Baillie Is Ohio Co. Lilly Scholarship Winner

Press release from the Ohio County Community Foundation

Kelsey Baillie (right) and her mother Karen.

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(Rising Sun, Ind.) - A Rising Sun High School student has been named the recipient of a four year, full-tuition scholarship as the Ohio County Community Foundation 2012 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.

Kelsey Baillie, member of the 2012 graduating class of Rising Sun High School, will receive full tuition to the Indiana college or university of her choice and an $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

Hannah Crouch has been named as the scholarship alternate. Hannah is the daughter of Archie and Regina Crouch of Rising Sun.

Kelsey is the daughter of Karen Baillie of Rising Sun. Kelsey is presently ranked 8th in her graduating class. She is a member of the National Honor Society and currently serves as its President. She has received Gold and Bronze Medal Academic Awards during high school. Kelsey played Varsity Soccer all four years of high school. She was named Defensive MVP her sophomore and junior years. She was Top Team Player her junior year and participated in the North vs. South All-Star Game her senior year. Kelsey has played Varsity Softball all four years of high school and was named All-Conference her freshman and junior years, All-Sectional, All-Regional and All-Semi-State her junior year. She served as the Team Captain her junior year.  Kelsey is a member of the Student Council, Prom Committee, Spanish Club, Yearbook Committee, and Spell Bowl Team. She is a member of her church Youth Group. Kelsey’s volunteer activities include the Ohio County Animal Shelter, the Navy Bean Fall Festival and the Health Fair and Community Clean-Up Day sponsored by Rising Sun High School.  Kelsey presently works at Snappy Tomato Pizza, in Rising Sun, afterschool, weekends and during the summer.  

 “I totally freaked out when I realized I had been selected,” stated Kelsey. “I was a sound asleep the evening my Mom brought in the mail the day my letter arrived. She came in my room all excited and woke me up. I opened the letter and began to freak out when I finally got my bearings and learned I had been selected for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Mom and I danced around my room. The scholarship will allow me follow my dream to attend Manchester College and pursue a degree in Pre-Pharmacy and Spanish.”

Kelsey also plans to play soccer and softball while attending Manchester College.   

The Ohio County Community Foundation (OCCF) is proud to administer the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Ohio County. This past fall, seventeen scholarship applications were submitted from the senior class of Rising Sun High School. The scholarship selection includes three processes: the application, a one page essay and a personal interview. The applications were reviewed and scored by members of the OCCF Scholarship Selection Committee, comprised of seven Ohio County residents with an interest in education and who serve in a leadership capacity within the community.  The scores are based on the scholarship criteria which include academics, financial need, and extra-curricular activities; a one page written essay; and the applicant’s college preparation which includes the applicant’s overall potential to succeed in college. Five finalists were selected based on their application score and were interviewed individually by members of the selection committee.  After the interview process, the OCCF scholarship selection committee selected one nominee and one alternate.  The finalists’ applications were submitted to the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for approval.

ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

The scholarships are the results of a state wide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education.  Indiana ranks among the lowest states in percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree.  There were 142 scholarships awarded statewide.

The Ohio County Community Foundation is located at 591 Smart Drive, Rising Sun.  For information concerning the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship or other scholarships administered by the Ohio County Community Foundation, please call 812-438-9401.