Special to The Message
Reitz Memorial High School senior Simon Theby was surprised during a December assembly as he was named a Vanderburgh County 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipient.
The scholarship provides full tuition, required fees and an annual stipend of up to $900 for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. The scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, extracurricular activities, two essays and a selective interview process.
In a Facebook post, Reitz Memorial administration stated: “We couldn’t be prouder of Simon’s commitment to academics, service and leadership in the community! Congratulations, Simon!”
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.
Sidney Hardgrave, Vanderburgh Community Foundation regional director of community engagement and impact, said in a press release, “The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is often a life-changing opportunity for students. This scholarship is extremely competitive and requires the completion of a rigorous process including an extensive application, essays and an interview. We are fortunate in Vanderburgh County to have many talented students with a heart for service to their communities.”
Since its inception for the 1997-98 school year, Lilly Endowment has supported the Community Scholarship Program. More than 5,300 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship with grant funding totaling more than $490 million.
The primary purposes of the program, according to the press release, 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.