Community Foundation of Boone County Announces 2020 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients

Two local students have been named recipients of four-year, full tuition scholarships as the 2020 Boone County Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. Mahesh Gupta of Zionsville Community High School and Hillary Reed of Western Boone Junior-Senior High School will receive full tuition to an accredited public or private nonprofit college or university in Indiana and an annual $900 stipend for required books and equipment.

MAHESH GUPTA | ZIONSVILLE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

Mahesh Gupta, son of Dr. Mangala Hasanadka and Dr. Samir Gupta, demonstrates commitment to serving his community by pursuing a career in Indiana as a physician in a safety net hospital. During high school, he completed a full time internship, research project, and presented at an IU Medical Sciences symposium. He volunteers weekly at School on Wheels at Dayspring Center tutoring homeless students, which has given him experience working with disadvantaged populations he intends to work with as a physician. Mahesh continuously demonstrates leadership roles at Zionsville Community High School, by currently serving as student body co-president with student council, Boone County Kiwanis Global Youth Leadership Academy, and serving as dance captain for Royalaires, with Zionsville Show Choirs.

HILLARY REED | WESTERN BOONE JR.-SR. HIGH SCHOOL

Hillary Reed, daughter of Tricia and Gunnar Reed, serves her community through hours of volunteerism at Homewood Health Center, Activities Mentor Program, and Dover Christian Church. Hillary was selected as one of the Western Boone Junior-Senior High School representatives for Hoosier Girls State. She also is a member of the Boone County Kiwanis Global Youth Leadership Academy and received multiple Mental Attitude and Most Valuable Team player awards for Western Boone Girls Soccer, Basketball, and Softball. She has a strong sense of self, loves Boone County, and envisions herself returning home after completing her studies to become a Physician’s Assistant at Butler University.

“We are very excited to see Mahesh and Hillary as the 2020 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients! The caliber of student applicants this year was extremely competitive. It is always difficult to narrow it down to two students but these two rose to the top. We sincerely thank our committee of volunteers for their time and commitment to this application process, and to Lilly Endowment for their support of higher education in Indiana. We can’t wait to see what great things Mahesh and Hillary do in the future!” –Jodi Gietl, President & CEO for the Community Foundation of Boone County.

This year, 40 submitted applications were reviewed for the Boone County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Eight finalists took part in an interview process. Top finalists 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 16 Western Boone seniors, 14 Lebanon High School seniors, 14 Zionsville Community High School seniors, 4 Sheridan High School seniors, and 1 Covenant Christian senior.

Independent Colleges of Indiana is the collective voice for excellence and choice in higher education for all students. As a non-profit association, ICI represents Indiana’s 30 private, non-profit, regionally-accredited colleges and universities.

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.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BOONE COUNTY

Since 1991, the Community Foundation of Boone County has granted over $25 million from its various funds to nonprofit organizations and programs working to solve critical challenges in Boone County. Through the generosity of donors, the Community Foundation currently holds $24.4 million in assets. In the past 27 years, we have worked with donors to create permanent funds for charitable giving. The establishment and growth of permanent endowment funds will strengthen Boone County for generations to come.

For more information about the Community Foundation of Boone County, visit our website: www.communityfoundationbc.org.