(PULASKI COUNTY) – The Community Foundation of Pulaski County is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Pulaski County – Avery Wegner of Winamac Community High School.
Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.
“All of our Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship finalists are deserving of this prestigious s, merit-based scholarship. Each Pulaski County resident has demonstrated their remarkable academic strength alongside a deep commitment to service and contributing to the well-being of their communities. The Scholarship Selection Committee was especially impressed with their dedication to meaningful community engagement”, stated Leeann Wright, Executive Director of the Community Foundation.
Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides 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.
In determining Pulaski County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar(s) nominees, consideration was given to academics, activity and community involvement, character, and leadership by the LECS Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients.
“I truly enjoy the process of selecting our Lilly Scholar every year. Each year we analyze our application and interview process to make it the best it can be for the applicants and the selection committee. I truly feel we get the top of the class every year applying for the scholarship”, said Pam Burger, LECS committee member.
Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year with grants totaling in excess of $505 million. More than 5,400 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception.
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.
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 $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.
