A Lincoln High School student has been named the Knox County recipient of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.
McKenna Henderson is the daughter of Justin and Miranda Henderson of Vincennes.
The Knox County Community Foundation says her plans are to major in Health Sciences for Pre-Med and is interested in becoming an OB/GYN.
Lilly Endowment Scholarship recipients are chosen from applications solicited earlier this school year.
Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.
In addition to excelling academically, McKenna has been active in extracurricular activities such as Interact Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, Class President, and Champions Together.
McKenna was nominated by her school principal for Rising Stars of Indiana.
She has been active in Volleyball for all 4 years and earned two varsity letters.
FULL NEWS RELEASE
KNOX COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES
THE 2024 LILLY ENDOWMENT COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
(Knox County, Indiana) The Knox County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of
the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Knox County – McKenna Sueann Henderson of
Lincoln High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement,
academic achievement, character, and leadership.
“McKenna’s dedication to her school and community was apparent in her application and interview. The
nominating committee was honored to have the opportunity to meet McKenna and recommend her for this
life-changing scholarship opportunity,” said Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement
and Impact for the Knox County Community Foundation.
McKenna is the daughter of Justin and Miranda Henderson. Following graduation, she plans to major in
Health Sciences for Pre-Med. McKenna is interested in OB/GYN Physician as a career choice. In addition to
excelling academically, she has been active in extracurricular activities such as Interact Club, National
Honor Society, Student Council, Class President, and Champions Together. McKenna was nominated by
her school principal for Rising Stars of Indiana. She has been active in Volleyball for all 4 years and earned
two varsity letters. In addition to working in food service and retail, she is also active in the community
volunteering for Versiti blood drives, Generations Build a Basket and Children Blankets programs, Wreaths
Across America, and The Salvation Army bell ringing.
Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special
allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship
is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or
private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly
Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities
to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are
supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities.
In determining Knox County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominee, consideration was given to
academic performance; community service and volunteer activities; personal statement of goals; work
experience; school activities, honors, and awards; an impromptu essay; and communication of ideas and
interview skills by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down,
nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients.
“The Community Foundation was thoroughly impressed with the quality of applicants and their level of
involvement, Knox County has many outstanding young adults full of talent and drive,” said Hazelman.
Scholarship award alternates were also announced. Sharaya Wolfe of North Knox High School was named
the first alternate, and Evan Dreiman of South Knox High School was named as the second alternate.
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Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year
and has supported the program every year since with grants totaling in excess of $505 million. More than
5,200 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s
inception.
The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the
level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana
community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current
and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business,
governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and
in local communities throughout the state.
About the Knox County Community Foundation
Established in 1996, the Knox County Community Foundation is one of nine county affiliates of the Community
Foundation Alliance. The Knox County Community Foundation holds more than 120 named funds established by
individuals, families, businesses, civic groups, and agencies to improve the quality of life throughout Knox County,
Indiana, with charitable assets of more than $9.2 million. During our most recent fiscal year, $434,000 in grants and
$79,000 in scholarships were awarded to programs, projects, and people.
The Community Foundation Alliance is a 501(c)(3) accredited by the National Standards for U.S. Community
Foundations® (National Standards) program representing operational effectiveness to foster excellence in community
philanthropy. Since the inception of this program, the Community Foundation Alliance has again achieved National
Standards accreditation. The Community Foundation Alliance provides management, administrative, and development
expertise and services so that every local affiliate can focus on promoting philanthropy, building endowment, and
grantmaking, making a difference in their community For Good. Forever.
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 their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the
gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct
governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes
of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United
States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown,
Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.
Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program
statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the
state’s 30 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total
local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time
graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of
its undergraduates.