PAOLI — The Orange County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Orange County — Julia Isom of Orleans High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership.
The daughter of John Paul and Julie Isom, Julia plans to attend Indiana University to co-major in management and marketing while minoring in law, ethics and decision-making. She is Orange County’s 43rd Lilly Scholar.
While attending high school, Julia has been an active member of the FFA Chapter at Orleans High School, serving as secretary, vice president and president, as well as holding the office of District Treasurer. She was a past president of the Business Professionals of America, a current present of Student Council, treasurer of National Honor Society and a four-vice president of her class. Julia is also a team captain on the academic team, and a member of Tri-Hi-Y, FACS of Life and Pep Club. She also served as co-captain of the Varsity Girls Golf Team her senior year.
Julia is an active member of the Orange County Community Foundation Youth Council. She was first elected secretary, and then took the reins as President her sophomore year, holding that position for three years. She is an avid participant in the annual Trunk or Treat and Easter Egg Hunts, and helps at local holiday markets, ringing bells for the Salvation Army and collecting donations for local charities and school activities. She volunteered at the French Lick West Baden’s Fright Night at the Museum and also helped with the Paoli Merchant’s Open House for several years. A cause close to Julia’s heart is Orange County CASA, and she has devoted many hours helping that program with various activities and shopping for Angel Tree children. Julia has also volunteered at the annual Battle of the Books held at Orleans Elementary, where she is currently a cadet teacher.
Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides 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 full-time undergraduate students 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.
“I plan to expand my experience in leadership and my sense of community by participating in Women in Business (WIB). I am excited to open myself to new people and places by establishing a network among the women who are succeeding in the business field,” Julia said in her application essay. “I am beyond grateful and excited for this opportunity to build upon my knowledge and strengths in my future college education.”
Those eligible to apply for the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship were required to rank in the top 15% of their class and be on the track to earn an academic honors diploma. Students must live in Orange County and attend one of the three Orange County schools; or have attended an Orange County school for all four years of high school to be eligible, as well as being a U.S. citizen.
The Orange County Community Foundation Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Committee evaluated applications on academic skills; character traits such as integrity, responsibility, honesty, leadership and dependability; and involvement in community and school. All personal identifying information was removed prior to evaluation. Financial need was also considered. The committee then narrowed the field down from seven finalists. Applicants chosen as finalists participated in personal interviews and a timed essay; and, once the evaluations were completed, candidates’ names were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for final selection of the recipient.
Other 2024 Lilly Scholar Finalists were Draygen Pender and Ryan Williams, Orleans High School; Lily Stroud, Abigail Tapp and Taisha Robbins, Paoli High School; and Molly Tucker, Springs Valley High School.
“The process in place allows stellar recipients to rise to the top, as they have in the past. This year is no different. Julia Isom was an incredible selection,” said OCCF Executive Director Imojean Dedrick.
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 $505 million. More than 5,200 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 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. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, 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% of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20% of its undergraduates.
