Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of
Bartholomew County is pleased to announce Columbus Signature Academy –
New Tech High School seniors Zoey Jernigan and Kevin Wittekind as the 2026
Lilly Endowment Community Scholars for Bartholomew County.
Lilly Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic
achievement, character and leadership.
“This scholarship opens doors to opportunities for local students. We’re
confident Zoey and Kevin will accomplish remarkable things through their
continued education,” said Aida Ramirez, chair of Heritage Fund’s Lilly
Scholarship Selection Committee.
Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships provide for full tuition, required
fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and
required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for undergraduate
students studying on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any
eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment
Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network
(LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and
opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities.
Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly
Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities.
Heritage Fund received 59 applications for this year’s scholarships, from
which 10 finalists were selected. Scholarship applicants were evaluated by the
selection committee on academic performance; scholastic and community
involvement; employment; leadership; financial need; short answer and essay
responses and two recommendations. Each finalist was interviewed by the
selection committee before scholarship nominees were submitted to ICI,
statewide administrator of the scholarship program, for selection approval.
Finalists are: From Columbus East High School: Jasmin Cordoba, Abigail
Dabson and Ruthie West. From Columbus North High School: Angelica
Armstrong, Caleb Ferguson, Ava Laplante and Alfredo Madero. From Hauser Jr-
Sr High School: Kaysie Kistler.
Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program
for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year since
with grants totaling in excess of $486 million. More than 5,000 Indiana students
have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s
inception. To date, 59 Bartholomew County students have been named Lilly
Endowment Community Scholars.
Since its inception in 1997–98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program
with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefiting more than 5,400
Indiana students. The program’s primary purposes are:
• To raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana;
• To increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community
foundations play;
• To encourage and support Lilly Scholars’ engagement with Indiana
leaders to improve quality of life statewide.
About Lilly Endowment Inc. & Independent Colleges of Indiana
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation
created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock
in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of
stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from
the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping
with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community
development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant
programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion.
However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown,
Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly
Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided
by Lilly Endowment. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the
state’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ
over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-
time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’sbachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.