Paoli Community Foundation,
The purpose of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is to help raise the level of
educational attainment in Indiana. The scholarship provides a 4-year, full-tuition scholarship to one
student from every Indiana county. Each scholarship must be used to pursue a baccalaureate degree at
any accredited public or private Indiana college or university. For many students, the opportunity to
obtain a baccalaureate degree is just a dream; however, each year one lucky student has the chance to
receive it.
Regretfully, it has come to my attention that the recipient of the 2016 Lilly Endowment Community
Scholarship of 2016 has finished her college career prematurely. Three years prematurely in fact. To my
knowledge, the recipient finished with an Associate’s Degree in Geography after attending Indiana
University Bloomington after one year of attendance. While I am sure you are aware, I would like to
remind you some of the Key Elements the recipient is required to complete (these can be found at
icindiana.org); “attend any public or private, Indiana four-year college or university” and “must pursue
undergraduate study in a baccalaureate program on a full-time basis.” Unfortunately, the 2016 recipient
was unable to fulfill these requirements, having only finished after one year with an Associate’s Degree.
While the time has passed for the 2016 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship to be awarded to
another student who is capable, and extremely willing, to fulfill the scholarship requirements, I urge the
Committee Foundation scholarship committee to reevaluate their standards before another student is
awarded such a rare opportunity, only to squander what so many others only dream of having. As you
begin to select the 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, I hope the committee chooses
someone who will be able to fulfill the potential the opportunity the Lilly Scholarship provides.
Thank you,
Anonymous