River Fritz Receives 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Huntington County!

The Community Foundation of Huntington County is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Huntington County – River Fritz of Huntington North High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership.  

“The Community Foundation of Huntington County is pleased to announce that this year’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship has been awarded to River Fritz,” said Community Foundation Board Member, Heather Larr. “River has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and a strong commitment to our community through her work and volunteer efforts. Her dedication to mental health advocacy, education and the arts will undoubtedly make a positive impact on the community. Please join us in congratulating River on this well-deserved recognition.” 

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. 

“Receiving this scholarship is not only an immense honor, but also a weight off of my and my family’s shoulders,” exclaimed River. “This gives me the freedom to focus on my studies, further participate in the community and eventually enrich the lives of my future students. I am beyond thrilled to start my college education with such an accomplishment.”  

River plans to attend Ball State University to major in Severe Intervention Special Education with a goal of pursuing a career as an Essential Skills/Severe Disability Teacher. 

In determining Huntington County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominees, the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee gave consideration based on the candidates’ ability to demonstrate application of knowledge, resiliency and perseverance, communication skills, strong initiative and community-centered involvement. Additional themes for consideration focused on character, maturity, leadership abilities and a conveyed interest in improving quality of life in Indiana. 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. 

This year, twenty-nine high school seniors from Huntington County began the application process by submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI). After reviewing the LOIs, twelve applicants were invited to submit full applications. The Foundation’s Scholarship Committee, comprised of five community volunteers, then selected six candidates for the initial round of interviews. Three finalists advanced to a second round of interviews. Following these interviews, the committee submitted its top nominee and two alternates to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) for final approval. 

“The quality of applicants we receive each year is truly remarkable, reflecting not only exceptional academic achievements but also diverse talents and community impact,” noted Amber Rensberger, Community Foundation Program Manager. “Our thorough application process ensures that we identify individuals who not only excel in their pursuits but also embody the values and leadership potential that align with the prestigious honor of receiving this scholarship.” 

Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1997-98 school year. Since then, grant funding in excess of $490 million has supported more than 5,300 Indiana students who have received scholarships through the program. 

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. 

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana 

Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates. 

For more information on the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship and other Foundation scholarships, visit huntingtonccf.org/scholarship.