The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) awards full-tuition scholarships to students from each county in Indiana.
Eligibility:
Students must attend a Greene County high school at the time of application
Applicants must be high school seniors graduating by June 30, 2026
Applicants must have a high school diploma from an Indiana high school accredited by the State Board of Education or by a national or regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the State Board of Education
Recipients must pursue undergraduate study in a baccalaureate program on a full-time basis
Recipients may attend any accredited public or private four-year college or university in Indiana
Benefits:
One scholarship will be awarded
Pays full tuition and required fees for four years; no re-application process is required
$900 book stipend each year
Does not pay room, board, or travel expenses
Timeline:
Monday, July 28, 2025: Online Application Portal Opens
Wednesday, September 4, 2025: Applications Due by 4:00pm (No exceptions)
October 2025: Finalist Interviews (Finalists for the interviews will be notified via phone once evaluations have been completed)
Scholarship recipient will be notified by winter break
2025 Lilly Scholarship Recipient
Sophia Nonte has been named the 2026 Greene County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. 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 of undergraduate study 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 are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.
Sophia is a senior at Eastern Greene High School and the daughter of Adam and Autumn Nonte. She is a well-rounded student, actively involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, Volleyball, Orchestra, Student Athlete Leadership Team, Greene County 4-H, Cheerleading, and Fellow Christian Athletes. Her dedication to her community shines through her volunteer work with Community Kitchen, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, Greene County Courthouse, Riley Dane Marathon, and Project Linus.
Past Greene County Lilly Scholar Recipients
1990s Recipients
1998 — Brad Crites, Eastern Greene
1999 — Clint Kaho, White River Valley and Rachel Steward, White River Valley
2000s Recipients
2000 — Sarah Flinn, Bloomfield and Rod Walker, Linton
2001 — Morgan May and Drew Landry of Shakamak and Emilee Preble of Linton-Stockton
2002 — Tyler Blakley, Bloomfield, Heather Lee Crowe, Eastern Greene and Nadine Kristin Keitel, White River Valley
2003 — Emily Hayes, Shakamak, Justin King, Eastern Greene and Sarah Church, Linton-Stockton
2004 — Brittany Parkes, Bloomfield, Christina Catt, White River Valley and Tiffany Rae Todd, Linton-Stockton
2005 — Brandt Zimmerly, White River Valley and Bessy Lyons, Eastern Greene
2006 — Chantal Fink, Bloomfield, and Lindsey Sipes, White River Valley
2007 — Laura Beth Correll, Linton-Stockton and Kevin Cross, White River Valley; Matthew J. Wall, who attended White River Valley High, but lived in rural Coal City, received a Lilly Scholarship from the Owen County Foundation
2008 — Andrew Brown, Bloomfield and Carly Johnson, White River Valley
2009 — John Alexander Cochrane, Bloomfield and Micajah Green, Shakamak
2010s Recipients
2010 — Derek Corn, Bloomfield and Grace Anne Hayes, White River Valley
2011 — Seth Herndon, Linton-Stockton
2012 — Jacie Anderson, Eastern Greene
2013 — Casey Reynolds, Shakamak
2014 — Alex Bartlow, Bloomfield
2015 — Lilly Southern, Eastern Greene
2016 — Emma Brewer, Linton-Stockton
2017 — Abby Denham, White River Valley
2018 — Jordyn Kieft, Eastern Greene
2019 — Evan Cruse, Shakamak
2020s Recipients
2020 — Carson Brown, Linton-Stockton
2021 — Sophia Edwards, Eastern-Greene
2022 — Christopher Royal, Bloomfield
2023 — Nathan Frady, Linton-Stockton
2024— Justin Brown, Linton-Stockton
2025— Madeline Stone, Bloomfield
2026— Sophia Nonte, Eastern Greene
Lilly Scholar 10
Where Are They Now?
2004 Lilly Scholar Tiffany Todd graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2008. After helping with technology integration in Sullivan and Greene County schools, she has found herself back in the classroom as a teacher in the business department (Graphic Design, Multimedia, and Entrepreneurship) at Linton-Stockton High School.
Tiffany and her wife, Katie Graves, have also fulfilled their dream of running their own food truck, Hens & Chicks.They also have a pretty unique chicken farm, along with three beehives, three dogs, and two cats! They are true believers in making the world a better and HAPPIER place, and Tiffany says, "life is great!"
Lilly Scholar 9
Where Are They Now?
Sophi Edwards, 2021 Lilly Scholar, recently started at Butler University, and she’s loving it. Sophi is on the pre-pharmacy track and is rooming with Carly Reynolds, another Foundation scholarship recipient.
