Press Release

Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipient Announcement

The Henry County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Henry County: Aubrey Lapp of New Castle High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are recognized for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees, and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Scholars also join the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects them with resources and opportunities to lead on campus and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).

Aubrey has been deeply involved in academics, athletics, and service, from leading student organizations and competing on the swim and golf teams to volunteering throughout the community. Aubrey has also pursued hands-on learning through internships in healthcare administration and physics research, which have fueled her passion for STEM. She plans to study engineering at an Indiana college, with the goal of continuing her education in graduate school and using science to make a meaningful impact in her community and beyond.

The finalists for the Henry County Community Foundation 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program were Grace Behny – Knightstown High School, Sydney Crisp – Blue River Valley High School, Karter Gray – Shenandoah High School, Emma Holderman – Union Jr./Sr. High School, Ava Houchins – Tri Jr./Sr. High School, Zeda Kersey – Hagerstown High School. The six finalists will each receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship from the Henry County Community Foundation for representing their school.

Every graduating senior attending Blue River Valley, Hagerstown, Knightstown, New Castle, Shenandoah, Tri, and Union high schools, who is also a Henry County resident, is eligible to apply for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Each school corporation nominates one student to represent them in the Henry County Community Foundation’s scholarship selection process. The Foundation’s scholarship committee, from outside the county, narrows the field and forwards the names of the leading candidates to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the final selection of Henry County’s 2026 recipient.

Since its inception in 1997–98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefiting over 5,400 Indiana students. The program’s primary purposes are:

• To raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana.
• To increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations play.
• To encourage and support Lilly Scholars’ engagement with Indiana leaders to improve quality of life statewide.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.:

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 Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment supports community development, education, and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana.

About Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI):

Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for Indiana’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year graduation rates and produce 30% of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20% of its undergraduates.