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All Lilly finalists a credit to Putnam County
I may begin to sound like a broken record when I say that Putnam County has some amazing, outstanding students. The Putnam County Community Foundation recently announced the 2022 Putnam County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar as Catherine Hodge of South Putnam High School.
The Banner Graphic article making that announcement highlighted Catherine’s accomplishments, but she is not the only Putnam County senior who will make a mark on our world.
In October, I explained the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship (LECS) process, including the strict requirements even to apply; GPA and SAT scores of at least 3.8 and 1120.
Even with such high requirements, 18 Putnam County high school seniors applied. The process is meticulous and nerve-wracking. The joy that comes with every LECS award means disappointment for the remaining finalists, themselves outstanding.
Ben Huff, Maieasha Rashid and Tyler Rogers, the finalists for this year’s LECS are incredible young people. Each will be graduating this spring from Greencastle High School in the top 5 of their class and each has been a multi-sport athlete and member of the National Honor Society.
In addition, each has taken time during his or her high school years to help others in our community. They are to be celebrated. It is never easy to receive notification that another has received the award you sought, but each received the news with grace and dignity.
Who would expect less from students of this caliber?
In honor of their accomplishments, LECS finalists each receive a scholarship from the Putnam County Community Foundation. These scholarships come from the Giving Back Scholarship. The Community Foundation board started this scholarship fund, and much of the original funding came from the families of LECS recipients. Donations to this scholarship may be made online at www.pcfoundation.org.
By my count, I have now overseen the LECS process for 11 cohorts — 43 Putnam County students have been finalists during this time, including the 11 LECS recipients. Nineteen finalists are still students, and the remaining 25 finalists have all completed their bachelor’s degree on time, with many pursuing and/or completing master’s and doctoral degree programs. This is a track record that many counties would envy.
This is the 25th year that the Lilly Endowment Inc. has funded the LECS program. Putnam County has been privileged to award 40 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships during those 25 years. Every LECS recipient has completed a bachelor’s degree or is on track to achieve it. More than half have advanced degrees. They are doctors, engineers, educators, nurses, occupational therapists and more.
Most have chosen to stay and use their talents here in the Hoosier State, with at least five making Putnam County home and another five in surrounding counties. Two currently serve on the Board of the Putnam County Community Foundation.
It is a pleasure to work with and know all of these people. Statistics show that college graduates do not generally move back home following graduation, but often do as they have children and desire to be closer to family. We as a county have a lot to look forward to.
The Putnam County Community Foundation (PCCF) works alongside individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations to build a stronger Putnam County. PCCF is home to more than 310 charitable funds and has awarded more than $18 million in grants and scholarships since its founding in 1985. To learn more about the PCCF, visit www.pcfoundation.org or call 653-4978.