A Lebanon Lady Tiger has been chosen as one of 13 recipients of the 2024 IHSAA C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship.
Lebanon’s Ava Lehmkuhler was announced as a recipient of the Cato Memorial Scholarship, which was presented to 13 Hoosier senior student-athletes this year. All of the students are slated to be recognized on May 7 at the Indianapolis Colts Complex.
“These well-rounded positive role models have demonstrated excellence in academics, school and community involvement, character, sportsmanship and citizenship,” the announcement reads.
All 13 of the recipients will receive a $2,500 scholarship for their prep accomplishments and will be recognized on May 7 during the IHSAA Foundation Impact Awards at Gridiron Hall, which is located within the Indianapolis Colts Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.
With over 100 applications being received, the 13 student-athletes were chosen as the top candidates to receive the scholarship. Since 2003, the IHSAA has recongized 266 outstanding student-athletes with scholarships totaling $627,500.
The announcement included a statement of Lehmkuhler’s selection:
Three-sport student-athlete Ava Lehmkuhler of Lebanon High School is a 12-time varsity letter winner, participating in Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis is each of her years as a Tiger.
She has served as Team Captain and earned Academic All-State honors for Soccer and Basketball. Additionally, she has earned All-Conference honors in Soccer and Tennis. In the classroom, she
ranks second in her Senior Class of 217 students, posting a 4.67 weighted GPA. Ava is a member of DECA, Key Club, Lebanon Ambassadors, Student Council, Class Council, and the Yearbook staff.Additionally, she was honored as an Indiana Association of Principals Rising Star for the Class of 2024. Ava spends time volunteering at various community outreach events at her church, assisting with soccer and basketball camps throughout the year, leading tennis lessons to younger players, and working as a Lifeguard at the Seashore Waterpark. She will be attending DePauw University in the Fall.
Lehmkuhler will be honored alongside 12 other Hoosier student-athletes on May 7, including:
- Mary Bellia – South Bend Saint Joseph
- Mary Cox – Monrovia
- Ava Decker – Elkhart
- Ashton Elpers – North Posey
- Jacob Harker – Shelbyville
- Whitman Horton – Crawfordsville
- Ethan Popp – Harrison
- Emma Schipp – Jasper
- Jack Steadham – Indianapolis Bishop Chatard
- Kyah Streeval – Edinburgh
- Jake Tippman – Fort Wayne Snider
- Erin Zhu – Culver Academies
Lehmkuhler will be signing to attend and play tennis at DePauw University on Friday, April 19 at 3 p.m. in the Lebanon High School Community Room #1.