Starke County Community Foundation

Lilly Scholars Honored at the Governor's Residence

Starke County Lilly Endowment Community Scholars gathered at the Governor's Residence in Indianapolis on Saturday, June 29 to be honored for their achievements.

The reception, hosted by the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, recognized past and present Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients from Fulton, Miami, Pulaski and Starke Counties. Over 120 people were in attendance including recipients, parents of recipients, board members, educators, special guests and Foundation staff members. Kahn's Katering of Carmel catered the event.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is a full tuition, four-year scholarship to any accredited Indiana college or university. It's given to students with strong academics and community involvement. The Starke County Community Foundation's LECS recipients in attendance were Michael Matsey, Nathan Origer and Kory Risner, 2002 recipients; Olivia Barzydlo, Shelli Surma, and Chelsea Wait, 2001 recipients; Andrew Rannells, 1999 recipient; and William Runkle, 1998 recipient. Those unable to attend were Gabrielle Casey and Emily Dolezal, 1999 recipients; and Tracy Banasiak, 2000 recipient.

This year, special recognition was given to William Runkle, Starke County's first Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. In May 2002, Will earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Valparaiso University. The Foundation presented Will with a "Certificate of Congratulations" and a savings bond.

For the fourth (4th) year, the reception has allowed scholarship recipients to meet one another and members of the foundation boards and scholarship committees. For many of these students and their families, receiving the scholarship is a life-changing event. It allows the student to pursue dreams that may have seemed impossible. With the graduating classes of 2002, there are now more than 1,300 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars attending 33 colleges in the state. The Endowment has invested $74.7 million since 1998 and plans for the program to continue. Although the Endowment funds the program, it is administered state-wide by the Indianapolisbased Independent Colleges of Indiana. The Northern Indiana Community Foundation administers the LECS Program locally.

Lilly Scholarship Given to KHS' Michael Matsey

The Starke County Community Foundation (SCCF), an affiliate fund of the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, Has named Michael Andrew Matsey as Starke County's new Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. Michael, the son of the Honorable David P. and Mrs. Ruth E. Matsey, is a senior at Knox Community High School and will be attending Wabash College in the fall where he will major in chemistry. As a Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, Michael will receive a four-year, full tuition and fees scholarship plus a book stipend of $700 per year.

Cherry Gumz, President SCCF, Jim Hardesty, Chairman of the Board for the Lilly Scholarship Foundation, Michael Matsey and Shirley Fosler, Guidance Counselor, Knox High School.

Jennifer Lynn Bachert, the daughter of James A. and Susan L. Bachert of North Judson, was recently awarded the Steve C. Beering Scholarship at Purdue University. This very prestigious scholarship has afforded Jennifer the opportunity to give back the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship to the Starke County Community Foundation.

Each year, during the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship selection process in March, the scholarship committee names an alternate in case one of the recipients is unable to accept the scholarship.

Michael Matsey was this year's alternate recipient. Michael, along with Kory Risner and Nathan Origer, will be honored at a reception in Indianapolis on June 29, as will other Lilly Endowment Community Scholars from throughout the state.

The Endowment provides full-tuition and fees to outstanding seniors who plan to attend public or private colleges or universities in Indiana.

The program provides three (3) scholarships for Starke County through the Starke County Community Foundation. Without the SCCF, these scholarships would not be available. All graduating seniors who are Starke County residents are eligible to apply each year.

Starke County Community Foundation Announces
Their Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients

Three (3) graduating seniors have each received a four-year, full-tuition scholarship. The Starke County Community Foundation (SCCF) has announced that Jennifer Lynn Bachert, Nathan Peter Origer and Kory Daniel Risner are its three (3) Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients for 2002. Thirty-four (34) applications were submitted to the SCCF Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Committee for consideration for this year's scholarship. From those applications, nine (9) students were selected as finalists for the second phase of the selection process, which included writing an impromptu essay and an interview with the Committee.

The purpose of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana and to leverage further the ability of Indiana's community foundations to enhance the quality of life of the state's residents. The Endowment provides full-tuition and fees to outstanding seniors who plan to attend public or private colleges or universities in Indiana. The program provides three (3) scholarships for Starke County through the Starke County Community Foundation. Without the SCCF, these scholarships would not be available. All graduating seniors who are Starke County residents are eligible to apply each year.

Bachert is the daughter of James A. and Susan L. Bachert of North Judson. After graduating from North Judson-San Pierre Jr./Sr. High School, she will attend Purdue University this fall where she will major in Engineering and pursue a career in Chemical Engineering.

Jennifer Lynn Bachert

Origer, also a North Judson-San Pierre Jr./Sr. High School senior, will major in either History or English at the University of Notre Dame. He is the son of John P. and Julie A. (Hindle) Origer, North Judson.

Nathan Origer

Kory Risner, who too is a senior at North Judson San Pierre Jr./Sr. High School, is the son of Ralph and Marcella Spoor, North Judson. He will major in Pre-Physical Therapy at IUPUI in Indianapolis.

Kory Risner

All three (3) students will also receive a $700 book stipend each year while they are pursuing their degrees. They will be honored at a reception in Indianapolis on June 29, 2002, along with other Lilly Endowment Community Scholars from throughout the state.

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Lilly Scholars 2002