18 Dec Sarah Eckrote Receives Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
Sarah Eckrote, a North Miami High School graduating senior, has been named the 2019 Miami County Community Foundation Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.
Sarah will receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana college or university of her choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.
Sarah is the daughter of Jeffrey and Michele Eckrote and plans to attend Purdue University to study nursing.
Sarah has participated in FFA for four years, serving as the Chapter President. She has also participated in Student Council, National Honor Society, Bible Study Group, Spanish Club, Supervised Agricultural Experience, and 4-H. She has been a Varsity Soccer player for four years, and she serves as a team captain. She has done a variety of volunteer work, including attending a mission trip with her youth group.
Sarah was selected for the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship from a field of 13 applicants by the Miami County Community Foundation Scholarship Committee.
During the selection process, the applications are ‘blinded,’ meaning that the identities of the applicants are removed. The Committee scores applicants on academic performance, volunteer and paid work, school activities and honors, as well as essays. Of the twenty-six applicants, six finalists were selected for a final review. These finalists were asked to write an essay, make a presentation, and have a personal interview with the Scholarship Committee. The Committee narrowed the field to one nominee as their recommendation. Finalists’ applications are submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the final selection of the recipient.
ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents thirty regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.
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, not-for-profit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.
The students who were finalists and interviewed for the scholarship were Kate Cobler and Madison France of North Miami High School and Belen Flores and Maegan Sinkovics of Peru High School.