Foundation Names 2009 Lilly Scholarship Recipients

Two Gibson County students have been named recipients of full-tuition, four-year scholarships as the Gibson County Community Foundation 2009 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.

Brock Reneer and Emilee McConnell will receive full tuition to the Indiana College of their choice and $800 yearly stipend for required books and equipment. Kasey Kahle and Kayla Hudson have been named as alternates, and each will receive a $1,500 scholarship from the Gibson County Community Foundation.

Brock Reneer, son of Rick and Shea Reneer of Princeton, is a senior at Princeton Community High School.  He plans on attending the University of Evansville and majoring in Business Administration.  Brock is a member of the National Honor Society, North Gibson Youth Coalition, Student Council and IMPACT.  He is a four-year member of the track and field team and played football and soccer.  He was chairman for the PCHS basketball concessions and a class officer.  Brock is also a group leader for the youth group at his church and plays bass in the church praise band.

Emilee McConnell, daughter of Lee and Edwina McConnell of Hazleton, is a senior at Princeton Community High School.  She plans on attending Purdue University and majoring in economics and political science.  She hopes to then attend law school.  Emilee is a member of the Senior Advisory Council, National Honor Society, Student Council and Co-President of Key Club.  She is involved in the Innovations Show Choir, Varsity Singers and plays for the Lady Tiger Soccer team.  Emilee is also very involved in 4-H and is the Vice President of the Gibson County 4-H Junior Leaders.

Kasey Kahle, daughter of Ronnie and Glenda Kahle of Fort Branch, is a senior at Gibson Southern High School.  She has applied to Indiana University and Indiana State University and plans to major in Math Education and Sports Medicine.  Kasey is a member of Student Council, Beta Club, Academic Math Team and Sunshine Society.  She participates in track and field, was a member of the basketball team for three years and the marching band.  Kasey is also very involved in the Girl Scouts and has worked as a counselor in the Girl Scouts.

Kayla Hudson, daughter of Ron and Kathleen Hudson of Patoka, is a senior at Princeton Community High School.  She has applied to Purdue University, Indiana State University and the University of Evansville and plans to study chemical engineering.  Kayla is a member of the Academic Team, Student Council, National Honor Society, IMPACT and Key Club.  She is a member of the marching band, concert band, pep band and jazz band.  Kayla is also a very involved in 4-H and a member of the 4-H Junior Leaders.

Thirty students applied for the scholarship this year.  These 30 students were evaluated and ranked by the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Committee.  This committee is made up of eight board members of the Gibson County Community Foundation.  The identities of the students were not known to the committee as they ranked them on academic performance, community activities, school activities, work experience and their written essay.  The top 10 applicants from this ranking process were then interviewed by the committee.  Their interview scores were added to the previous scores and the recipients determined by the highest scores.  After the Gibson County Community Foundation Lilly Scholarship Committee narrowed the field to four nominees, the finalists' names were submitted to 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 bachelor's degree.  There were 216 scholarships awarded statewide.

Leslie Mustard, chair of the scholarship committee, thanked the committee for the tremendous job they did in reviewing and selecting the candidates, noting their difficulty in selecting the recipients and alternates from among the 30 applicants.  "They were all bright and deserving students, and we wish we could have provided a full scholarship to each of them.  We owe Lilly Endowment a big thank-you for providing scholarships to two outstanding seniors in Gibson County," said Mustard.