Lilly Endowment
Community Scholarship

Since 1998, the Community Foundation of Elkhart County has partnered with Lilly Endowment Inc. to support local students in pursuing higher education through the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship (LECS) Program. More than 100 Elkhart County students have received this life-changing opportunity over the years.

About the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship

Each year, three graduating seniors from Elkhart County are awarded four-year, full-tuition scholarships (excluding room and board) to attend any accredited college or university in Indiana.

Each eligible high school in the county may nominate one student. From these nominees, the Community Foundation’s Career Pathways Committee selects a group of finalists. The final scholarship recipients are then approved by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).

Eligibility

To be considered for these scholarships, students must:

• Be a resident of Elkhart County
• Be a graduate of an accredited Elkhart County high school
• Be planning to enroll in a four-year degree program at an accredited Indiana college or university beginning in fall 2026
• Have completed a course of study meeting Core 40, Indiana Academic Honors Diploma, or an equivalent standard
• Live in a household where neither parent/guardian has completed a four-year college degree

Students interested in the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship should speak with their high school counselor to request an access code. This code allows them to begin the Lilly application online.

The application must be completed between August 1, 2025 and September 15, 2025. After the deadline, all submitted applications from each high school are forwarded to that school’s designated committee. Each high school will then select one nominee to proceed in the process.