2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients

Six Lake County Students Join the 26th Cohort of Lilly Endowment Community Scholars

Legacy Foundation announced six Lake County, Indiana students to receive the scholarship from the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP). Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. The 2022-23 recipients are:

  • Arely Aguilar-Prieto, East Chicago Central High School
  • Wisdom Chandler, Merrillville High School
  • Israel Gibson, Hobart High School
  • Maria Emilia Quiroga, Bishop Noll Institute
  • Alejandro Ramirez, River Forest High School
  • Juan Villanueva Jr., Calumet New Tech

“The Lilly Endowment Scholars program has a tremendous impact on students. I am impressed each year by the caliber of students we have here in Lake County. These young leaders have been making positive change by serving their schools and community, and I am excited to see the accomplishments of these students for years to come,” said Jodi Kateiva, Legacy Foundation scholarship administrator.

Arely Aguilar-Prieto will major in political science to fulfill her passion of helping children in Northwest Indiana receive quality healthcare.

Wisdom Chandler has a goal of becoming a therapist focusing on Black women in Northwest Indiana. To achieve this goal Wisdom will study psychology and African American studies.

Israel Gibson will pursue a computer science and software engineering degree with a goal of becoming a software engineer to advocate for important issues facing Lake County communities.

Maria Emilia Quiroga plans to study marketing and communications so she can promote the great things happening in her community. .

Alejandro Ramirez will major in kinesiology and business. Alejandro’s goal is to help make his community healthier and aspires to one day open his own business.

Juan Villanueva Jr. has a passion for creating opportunities for children in the City of Gary and anticipates he will major in nursing.

Each scholarship provides 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. Students must attend an Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni 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) and Indiana Humanities.

2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship

The 2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Application is closed. Check back July 2023 for information on the next cycle.  

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).

2023 Criteria Required for Student to Apply

  • Graduating senior from an accredited high school in Lake County, Indiana
  • Resident of Lake County, Indiana
  • Plan to attend a full-time baccalaureate course of study in the fall of 2023 at an accredited Indiana college/university
  • Unweighted GPA of 3.25
  • Student MUST reside in Lake County, Indiana AND attend high school in Lake County, Indiana

2023 Selection Criteria

  • Academics
  • Demonstrated leadership skills
  • Service to others
  • Character
  • Essay
  • Interview
  • Financial need

2023 Award Details

  • Six (6) students from Lake County, Indiana will receive the scholarship.
  • Covers four (4) years of full tuition to ANY accredited 4-year private or public college in Indiana.
  • The students will also receive a $900 per year stipend for books.

View 2023 Lilly Endowment Scholarship Student Guide

About the LECS Program

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.