest in my education and I am so excited to be attending Indiana University in the fall as a Human Biology major.”
Winston Winkler is the son of Tiffany Tsu and Malcolm Winkler and plans to pursue post-secondary studies in Bio-Chemistry at Indiana University. Winston has participated at BHSN as a LOTS Senior, Student Council Executive Board Member, Student Athletic Board Member, Cougar Leader, National Honor Society Member, and is currently serving as the Senior Class President. Winston has been a four-year member of the school band, earning many distinctions as a musician, and has participated in chess competition for four years. Winston is a four-year member of Track and Field and also participated in Soccer and Lacrosse. He has been very involved with his community, serving as Co-President for Habitat for Humanity, and as the Morale/Publicity Executive for the Riley Dance Marathon and for Hoosiers Outrun Cancer.
“I am extraordinarily thrilled to have received the Lilly Scholarship”, stated Winston upon learning of his selection. “It is my sincerest hope that with the help and support from the scholarship I can continue to uphold the values of the Community Foundation, and have community work and service to others at the forefront of my thought. I know that the Lilly Scholarship will change my life, and I would really like to thank all the people who have supported me along the way.”
Gregorio Lopes, from Bloomington High School North, was one of the original selections for the award but declined in order to attend school out of state.
The selection committee used a blind review process to score written applications from eleven finalists. The other finalists, along with Lopes, St. John and Winkler, were Denise Dorotheo, Gabriel Jones, Emily Moon, Katie Moore, Beth Nethery, Samantha Sparks, Hannah Spiegel, and David Nathan Wigington. Each finalist was interviewed, with their interview scores tallied alongside the scores from the written portion of their application. The rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations were submitted to and approved by Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., a nonprofit corporation representing 31 regionally accredited degree-granting colleges and universities in the state.
Since 1998, the Lilly Endowment Scholarship Program has assisted more than 3,900 Indiana high school graduates with more than $300,000,000 in tuition for pursuing baccalaureate degrees at Indiana colleges and universities.
“The Community Foundation is pleased to have been given the opportunity to work with the Lilly Endowment and Independent Colleges of Indiana in selecting fifty-four Monroe County Lilly scholars in the last 17 years,” stated Community Foundation President and CEO, Tina Peterson. “The benefit realized by this community and our state by encouraging these exceptional young people to pursue an education in Indiana is immeasurable. As a condition of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, the recipients stay in touch with the Community Foundation for at least a decade after receiving their undergraduate degrees. It’s inspiring to watch them become teachers, doctors, engineers, scientists, journalists or even professional bloggers, like Indianapolis physician and blogger Annie Marshall, a BHSN graduate, Monroe County Lilly Scholar and author of Annie’s Eats. This scholarship allows them to pursue careers that might otherwise have been unattainable and helps us ensure that many of these young people stay here, in Indiana, to become the citizens and leaders needed to ensure a bright, prosperous future for our communities.”
Previous Lilly scholarship recipients from Monroe County include:
1998
Amber (Martindale) Yount (1998, BHSS); Butler
Rebecca (Strain) Spriggs (1998, Edgewood); University of Evansville
1999
Kathleen Tran (1999, BHSS); Indiana University
Aaron Ray (1999, Edgewood); Indiana University
Amanda Horvath (1999, BHSS); Notre Dame
Nathan Fuller (1999, BHSN); Rose-Hulman
2000
Andrew Krebbs (2000, Edgewood); Indiana University
Michael Goodman (2000, BHSN); Indiana University
Alison O’Malley (2000, Edgewood); Butler
Morgan Volrich Riggs (2000, BHSN); Indiana University
2001
Lindsay Kile (2001, Edgewood); Purdue
Ruthie (Willsey) Sterrett (2001, BHSS); Purdue
Ann Marshall (2001, BHSN); Indiana University
Elizabeth Sloan (2001, BHSN); Indiana University
Reed Carmichael (2001, BHSN); DePauw University
Talialin Fehrenbach (2001, BHSS); Butler
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
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
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
2005
Manisha Patel (BHSN); Indiana University
Jesse Pontius (BHSN); Purdue University
2006
David Kim (BHSN); Notre Dame
Jenna Beasley (BHSN); Indiana University
2007
Meehan Lenzen (BHSN); Notre Dame
Kristen Miller (BHSS); Indiana University
2008
Ashley Larason (BHSS); Purdue University
Thomas Weakley (Edgewood); DePauw/ Indiana University
2009
Miranda Arthur (Edgewood); Butler
Audrey Ernst (Edgewood); University of Indianapolis
2010
Bhavin Patel (BHSN); Indiana University
Stephen Zerfas (BHSN); Notre Dame
2011
Maha Elsarrag (BHSN); Indiana University
Lynne Bauman (BHSS); Notre Dame
2012
Evelyn Bauman (BHSS); Notre Dame
Alex St. John (BHSN); Indiana University
2013
Hannah Alani (BHSS); Indiana University
Shannon Jager (BHSN); DePauw University
About CFBMC: 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 $20 million to more than 380 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $25 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes and community resources.