Two Monroe County graduating high school seniors will be awarded four-year (eight semesters or twelve trimesters), full tuition scholarships to pursue baccalaureate degrees at colleges or universities in Indiana. The scholarship also includes up to $900 annually for required textbooks and equipment.
Eligibility Criteria:
The student must be a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of Monroe County, Indiana. The applicant will have attended an accredited Monroe County high school and/or the Indiana Academy for four years and graduate by June of 2015. The applicant must have a G.P.A. of 3.5 or above (on a four-point scale) through the first semester 2014-15 and plan to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an Indiana college or university beginning in the Fall of 2015.
Conflict of Interest Criteria:
In order to comply with IRS rules, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Inc. has determined that the applicant must note on the Scholarship application form any of the following relationships: A child or step-child, grandchild or step-grandchild, great grandchild or step-great grandchild, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law (or spouse of any before mentioned persons), or spouse of someone who is currently a Director, member of the Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee, or staff of the Community Foundation. Further, for the applicant to be eligible if any of the previously mentioned relationships to any current high school Scholarship Selection Committee member exists, the committee member must not be involved in any way with the student selections for this year.
Selection Criteria:
There is no rigid model for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. The student who demonstrates ability and potential through community service, exemplary school citizenship, outstanding academic performance and school attendance will be considered. S.A.T. scores and the student’s G.P.A. will be reviewed. An attendance rate of 95% or better during high school career is expected.
Retention Criteria:
In order to retain the scholarship for the full four years, the student must maintain full-time status at an Indiana college or university and be a student “in good academic standing”. A copy of each semester’s bill must be sent to the Community Foundation office as soon as received by the student. All book receipts from the current year must be turned in to the Foundation office and any unused book stipend money returned. A copy of the student’s cumulative transcript must be submitted as soon as it is available each Spring. Lilly Scholars will need to submit documentation of enrollment and grades each semester. In addition, annual progress reports will be required throughout college and for ten years post-graduation from college.
Application Information:
Applications will be available online October 17, 2014 at www.cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-scholarship/
Participating high schools have assembled committees comprised of school staff members. These committees will score and rank all applicants. For 2015, the Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee will accept the top three (3) finalists from Bloomington High School North, three (3) finalists from Bloomington High School South, two (2) finalists from Edgewood High School, and one (1) each from the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, Indiana Academy, Bloomington Graduation School at Broadview Learning Center, and Lighthouse Christian Academy. Applications are evaluated by schools’ Lilly committees then are reviewed by foundation staff to confirm eligibility criteria is met. “Blinded” versions (all identifying information removed) are then scored by the Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee. The Committee will then interview selected finalists. Foundation staff combines scores from the written evaluation and interview evaluation to provide the final ranking composite. If there is a tie, staff will review applications for a “yes” answer to the question “Will you be the first person in your family lineage to complete a baccalaureate degree?”. Applicant who has answered “Yes” will win the tie. If neither or both applicants answer yes, staff will consider composite score on Criterion #3 of written evaluation. If there is still a tie, staff will consider composite score on Criteria #4 of written evaluation. The Community Foundation will nominate two recipients and four alternates. Final approval of Lilly Scholars is made by Independent Colleges of Indiana.
What additional information is required to be provided through the online application?
- An official academic transcript. After students provide email addresses for school Guidance staff, the online system will generate automatic emails to Guidance staff requesting upload of official transcripts. Finalists will be asked to submit their Fall semester 2014 grades once finalists are determined and grades are available.
- Two letters of reference from adults other than family members. Through the online scholarship application process, students must provide emails addresses for the referrers, and the system will generate emailed requests for letters of reference. One should be from a school representative; i.e. teacher, counselor, coach, club sponsor, and one from a non-school related community connection; i.e. youth group leader, community volunteer supervisor, or employer.
- Essay questions – Applicants must provide responses to the following written essay questions:
Question #1): What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing our community, state, country, world, (choose one) and how might your plans for the future impact this issue? Limit response to 200 words.
Question #2): In your wildest dreams, if you had no boundaries, limitations, or expectations of you, what would you like to experience in your lifetime? Limit response to 400 words.
Deadline to Apply
Applications should be completed and submitted online by December 1, 2014. Application components must be 100% complete as indicated online to be considered.
Timeline
- October 17, 2014 Applications available online
- December 1, 2014 Application Deadline
- December 19, 2014 Schools submit online reviews and scoring to CF by 5:00pm
- January 7, 2015 Blind applications available online to CF scholarship Committee for scoring
- January 28, 2015 Application scoring completed by Scholarship Committee
- February 4-20, 2015 Finalist Interviews, Committee selects nominees
- February 26, 2015 Community Foundation Board approves nominees
- February 27, 2015 Nominee Report and documentation sent to ICI
- By March 27, 2015 ICI notifies CF of approved nominees. CF will immediately notify students and make announcement of recipients.
Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation has granted nearly $20 million to more than 380 local nonprofit organizations. Our $25 million endowment is growing, and so is the difference we make by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
For more information on the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship contact:
Marcus Whited, Office Administrator
Community Foundation • Bloomington and Monroe County, Inc.
101 W. Kirkwood Avenue, Suite 321
Bloomington, Indiana 47404
[email protected]
Phone: 812-333-9016
www.cfbmc.org