 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Twelve of Grant County ’s outstanding graduating seniors were honored with The Community Foundation of Grant County, Indiana, Inc.’s Academic Excellence Awards. All of this year’s recipients will receive special recognition plaques along with monetary awards.
Two students will receive full, four-year scholarships as the Community Foundation’s 2008 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. Steven J. Porter, Lakeview Christian School, and Rebecca Tweedell, Marion High School, will receive not only full tuition to the Indiana College of their choice, but also an $800 stipend for required books and equipment.
Mr. Porter, son of JC and Lori Porter, with a 4.0 GPA ranks first in his class and plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University to study Media Communications. Ms. Tweedell, daughter of William and Cynthia Tweedell, also ranks first in her class with a 4.0 GPA and plans to studying microbiology and chemistry at Purdue University .
Each Grant County accredited high school is allowed to select one representative. The representatives must have a minimum of 3.5 grade point average. Selection traits include scholastic achievement, attitude, character, desire, and school and community involvement.
Other Lilly finalists included Eastbrook High School’s Daniel L. Rodman, Madison-Grant High School’s Kelsi M. Morrison, Mississinewa High School’s Kathleen E. Atkins, Oak Hill High School’s Molly K. Rice, and The King’s Academy’s Nathan J. White. Each of these students will receive a $1500 scholarship from the Lawrence and Otie Sanborn Educational Endowment Fund within the Foundation.
After the Community Foundation scholarship selection committee narrows the field of representatives to two nominees and one alternate, the finalists’ names are submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the selection of the recipients.
ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit colleges and universities in the state.
Other Academic Excellence Award recipients included Marion High School ’s Kayla Beckman, Eric R. Kimmel and Allyce Mihelich, Lakeview Christian School ’s Stephen Briles and David T. Collins. Each of these students will receive $1000 scholarships from the Community Foundation’s Academic Excellence Award Fund.
The Foundation encourages ways to increase our educational attainment levels so that we can increase our economic development opportunities and therefore build a better quality of life in Grant County .
An initial set of college pennants were given to every school system in Grant County for their middle and high schools to display in their entrance ways. Hopefully, this concept will begin building the “college culture” the minute students walk in the doors and show them that their dreams are possible.
School faculty and staff will be encouraged to add to this starter set by donating a pennant from their alma mater. Community members are also welcome to purchase a pennant from their alma mater and donate to the local schools.
We are hoping that these small gifts to the schools can make a huge ripple effect to build a “college culture” in Grant County.
Kathleen Atkins
