Ancilla College Receives $1 Million Lilly Endowment Grant

Indiana’s only private, Associate’s Degree granting college has been awarded a $1 million Lilly Endowment grant. Ancilla College received one of 39 such grants provided by the Endowment to the state’s accredited colleges and universities as part of its Initiative to Expand Opportunities Through Educational Collaborations. The grants, totaling $62.7 million, will provide a significant boost to the schools’ efforts to enhance and expand opportunities for college graduates to find meaningful employment in Indiana.

Dr. Joanna F. Blount, dean of academic and student services at Ancilla, said they are “very excited” to receive the grant and they appreciate the Endowment’s long support of education in Indiana.

Ancilla will implement a three-pronged approach to enhancing educational opportunities for its students, according to Blount. She said this will include pathways for high school students that decrease the time it takes them to complete degrees, internships that enhance skill development and lead to paid positions, and seamless transitions for students who transfer to senior institutions.

The college will also work with regional employers to develop internship opportunities and, as part of the grant, Ancilla is developing a northern Indiana regional Healthcare Training Center that will offer healthcare-related certificates like Certified Nursing Assistant and Qualified Medication Aide programs.