Surrounded by her family, school staff, and fellow students, Anderson High School senior Ryan Mason learned that she was selected as one of the 2023 recipients of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship during a surprise announcement on Wednesday, December 7th.
Anderson Prepatory Academy's Vanessa McNeal was the county's other recipent.
"These two recipients are great representatives of Madison County, and I have no doubt they will be successful in their post-secondary education careers and beyond," said Kari Sisk, Vice President of Programs for the Madison County Community Foundation.
Mason, who plans to study business and marketing as well as computer science at either Butler, Purdue, or IUPUI, said having the bulk of her undergraduate education paid for lifts a large weight off her shoulders.
"They only word I can think of right now is, 'Wow'", said Mason. "I know this year I've definitely been really stressed with schools and scholarships, and it's like, I personally don't want to have to deal with student debt and stuff because that's a lot of work."
In addition to being the first recipient of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Anderson High School since 2008, she is also the first African American honoree.
Terri Wilson, a College and Career Counselor AHS, said Mason had to be gently coaxed into starting the application process, but as they prepared for her final interview in October, she was convinced Mason would do well.
"She owns the room when she walks into it," said Wilson. "I always said she either needs to be a salesperson of some sort or she needs to be a politician because she has my vote, and I'm buying whatever she's selling. She has the charisma about her that draws people in."
he Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Madison County is administered by the Madison County Community Foundation. The primary purposes of the scholarship 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.
Madison County's Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is awarded to two students, who will be provided eight semesters of full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of $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 Indiana public or private college or university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
In their selection process, applications were reviewed by a committee of community members. Reviews are completed anonymously without disclosure of student or parent identity.
Madison County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is open to students:
- Who are students of a Madison County high school for 12 months prior to the date of application.
- Who are in the Top 15% (weighted GPA) of their class academically after six (6) semesters (end of Junior year) This will be verified by your school guidance counselor.
- Who intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an accredited public or private Indiana college or university.
- Who complete the application in full and submit by the stated deadline.
- Who will graduate from one of the following high schools in 2023 (and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2023).
Eligible schools are: Alexandria High School, Anderson High School, Anderson Preparatory Academy, Elwood High School, Frankton High School, Lapel High School, Liberty Christian High School, and Pendleton-Heights High School.
Each Lilly finalist who is not selected as a recipient will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Madison County Community Foundation.