Two of Monroe County’s graduating high school seniors will each receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana public or private college of their choosing.
Ms. Sidrah Din and Mr. Riley Callahan were chosen as the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County’s 2015 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars from among 51 applicants representing five 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.
Sidrah Din of Bloomington High School South is the daughter of Faiza and Zahid Din. She plans to pursue post-secondary studies in Biomedical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. At BHSS, Sidrah has been on the honor roll for her entire career, earning a GPA of 4.32. She is president of the BHSS Orchestra and was chosen as a Leader of Tomorrow and was selected as a Scholastic Star. Sidrah has a passion for improving health care and believes strongly that people deserve the right to proper medical care regardless of financial status. She would like to focus on disease prevention as a proactive measure both in the United States and around the world. Sidrah plans to become an orthopedic doctor.
“It is a privilege to be a recipient of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, and I am honored that the Community Foundation is going to support me in the next stage of my life. ” Din said. “I cannot wait to continue making as much of a difference in the community as I can while pursuing my education at Rose-Hulman. I would especially like to thank all of the people who helped make this possible.”
Riley Callahan of Lighthouse Christian Academy, is the son of Susan and Brian Callahan. Riley also plans to pursue post-secondary studies in Biomedical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Riley has experienced a life-long passion for service to other people, as evidenced by his nine mission trips. Riley stated his belief that one only finds true joy when serving others. Riley has been involved with student council, National Honor Society, orchestra & band, drama, soccer, golf, church youth group and is an Eagle Scout.
“I am highly honored to be a recipient of the Lilly Scholarship. It is amazing to receive this award, because now I can achieve my dreams without future stress of paying for it. This is a culmination of many years of hard work and the support of friends, family and my school,” stated Riley upon learning of his selection. “I am so thankful and happy that I have been awarded this opportunity, and I look forward to giving back to my community.”
“The Lilly Scholarship is a game changer for not only Sidrah and Riley, but for their parents, too.” said Jean Emery, chair of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee. “I commend all ten Lilly finalists. Each finalist has worked very hard in their academics, school activities and in service to their community.”
The selection committee used a blind review process to score written applications from ten finalists. The other finalists, along with Din and Callahan, were Alison Burt, Megan Gardner, Morgan Huntington, Emily Maegerlein, Roger Morris, Elizabeth VanAllen, Nicholas Wernert, and Anthony Williams. 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-six Monroe County Lilly scholars in the last 18 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. 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
2014
Emma St. John (BHSN); Indiana University
Winston Winkler (BHSN); Indiana 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 $22 million to more than 390 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $26 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes and community resources.