2009 Lilly Scholars & Academic Excellence Recipients

		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 2009 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. Tamara Barrett, Marion High School, and Adam Bernaix, Eastbrook 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. Ms. Barrett, daughter of Mike Barrett and Robyn Barrett-Seavers, with a 4.0 GPA ranks third in her class and plans to attend Notre Dame to study human development/pre-medicine. Mr. Bernaix, son of Jeff and Kathy Bernaix, ranks fourth in his class with a 3.969 GPA and plans to study mechanical engineering and business 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 Lakeview Christian School’s Blair Skinner, King’s Academy’s Rachel Weinmann, Oak Hill High School’s Nate Linna, Mississinewa High School’s Emily Shephard, and Madison-Grant High School’s Chandler Brobst. 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, private colleges and universities in the state. Other Academic Excellence Award recipients included Oak Hill High School ’s Jared Perkins, and Marion High School’s Daniel French, Morgan Schoer, Hilary Harris, and Alexandra Lester. Each of these students will receive $1000 scholarships from the Community Foundation’s Academic Excellence Award Fund.
Tamara Barrett
Adam Bernaix
Blair Skinner	Rachel Weinmann
Nate Linna	Emily Shephard
Chandler Brobst	Jared Perkins
Daniel French	Morgan Schoer
Hilary Harris	Alexandra Lester
Photographs courtesy of the Marion Chronicle-Tribune