Unity Foundation of LaPorte County congratulates 11 local high school seniors as LaPorte County finalists for the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.
Two students from La Porte County will be selected as 2015 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars, and
Justin Kiel
will receive a full-tuition scholarship to pursue a baccalaureate degree at any accredited public or private Indiana college or university and an annual $900 book stipend.
The 2015 scholarship finalists and their respective schools are:
Christine Ake
— LaCrosse High School: Justin Kiel
— LaPorte High School: Christine Ake, Jamie Austin, Austin Bohlin, Julia Jongkind, Joseph Tomal
Jamie Austin
— Marquette High School: Rebecca Yaw
— Michigan City High School: Olivia Glowacki
— New Prairie High School: Annabelle Papai, Larissa Whitaker
— South Central High School: Abigail Gibbs
Austin Bohlin
Unity Foundation received 69 applications for the 2015 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships from students throughout LaPorte County. Applicants were judged on their academic achievement, service to others, extracurricular activities and, to a lesser
Julia Jongkind
extent, financial need. A committee comprised of LaPorte County residents reviewed the applications, not knowing the applicants’ names until after the finalists were selected. The 11 finalists were then interviewed, and nominees and alternate names were submitted to the Independent Colleges of Indiana Inc. for the final selections — which will be shared by March 27.
Joseph Tomal
Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited-degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.
Rebecca Yaw
The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana currently ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree.
The Unity Foundation elects to participate in this program provided by Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. through ICI. Maggi Spartz, Unity
Olivia Glowacki
Foundation president, said, “With funding from the Endowment, we have been able to help 52 amazing young people achieve their dreams. This is one way Unity is ‘investing in our people’ to make LaPorte County and our nation even
Annabelle Papai
stronger. We are very proud of them and their accomplishments. We are especially pleased that some of the scholars have returned to live and work right here in LaPorte County.”
Past Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients from LaPorte County are: Mariah Micallef, Johnna Belkiewitz, Benjamin Gibbs, Jared Dyjak, Brittany Belkiewitz, Mitchell Orzech, Ryan Byers, Kelsey Tuholski,
Larissa Whitaker
Jill Fischer, Jackson Troxel, Jessica Nieman, Jana Hunsley, Mindy (Marsh) Heidel, Jada Anderson, Melissa Spurr, Aaron Albrecht, Peter Davis, Suzanne Dolembo, Laura Durazzo, Macara (Hostetler) Aloi, Patricia (Jongkind) Willhite,
Abigail Gibbs
William Kelly, Andrew Knaup, Mary Kutch, Zachary Lute, Sara Mahoney, Cheryl Miller Winters, Mary Rodecap, Melanie Thomas, Elizabeth (Hunter) VanHook, Keith Kalvaitis, Kyle Kownacki, Brett McNeal, Kathryn Meyers, Patricia Minich, Federico Pabon, Alexandra Pagels, Virginia Pagels, Teresa (Spence) Parkhouse, Sarah Valatka, Erica Valdez, Jennifer (Warfel) Juskiewicz, Sandra (Wood) Graves, Charles Zila, Angela Zolvinski, Jonathan Gray, Jessica Thompson, Anna Kammrath, Karen Wassel, Sondra Jeske, Robert Wedow, Yana Alekseeva, and Ian Nielson.
Since 1992, Unity Foundation of LaPorte County has served donors, nonprofits and local communities. As LaPorte County’s community foundation, it manages approximately $27 million in assets, administers more than 280 charitable funds, and has distributed nearly $12 million through direct grants and scholarships. The Council on Foundations has deemed Unity Foundation in compliance with all Indiana and national ethical and operating standards for community foundations.
Unity Foundation’s mission is to strengthen LaPorte County now and forever by building permanent endowments, providing leadership, offering philanthropic vehicles for everyone, and being a catalyst for social and economic vitality. For more information, visit www.uflc.net or call 219-879-0327.