Foundation Announces 2016 Lilly Community Scholar

The Parke County Community Foundation has announced the results of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar Award selection process. Riverton Parke High School senior Kelsey Katopodis has been awarded a four-year full tuition scholarship to any accredited Indiana college or university. Several dozen other seniors, and over 100 other current college students from Parke County, will share more than $200,000 in additional awards.

Kelsey is the daughter of Michael Katopodis and Jessica True. She plans to attend Rose-Hulman University to pursue a degree in engineering. Kelsey is a member of the National Honor Society, FFA, Math and Science Academic Bowl Team, Parliamentary Procedure, Livestock Judging Team, and Spanish Dance. She is also President of her senior class and participates in cheerleading and volleyball. Kelsey has a 4.273 GPA and is 3rd in her class of 71.

“I’m overwhelmed with all of this,” Kelsey said Monday upon learning she had won the award “I’m very grateful to all the people who have helped me come this far, particularly the Foundation for allowing me to apply for the scholarship. This relieves so much stress, and now I know I’ll be able to concentrate on my education without worrying as much about paying for college.”

In addition to tuition, the Lilly Community Scholarship includes an annual stipend of $900 to cover the cost of required books, equipment and fees. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholar was selected from numerous applications submitted. The Foundation utilizes a scholarship selection sub-committee comprised of individuals not associated in any other capacity with the Foundation. Finalists for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship are then forwarded to Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection.

Independent Colleges of Indiana is a non-profit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree-granting, non-profit, private colleges and universities in the state. ICI performs this final selection at the request of Lilly Endowment in support of their initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree. There were 142 scholarships awarded statewide.