Batesville Students Wins Lilly Scholarship

Press release from the Franklin County Community Foundation

Mike Hoeing

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(Batesville, Ind.) - One local student has been named recipient of a full-tuition, four-year scholarship as the Franklin County Community Foundation 2013 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.

Michael Hoeing will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of his choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.  Semi-finalists Ellen Young, a Franklin County High School student who is the daughter of John Young and Christine Young; and Megan Karbowski, a Batesville High School student who is the daughter of Tom and Jessica Karbowski, will receive $500 scholarships from the FCCF operating budget.

Michael Hoeing of Batesville is the son of Donna Hoeing and the late John Hoeing.  A Batesville High School student, Mike is a member of the Kiwanis Student Leadership Academy and is a Math Center Tutor. He has participated on the Varsity Basketball, Varsity Football and Varsity Track and Field Teams.  In the community, Mike has been involved with the Choices program, the Waters Nursing Home Annual Christmas Party, Relay for Life and Hill-Rom Activity Day.  Mike is also a member of St. Louis Parish.

“My future aspirations involve pursuing a career in the field of education” said Mike.  “Specifically, I will begin with my sights set on teaching mathematics at the junior high level.  I have selected junior high because that is the age where kids are most vulnerable in choosing the types of lives they will lead”, he continues.  “There is no greater venue in influencing generations to come than education.”

The three semi-finalists were selected from 20 applications submitted from accredited high school seniors who live in Franklin County. The students were interviewed by a volunteer scholarship selection committee. Committee members have been selected because they are perceived as well-respected and objective. Members of the scholarship selection committee are not members of the Franklin County Community Foundation Board of Directors or staff.

 After the selection committee narrowed the field, the finalists’ names were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for selection of the recipient.  ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

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

The Franklin County Community Foundation is proud of every high school graduate in Franklin County.  Choosing a student to represent our community is a difficult process for the Lilly Scholarship Selection Committee.  The FCCF Scholarship committee will be meeting soon to select the recipients of more than 45 additional scholarships the Foundation awards – scholarships that are created and funded by Franklin County citizens.

For more information about the Franklin County Community Foundation, visit www.franklincountyindiana.com or call (765) 647-6810.