Sophi said, “I’m so thankful for the Greene County Foundation for giving me the opportunity to come to my dream school,” Well, we are so proud of Sophi and all our Foundation Scholars. Way to represent Greene County!
Lilly Scholar 8
Where Are They Now?
Our next Lilly Scholar is Alex Bartlow! After graduating from Bloomfield Jr./Sr. High School in 2014, he attended Butler University. Before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and another major in Spanish, he studied abroad in Alicante, Spain and interned at various companies in Indianapolis.
After graduation, he became a CPA and worked as an external auditor at Ernst & Young, all the while volunteering extensively at the Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library and the Indianapolis Public Library. In August 2021, he will begin pursuing his Juris Doctor degree at the Duke University School of Law.
Alex currently lives in Durham, NC with his wife. He enjoys international travel, biking, and camping.
“The Lilly Scholarship gave me the opportunity to experience the world at a young age,” Alex said.
“Life is simply fun.”
Lilly Scholar 7
Where Are They Now?
2001 Shakamak graduate Drew Landry is our next Lilly Scholar. Drew graduated from the University of Evansville in 2006 with a BS in Social Studies Education. After teaching social studies for a year at a treatment facility, he went back to school to obtain his MA in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. He returned to his hometown of Jasonville shortly after, where he was a substitute at Shakamak High School and was an adjunct professor at Ivy Tech Community College.
Drew is now an Assistant Professor of Government at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. This August will be the beginning of his tenth year the university. He also writes a monthly column for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that primarily focuses on Texas politics.
Drew says life is going well for him now, but it hasn’t always been easy. “Once I was hired at South Plains College, my calling to teach was heard loud and clear,” Drew said. “I love what I do every day, and helping students realize and pursue their dreams is wonderful.”
Drew lives in Lubbock with his dog, Thorin Oakenshield, where he says life is going well.
Lilly Scholar 6
Where Are They Now?
2001 Lilly Scholar, Morgan Sparks is our next Lilly spotlight. After graduating with a BA in Psychology from DePauw University in 2005, she went on to obtain her BS in Music Therapy from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in 2010. As a board-certified music therapist, she now owns Rhythm Garden Music LLC in Jasonville, IN. Her team works with individuals with developmental disabilities of all ages in Clay, Sullivan, Vigo, and western Greene counties. She continues to teach early childhood music enrichment classes and gives music lessons.
Morgan now lives back in her hometown of Jasonville with her husband Brandon and their young sons Ian and Oliver. She is involved with the Jasonville Area Chamber of Commerce, the president of Jasonville’s Tri Kappa chapter, and has served as the president and webmaster of the Association for Indiana Music Therapy.
She said she never imagined coming back to live in her hometown, but she wouldn’t want to raise her family anywhere else.
“I love the life my family and I have created here in Jasonville and I’m excited to see the growth in our little community,” Morgan said. “Life is busy, but I’m grateful for the opportunities to pursue my passions right here in my hometown.”
Lilly Scholar 5
Where Are They Now?
Our next Lilly Scholar recipient is Clint Kaho class of 1999. While completing his BS in Business Administration from the University of Evansville, he briefly studied at Harlaxton College in Grantham, England. He obtained a MS in Healthcare Administration and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
He now works as the President of Baptist Health La Grange in La Grange, Kentucky. Within his community, he serves in multiple organizations, such as the Oldham County Chamber and Economic Board Chair, the American Heart Association Kentuckiana Chapter Board President, and Eli Lilly Scholarship selection committee for the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana.
“I have been immensely blessed and am truly grateful for the experiences I have had,” Clint said. “I can certainly say this scholarship was instrumental in laying the foundation for the career I now enjoy.”
Clint now resides in Crestwood, Kentucky with his wife Laurie and their 10-year-old daughters, Allison and Jillian.
Lilly Scholar 4
Where Are They Now?
Kevin and Laura Cross were Greene County Lilly Scholars in 2007. Kevin and Laura graduated from Purdue University and are in their 9th year of teaching for the Southwest School Corporation. Kevin teaches agricultural classes at both Sullivan Middle School and Sullivan High School, and he serves as an advisor for the FFA. Laura teaches family and consumer sciences courses at Sullivan High School and is the FCCLA advisor.
Now married, Kevin and Laura are the proud parents of two beautiful children. Homer James is a Kindergartener, and Opal just celebrated her first birthday. The Cross family lives in Linton and is proud to call Greene County their home.
Lilly Scholar 3
Where Are They Now?
Micajah (Green) Grassick said she has “taken a different career trajectory than I ever imagined.”
