The Spencer County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Spencer County – Mia Lawalin of Heritage Hills High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.
“Mia’s involvement and dedication to her school and her community were apparent in her application and interview. The nominating committee was honored to have the opportunity to meet her and recommend her for this life-changing opportunity,” said Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Spencer County Community Foundation.
Mia is the daughter of Ben and Abbie Lawalin, of Santa Claus. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in Secondary Mathematics Education. In addition to excelling academically, Mia is involved in a variety of school activities including Beta Club, Spell Bowl Team, Academic Bowl Team, Natural Helpers, Choir, Musical Productions, and Dance Team. Outside of academics, she is actively involved as team captain of JDRF Fundraiser Team, worship leader and leadership team of Santa Claus United Methodist Church, volunteer tutoring, and worship leader of Noel United Methodist Church.
Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities.
In determining Spencer County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominee, consideration was given to academic performance, an essay, community and school involvement, special circumstances, an impromptu essay, and an interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients.
“The Community Foundation was thoroughly pleased with the quality of the applications and the involvement of the applicants. Spencer County is full of talented youth,” said Alvey. Scholarship award alternates were also announced. The first alternate, Braxton Schaefer will receive a scholarship from the Friends of Spencer County Fund. Emma DeWeese was named the second alternate.
Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year since with grants totaling in excess of $505 million. More than 5,200 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception.
The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.