Foundation Awards Lilly Scholarships for 2008

Joe Kress, board president of the Perry County Community Foundation, has announced this year's winners of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.  Marianne Krueger and Kendall Troesch have been selected to receive the full-tuition, four-year scholarship to the Indiana College of their choice, as well as an $800 stipend for required books and equipment.

Marianne L. Krueger is a senior at Tell City High School and the daughter of Thomas and Linda Krueger.  Marianne plans to attend Indiana University with her major undecided at this time.  Marianne is president of the student council, a member of national honor society, and takes part in the Renaissance Leadership Class.   She attended a mission trip to New Orleans last summer, she volunteers for Relay for Life, March of Dimes and the Salvation Army.     She has been a member of the basketball and track teams for the past four years.  She received the 2007 Mental Attitude Award in Cross County in which she participated for three years.  As a junior she was honored as the Citizen of the Year.  When hearing of her Lilly Endowment Scholarship award, Marianne said that she told her parents to re-read the letter several times because she could not believe it!  Marianne was so excited and immediately told all of her family the good news.

Kendall M. Troesch, daughter of Steve and Kathy Troesch and a senior at Perry Central High School, plans to attend Purdue University. She will study engineering.  Kendall has been president of the Student Council and Key Club, a member of the national honor society, math club, and Changing Lives & Stopping Substance Abuse county organization.  In math club she was a Trig-Star Champion.  She is Editor of the yearbook and a board member of Students Taking Action Not Drugs.  She has been team captain of the English and Math Academic Teams, a DAR Good Citizen, and was the delegate to Hoosier Girls State in 2007.  She volunteers with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, St. Martin's Cloak Food Pantry, acts as a counselor at Glennwood Hills Youth Camp.  She has been a member of the track and cross country teams for the past four years and has won numerous awards for leadership, most improved and good mental attitude.   Upon receiving the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, Kendall said, "This is a prestigious honor that I am gracious to accept.  My family members, teachers, and friends have all contributed to my achievements.  These role models have influenced me in numerous ways.  I would like to thank the Perry County Community Foundation and the Lilly Endowment for this opportunity to enhance all of my future goals."

The Foundation's scholarship committee evaluated applicants based on grade point average, SAT and ACT scores, involvement in community and school activities, and written essays.  "Ranking each applicant according to the established criteria helped us narrow the number selected for interview," said Wendy Alvey, chair of the scholarship committee.  "Even so, every student we interviewed was outstanding and we would have been proud for any of them to receive the award."

After the interview process, the committee submitted its nominees to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) for final review and approval.  ICI, a nonprofit organization representing 31 Indiana colleges and universities, oversees statewide administration of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship program.  The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education.  A total of 216 scholarships are to be awarded statewide.

For more information regarding the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship or the Perry County Community Foundation, contact Kim Embrey at (812) 547-3176 or e-mail at kim@perrycommunityfoundation.org.