Tucker And Ray Named Lilly Endowment Scholars For Kosciusko County
KOSCIUSKO — The Kosciusko County Community Foundation made two very big announcements throughout the day today, Dec. 11. Their first stop was at Tippecanoe Valley High School to announce Senior Sarah Tucker as a Lilly Endowment Scholar. Then later in the day, they had the opportunity to announce Warsaw High School Senior Madelyn Ray as the foundation’s second Lilly Endowment Scholar.
Both students will receive four-year, full-tuition scholarships to the Indiana colleges of their choice. Scholarship selection criteria include academic excellence, community service, extracurricular involvement, work experience, references and essay response. The process is a blind-process as committee members do not have access to student names when reviewing the applications.
Ray is the daughter of Thomas and Kathleen Ray of Warsaw. At the time of her application, she was ranked fourth in her graduating class. Her school activities have including the swim team, golf team, tennis team, Students for Life, Future Christian Athletes, Tiger Student Athletic Board and Mathletes. In the community, she is active in Warsaw Education Foundation, Octagon Club member, Sacred Heart Church altar server and Key Club. She has accumulated over 200 community service hours while helping with fundraisers for Warsaw Education Foundation, volunteering for her church, a community clothing closet and helping a local soup kitchen. She has also worked at Stonehenge Golf Club as a restaurant server. Her references described her as “kind, compassionate and a servant leader.”
Ray plans to attend Butler University to study biology and pre-medicine.
“I don’t know how to describe it,” said Ray when asked to share what she was feeling. “I’m really thankful.”
Tucker is the daughter of Chan and Nicole Tucker of Mentone. At the time of her application, she was ranked fourth in her graduating class. She is active in Future Farmers of America, track and field, student council, Farm to Fork project and National Honors Society. She also participates in community activities, including Mentone United 4-H Group, Beaver Dam Youth Group and Kosciusko County Youth Leadership Academy. She has accumulated over 280 community service hours through serving as a camp counselor, on mission trips, fundraising for various causes and volunteering with 4-H. Along with all of this, she also worked as a farm hand, a waitress and as a data processor for a dentist’s office. Her references described her as an “exceptional leader and a young lady of the highest character and integrity.”
Tucker plans to attend Purdue University to study agricultural business and economics.
“This is amazing, it took me completely by surprise,” said Tucker after the presentation.
“It’s humbling to know that she has worked so hard and that all of her dreams come true,” said Nicole Tucker. “All that hard work does, literally, pay off.”