Eligibility and Criteria

Generally speaking, this page can be considered current from November 15 through the due date in January each school year. 

Before Getting Started
Please read all of the information provided below before beginning the application process. For application instructions, visit the Apply for the Scholarship page.

Conditions for the Award
Students named as Lilly Endowment Community Scholars must:

1. Graduate from high school by the end of June 2012.
2. Be accepted to a full-time baccalaureate degree program at any Indiana public or private college or university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
3. Select the college or university they will attend and notify their Community Foundation of selection no later than May 1, 2012.
4. Hold freshman status upon entering their chosen college or university.
5. Apprise the Community Foundation Alliance annually of their academic status while pursuing their baccalaureate degree and of their postgraduate status (education and employment) for at least ten years after graduation.
6. Account for and return to ICI any amount of the allocation for required books and equipment remaining at the end of each school year.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Be an Indiana resident who attends high school in Vanderburgh County or lives in Vanderburgh County.
2. Be a graduate of an accredited Vanderburgh County high school or the Indiana Academy by June 2012.
3. If your school ranks its students, be in the top 10% of graduating class.
4. Have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale) upon high school graduation.
5. Have either a minimum SAT score of 1800 or a minimum ACT score of 27.
6. Have completed the Indiana Academic Honors curriculum in high school upon graduation.
7. Be available for an interview on February 18, 2012, with the scholarship committee if selected as a finalist and be prepared to write a short essay on a selected topic at the time of the interview. Interviews may be rescheduled only for finalists with extreme family emergencies or situations of a critical nature and at the discretion of the Community Foundation on a case-by-case basis.
8. Select the college or university you will attend and notify the Vanderburgh Community Foundation of selection no later than May 1, 2012, if selected as a Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.
9. Apply for the scholarship in only one county.

Selection Criteria

Academic Performance
Weight: 30%
Measurement: A consideration of GPA throughout the four years of high school, SAT or ACT scores, and difficulty of curriculum.

School Activities, Work History, and Community Activities
Weight: 25%
Measurement: Leadership roles, indicators that student can prioritize and accomplish multiple tasks, work experience, time management, working with others, concern for others and the community.

Obstacles Overcome and Financial Need
Weight: 15%
Measurement: Student has faced and overcome hardships in his or her personal life and/or education and shown resilience; student has a financial need; outside help is needed for student to attend college or the best college for his or her discipline; student is a first-generation college student; student has other siblings attending college; any other special circumstances.

Character
Weight: 15%
Measurement: Recommendations of teachers and others acquainted with the student as demonstrated in letters of reference, student's concern for others as demonstrated by activities, and student's ability to display honesty and good judgment.

Writing, Personal Statement, and Interview
Weight:  15%
Measurement: Student clearly states his/her goals and has a plan for attaining those goals, personal motivation to succeed, ability to articulate, poise, language skills, eye contact, sincerity, enthusiasm, and general views on his/her role in the world.

Note: In the event of a tie between two candidates, the committee will break the tie by selecting the student with the highest score for the "Academic Performance" criterion. If this score is a tie, the committee will break the tie by selecting the student with the highest SAT/ACT score.