2021 Parke County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar- Macy Johnson

Macy is the daughter of Richard and Kristi-Miller Johnson of Montezuma. She plans to attend Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to pursue a degree in Optical Engineering. Macy is a member of Riverton Parke’s cheer-leading squad, band, FFA, National Honor Society, Academic Spell Bowl, Academic Super Bowl, yearbook, Autonomous Vehicle Challenge, and Student Council. Macy currently is ranked 1st in her class with a 4.273 GPA.

Of the award, Johnson stated, “I am beyond grateful to be representing Parke County as this year’s Lilly Scholar. I hope this will give me the opportunity to focus on my studies rather than student loans. This will also open doors for my younger siblings, who will be allowed to save more money for their future endeavors! I would love to use this to give back to the community in the future as they have done so generously to me.”

In addition to tuition, the scholarship includes an annual stipend of $900 to cover the cost of required books, equipment and fees. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program 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 generally and in local communities throughout the state.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholar was nominated 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 (ICI) for final selection. Independent Colleges of Indiana is a non-profit corporation that represents 30 regionally accredited degree-granting, non-profit, private colleges and universities in the state and is the statewide administrator of the scholarship program.