Emily Meyer Named 2022 Ripley Co. Lilly Endowment Scholar

The Batesville HS senior will receive full tuition to the Indiana college or university of her choosing.

(Left to right): Amy Streator-RCCF, Sandy Meyer, Emily Meyer, Albert Meyer, and Andy Allen-BHS. Photo provided.

(Batesville, Ind.) - The Ripley County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2022 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Ripley County – Emily Meyer of Batesville High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership.

“It is an honor to introduce Emily as Ripley County’s 2022 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. This is an achievement that is hard earned and well deserved. Emily is a well-rounded person who demonstrated her commitment to her family, community, and academic pursuits through her activities, her essays, and achievements,” said Amy Streator, Executive Director of the Ripley County Community Foundation.

Emily is the daughter of Albert and Sandra Meyer. Along with maintaining high academic standards, Emily values giving back to her community. Emily brings companionship to animals at the Humane Society, lends her musical talents to entertain nursing home residents, organizes local events, and volunteers at a local church festival, a children’s camp, and the women’s shelter. Emily is also involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, Kiwanis Student Leadership, Key Club, Academic Team, and Drama Club.

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study 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 scholars 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).

“Prior to receiving the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, I had not applied to Rose-Hulman and this scholarship provided an opportunity for me that I had not previously considered,” said George Ritter (2019 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar).

In nominating Ripley County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar(s), consideration was given to academic aptitude, citizenship and leadership qualities as demonstrated through transcripts, letters of recommendation, responses to essays, and involvement in community and extra-curricular activities. The top five scores from the first round of evaluations moved on to the interview stage.

After the Ripley County Community Foundation Scholarship Committee narrowed the field to the five nominees and conducted interviews, the finalists’ applications were submitted to the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI), for the final selection of the recipient.

The other top finalists from Ripley County will receive a Ripley County Community Scholarship in the sum of $2,000 in their freshman year, and a Grateful Families Scholarship and a Jane Deiwert Scholarship in their Sophomore year. The four finalists are: Amelia Austin, Abigale Kieffer, Lara Moster, and Kayla Simon.

“This year’s finalists are an inspiring group of young people who are transforming their communities through acts of service. I am confident that they will continue to lead successful lives and will have a positive impact on the Hoosier State,” said Jill Tunny, member of the Lilly Scholarship Committee.

Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-1999 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling in excess of $439 million. More than 5,000 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception.

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, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.