The Carroll County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Carroll County: Katie McClain of Carroll Senior High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are recognized for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.
Katie McClain will be graduating from Carroll Senior High School with an Academic Honors diploma. She plans to pursue a degree in agriculture education from Purdue University.”We truly appreciated the opportunity to get to know Katie,” said Michelle Cox, member of the Lilly Scholarship Committee at the Carroll County Community Foundation. “Our committee reviewed a remarkable group of applicants, and Katie really rose to the top for her dedication, character, and commitment to her future goals. We are proud to support her next steps and excited to see the impact she will have on our community and beyond.”
Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees, and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Scholars also join the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects them with resources and opportunities to lead on campus and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).
In nominating Carroll County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholars, the committee considered academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and financial need. After narrowing the field of applicants, nominees were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), the statewide administrator of the program, for final selection.
“Recipients of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship are very carefully considered, as we look for applicants that truly exemplify the qualities and abilities of a student driven to succeed,” said Todd Moser, President of the Carroll County Community Foundation. “Lilly Endowment entrusts Indiana’s community foundations to administer this program, which gives our Foundation further opportunity to connect with the youth in our county and support their futures.”
Since its inception in 1997–98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefiting over 5,400 Indiana students.
The program’s primary purposes are:
To raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana.
To increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations play.
To encourage and support Lilly Scholars’ engagement with Indiana leaders to improve quality of life statewide.
About the Carroll County Community Foundation:
Established in 1997, the Carroll County Community Foundation operates as a fund of the Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc. It serves donors in Carroll County through a dedicated County Services Committee made up of local residents. With support from the staff and resources of the Community Foundation of Howard County, the committee helps guide local charitable efforts and scholarship distributions. The Foundation is committed to building a permanent source of charitable funding to support the educational aspirations of Carroll County students. Each year, the Foundation awards scholarships to help students pursue college degrees, technical training, and other educational opportunities—empowering the next generation of community leaders, professionals, and skilled workers.
To learn more about available scholarships or how you can support local students through a named scholarship fund, visit cfcarroll.org or call 765-454-7298.
About Lilly Endowment Inc.:
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment supports community development, education, and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana.
About Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI):
Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for Indiana’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year graduation rates and produce 30% of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20% of its undergraduates.