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Lilly
Scholar recipients both from JCD
Wanda
English Burnett
Editor
This year both of the Ripley County Community
Foundation 2009 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars were seniors
from Jac-Cen-Del High School.
Gerald Hardesty and Valorie Wagner were surprised on Monday morning,
April 6 when representatives from the Ripley County Community
Foundation swept into the school and made the announcement. They
will both receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their
choice and an $800 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.
Hardesty is the son of David and Jennifer Hardesty of Osgood.
He plans to major in mechanical engineering but is undecided about
his college selection. He was a member of the State Champion Jac-Cen-Del
basketball team and winner of the Trester Award, which was given
for mental attitude, academics, and sportsmanship. He has participated
in soccer, basketball, and baseball his entire high school career.
He is also a semi-finalist for the Coca-Cola Scholarship. He has
been involved in National Honor Society, CYO, Spanish Club and
math Academic Team. He also serves as the senior class president.
Wagner is the daughter of Dennis and Flora Wagner of Osgood. She
plans to major in exercise science and attend the University of
Indiana. Throughout her high school career, she has participated
in cross country, track, basketball, and softball. She has also
been a class officer, involved in 4-H, CYO, FCA, Art Club, Sunshine
Society and National Honor Society.
Principal Johnny Budd said the school is very proud of these students.
The scholarship committee making the decision for the recipients
of this scholarship is composed of Ripley County residents, representing
all areas of the county. The committee is not aware of whose application
they are viewing as names and schools of students applying for
the scholarships are removed from the applications. At the interviews
of the finalists, the students are only introduced by their first
names, allowing for as much objectivity as possible.
There were 77 applicants for these scholarships in Ripley County
this year, drawing from six high schools. Eight outstanding students
are chosen as finalists for these prestigious awards. After the
Ripley County Community Foundation Scholarship Committee narrowed
the field to eight nominees, the finalists' names were submitted
to the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the selection
of the recipients.
ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited
degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities
in the state.
The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment
initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education.
Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents
over the age of 25 with a bachelors degree. There were 216
scholarships awarded statewide.
Each Ripley County finalist not receiving one of the Lilly Endowment
Community Scholarships will be awarded one of the Ripley County
Community Scholarships of $1000.
Those receiving the 2009 Ripley County Community Foundation Scholarships
are: Clinton Covert, East Central High School, son of Tracy Covert
of Sunman; Chelsea Durham, South Ripley High School, daughter
of Sam and Nancy Durham of Osgood; Ryan Hartman, Batesville High
School, son of Bill and Barb Hartman of Batesville; Lucy Glaser,
Oldenburg Academy, daughter of Thomas and Susan Glaser of Batesville;
Audrey Huffmeyer, Jac-Cen-Del High School, daughter of Douglas
and Susan Huffmeyer of Osgood; and Christopher Meyer, Batesville
High School, son of Greg and Cindy Meyer of Batesville.
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GARY FRANKLIN PHOTOS
Jac-Cen-Del
seniors Gerald Hardesty and Valorie Wagner were named the
recipients of full tuition, four-year scholarships as the
Ripley County Community Foundation 2009 Lilly Endowment
Community Scholars. Pictured above from left are: Sally
Morris, executive director of the RCCF, Jennifer Hardesty,
Gerald Hardesty with the award, David Hardesty, and Jane
Deiwert, RCCF. Pictured below are: Sally Morris, executive
director of RCCF, Jane Deiwert, RCCF, Flora Wagner, Valorie
Wagner, holding the coveted award, Dennis Wagner, and Austin
and Rebecca, siblings of the recipient.
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