The 2010 Lilly Scholar and Shakamak grad started out by graduating from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in 2013 and is now the High Ability Coordinator at MSD Shakamak, where she oversees the programming for gifted students.
Micajah lives in Clay County with her husband and three-year old son, who she says, “fills our days with chaos and love.” They love spending their time with family and friends and enjoy the occasional Jeep ride. Her family also works with the Clay City Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Though she no longer lives in Greene County, Micajah has stayed involved within her home community. For the past three years, she has served on the Greene County Extension Board and been in varying leadership roles at Lebanon Baptist Church “Life is busy, but filled with goodness,” Micajah said.
Lilly Scholar 2
Where Are They Now?
In the eight years since Jacie Grant received the Lilly Scholarship, she has lived an adventurous life.
After graduating from Eastern Greene High School in 2012, Jacie attended Purdue University. While there, she interned and volunteered in countries all around the world--Australia, Ireland, Vietnam, and Italy, just to name a few. While in South Africa, she volunteered at a cheetah conservation center.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences and a minor in Food and Agribusiness Management. She went back to get her master’s degree in 2017.
She has worked at Cargill since 2016 and is now the Employee Experience Specialist for Cargill’s Virginia Market. “I love working in the food industry,” Jacie said. “Getting to take part in nourishing the world in a responsible way is incredible.”
Jacie currently lives in a house overlooking the mountains in Waynesboro, Virginia with her husband Connor, and their dog, Buck.
“Life is going great!” Jacie said. “I am grateful for my roots in Greene County and to Eli Lilly for the opportunity to pursue my further education without the financial burden.”
Lilly Scholar 1
Where Are They Now?
Rodney Walker graduated from Linton Stockton High School in 2000. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from USI, and later obtained a master’s degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan in 2010.
Rodney taught fourth and fifth grade at Highland Elementary School for 13 years before teaching Physical Education at Cedar Hall Community School for the past three years. But he does not just teach.
“I began coaching in Evansville 19 years ago and am currently the boys’ varsity (basketball) head coach at Evansville Central High School,” Rodney said.
Him and his wife, Amy, recently built a home where they live with their three kids, Blake, Addison, and Aubrey. Rodney said they still manage to make it back to Greene County to visit his parents, Rod and Carol, who live in Linton.
“Life is going great despite the tribulations of the current pandemic,” Rodney said. “…We keep busy with our kids’ daily activities.”
Lilly Scholar 11
Where Are They Now?
After receiving the prestigious Lilly Scholarship in 2004, Bloomfield alumna Brittany (Parkes) Mitchell pursued her passion for business at Indiana State University, earning dual degrees in Business Management and Business Administration with concentrations in Business Management, Operations Management Analysis, and Insurance & Risk Management.
Since then, Brittany's journey at NSWC Crane has been marked by remarkable achievements. Starting as an intern in 2006, she quickly transitioned to roles of increasing responsibility within the Human Resources Division, eventually becoming the HR Director and Division Manager in 2022. One of the things Brittany says she love most about her job is, “being able to serve our workforce to ensure they have the necessary resources, training, and knowledge (or anything else that might be needed) that allows our workforce to best support the Navy!”
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Brittany cherishes her role as a wife and mother to three children, Addison, Jaxson, and Avery, along with their two beloved Australian Shepherds, Rocky and Remi. Together with her husband Adam and three kids, they enjoy camping, gardening, and creating cherished memories with family and friends in Greene County where they reside.
Lilly Scholar 12
Where Are They Now?
Jordyn Kieft received the Lilly Endowment Scholarship in 2018 before graduating from Eastern Greene. She went on to study English with a creative writing concentration and a minor in Social Welfare Advocacy at Indiana University. Since then, Jordyn has embarked on a fulfilling career as an author, with two pieces published in limited edition anthologies. Currently, she's hard at work on her debut novel centered around mental health in college.
Currently serving as the administrative assistant at Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County (CASA OC), Jordyn not only excels in her career but also embraces life to the fullest. Her journey has taken her from the Midwest to Southern California, where she's been soaking in all that California has to offer—from exploring hidden gems to traveling up and down the coast.
Jordyn shares, "Life is going great!" She recently took time off to participate in the Disney College Program, traveled to Europe, and started work on her novel, all before diving into her career. Despite the distance, she cherishes the opportunities to visit her family back in Indiana a few times each year. Jordyn looks forward to completing her novel and seeing it published in the near future.
Jordyn's gratitude for the Lilly Scholarship is palpable: "I am forever grateful for the life and opportunities that the Lilly Scholarship provided me. I still talk about the impact the scholarship has had on me to this day! "
