Two Zionsville students have been named recipients of four-year, full-tuition scholarships as the 2017 Boone County Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. Jessica Miller and Calvin Robinson of Zionsville Community High School will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their choice and a $900 stipend for required books and equipment.
Daughter of Mark and Mary Miller, Jessica holds down three jobs in addition to being active with Choralaires, Drama Club and National Honor Society, as well as 10 years in 4-H, serving as Secretary, Vice President and President. With aspirations to be a doctor, Jessica also volunteers regularly in the Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center at Methodist Hospital. She was in disbelief upon hearing the news, asking “Is this for real?” as her mother told her to pinch herself. The Lilly Scholarship will allow Jessica to study biochemistry at her top choice of University of Evansville, where she has already been accepted.
Calvin, son of Brian and Danielle Robinson, is a member of Student Council, the Royalaires, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Key Club and the cross country team. Outside of school, he has earned the rank of Eagle Scout and serves as the leader of a Campus Life youth group at Zionsville Middle School, as well as working as a counselor at Camp Tecumseh. Calvin, one of seven children, will utilize the Lilly Scholarship to study economics, political science and Spanish at Notre Dame or Indiana University. Upon learning he had been selected, he said “It’s an honor for me to represent the foundation with this scholarship.” His mother added, “He works so hard and wanted this so badly. It’s wonderful that his hard work has paid off!”
“The caliber of finalists this year was simply outstanding and while it was a difficult decision for our committee, Jessica and Calvin truly exemplified the best of the youth in our community. The Community Foundation is thrilled to present this special honor to these remarkable young people. They’ve already accomplished so much, and we have no doubt they will do amazing things to help make a difference in our community and beyond,” said Community Foundation President & CEO Kristi Reynolds.
This year, 59 students applied for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Nine finalists took part in an interview process and 2 nominees and 2 alternates were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) which selects the final recipients. The scholarship recipients are nominated by a committee of county-wide volunteers who evaluate each student’s community involvement, volunteerism, academic performance, work experience, extracurricular activities and awards and honors. Since the inception of the Lilly Scholars Program in 1998, CFBC has awarded the scholarship to 13 Lebanon High School seniors, 15 Western Boone seniors, 14 Zionsville Community High School seniors, two Sheridan High School seniors and one Covenant Christian senior.
ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree-granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.
The scholarships are a result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree. There were 142 scholarships awarded statewide.