The Community Foundation of Boone County is proud to announce the nine students selected as finalists for the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. These students have distinguished themselves through exceptional leadership, community service, and academic excellence, embodying the values of this prestigious scholarship program.
The 2026 finalists are:
Dia Agarwal — Zionsville Community High School
Caroline Cox — Zionsville Community High School
Anwesha Mishra — Zionsville Community High School
Emma Nienaber — Lebanon High School
Hope Roth — Covenant Christian High School
Rebecca Rustin — Western Boone Junior-Senior High School
Anthony Thieu — Zionsville Community High School
Isaac Threlkeld — Western Boone Junior-Senior High School
William Weber — Zionsville Community High School
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is one of the most prestigious awards available to Indiana students, providing recognition and financial support to those who have shown outstanding dedication to their communities and academics.
The finalists were evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: community involvement, volunteerism, commitment to the State of Indiana, work experience, academic performance, school activities, short answer essays, and two letters of
recommendation. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship finalists recently participated in an interview process and the winners will be announced mid-December. “We are thrilled to announce our nine finalists for the Boone County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for the Class of 2026. Once again, we were inspired by the remarkable caliber of applicants,” said Ali Maxey, CFBC Director of Education & Grantmaking. “This year’s student leaders continue to raise the bar with their commitment to academic excellence, service, and community impact. Each of these finalists reflects the values and promise of this scholarship, and we look forward to watching their continued growth and leadership as they shape the future of Boone County and beyond.”
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship can be used for full tuition at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading
to a baccalaureate degree. The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and
locally in Boone County through the Community Foundation of Boone County, is open to all Indiana residents who:
● claim residency in Boone County, Indiana
● are within the upper 20% of their high school’s graduating class after 6 semesters
● submit a complete online application including short answer essays, a personal statement, and two (non-school affiliated) letters of recommendation. One recommendation must be submitted by someone the student has worked with in a community service capacity.
● graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2026 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2026
● intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana
Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the
program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $490 million. More than
5,300 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since
the program’s inception.
For the full announcement and to learn more about the finalists, visit Community Foundation of Boone County.
About the Community Foundation of Boone County
The Community Foundation of Boone County exists to unite people, organizations, and
philanthropy to create a thriving community for all. Since 1991, its leaders have worked
to empower and engage local communities to make a difference right here in Boone
County, while also leading a vision to collaboratively address the root causes of
challenges facing Boone County in diverse and equitable ways. The Community
Foundation continues to invest in the people working to fill local needs and has granted
more than $33 million to nonprofit organizations and programs working to solve critical
challenges in Boone County. With over $40 million in net assets, the Community
Foundation works with donors to create permanent funds for charitable giving, to
strengthen Boone County for generations to come.
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created
in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their
pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a
financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a
distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the
Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion.
The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in
the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’
hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.
About Independent Colleges of Indiana
Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment
Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment
Inc. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private,
nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and
generate a total local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI
colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions
produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its
undergraduates.