The Perry County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Perry County – Alyssa Goffinet of Perry Central Junior-Senior High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.
“Alyssa’s involvement and dedication to her school and community were apparent in her application and interview. The nominating committee was honored to have the opportunity to meet her and recommend her for this life-changing opportunity,” said Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Perry County Community Foundation.
Alyssa is the daughter of Steven and Fannie Goffinet, of Saint Croix. Following graduation, Alyssa plans to pursue a degree in Secondary Education. In addition to excelling academically, Alyssa has been involved in a variety of school activities including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Educators Rising Club, Future Farmers of America, Art Club, Cross Country, Basketball, and Track & Field. Outside of academics, Alyssa devotes numerous hours to her church including volunteering with the food program, student ministry, and serves as a group leader for Bible Camp.
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. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students 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 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.
In determining Perry County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar(s) nominees, consideration was given to academic performance, school and community activities and leadership role in activities, two essays, steps the applicant has taken to prepare for his/ her chosen career or educational path, special circumstances, and a finalist interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients.
“The Community Foundation was thoroughly pleased with the quality of the applications and the involvement of the applicants. Perry County is full of talented youth,” said Alvey. Scholarship award alternates were also announced. Erin Holtzman was named the first alternate and Cyrilla Sommer was named the second alternate.
Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year since with grants totaling in excess of $505 million. More than 5,200 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.