Jernigan
Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County announced Columbus Signature Academy –New Tech High School seniors Zoey Jernigan and Kevin Wittekind as the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars for Bartholomew County.
Lilly Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership.
“This scholarship opens doors to opportunities for local students. We’re confident Zoey and Kevin will accomplish remarkable things through their continued education,” said Aida Ramirez, chair of Heritage Fund’s Lilly Scholarship Selection Committee.
Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships provide 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 undergraduate students studying on a full-time basis 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.
Heritage Fund received 59 applications for this year’s scholarships, from which 10 finalists were selected. Scholarship applicants were evaluated by the selection committee on academic performance; scholastic and community involvement; employment; leadership; financial need; short answer and essay responses and two recommendations. Each finalist was interviewed by the selection committee before scholarship nominees were submitted to ICI, statewide administrator of the scholarship program, for selection approval.
In addition to the winners, the finalists included:
Columbus East High School: Jasmin Cordoba, Abigail Dabson and Ruthie West
Columbus North High School: Angelica Armstrong, Caleb Ferguson, Ava Laplante and Alfredo Madero
Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School: Kaysie Kistler
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 $486 million. More than 5,000 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception. To date, 59 Bartholomew County students have been named Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.
Since its inception in 1997–98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefiting more than 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.
