Valley, Warsaw Students Named Lilly Endowment Scholars
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Barbara Kimmel, TVHS senior, and Rebecca Ailes, WCHS senior, will receive full tuition to the Indiana colleges of their choice and $900 yearly stipends for required books and equipment.
Suzie Light, KCCF executive director, made the announcement to Barbara and her parents, Joe and Cindy Kimmel, at about 11:35 a.m. Monday in the school cafeteria. To keep the announcement a secret, Valley Principal Kirk Doehrmann invited Joe and Cindy to the high school by saying the school wanted to recognize Barbara for an athletic award she received last week.
“It really is (a dream come true),” Cindy said. “She’s always worked so hard.”
Besides TVHS, Cindy said Barbara also takes classes at Ivy Tech and Warsaw Area Career Center. Barbara plans to major in psychology and occupational therapy at the University of Indianapolis, which are two majors that typically don’t go together. She said Barbara has always had to rearrange and work through things that never been done before, all the while maintaining her grade point average.
“She’s always worked hard and done the impossible,” Cindy said.
Her old brother and his wife are in college, so the Kimmel’s finances are tight, “So this is amazing,” she said.
“I’m forever grateful,” Barbara said. “This is something I couldn’t ever have dreamed of.”
Even though she took a shot at it, she said she didn’t think actually winning it was possible. In announcing Barbara as a winner, Light said the committee chose her because she created opportunities for herself where they didn’t previously exist.
According to information provided by the KCCF, Barbara is ranked first in her class at TVHS.
She has gained work experience as an assistant gymnastics coach, helping her family’s racing team and by providing child and pet care. She is a varsity cheerleader, swimmer, diver and gymnast. Additionally, she has participated in track and field, youth group, student government and National Honor Society.
Barbara has gained volunteer experience through her gymnastics gym, church, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy and Key Club. Her references describe her as hard working, determined and motivated.
Light announced Ailes as a recipient of the scholarship in her seventh-period class Tuesday afternoon. Her parents, Steve and Michele Ailes, were at the school, having been told they were there for a conference on their daughter.
“We are so proud of her! We can’t be more proud of her. She has worked so hard, her whole academic career,” said Michele.
“I’m just so excited because this will help out a lot financially,” said Rebecca.
She plans to become a veterinarian and the scholarship will help pay for her schooling. “It’s just really great,” she emphasized.
“I’m thrilled! I’m thrilled!” said Steve.
Having previously served on the Lilly scholarship committee in Miami County, Steve said he knows how prestigious the scholarship is and how difficult it is to get.
“I’m almost speechless,” he said. “She’s worked so hard for this.”
According to KCCF information, Ailes is ranked third in her class at WCHS. She plans to attend Purdue University and study pre-veterinary and animal science. She works at the Animal Welfare League.
Ailes’ activities include church youth group, volleyball, softball, FFA, National Honor Society and the Tiger Student Athletic Board.
Her volunteer work has included AWL and outreach with her church youth group. Her references described her as generous, responsible and compassionate.
The KCCF uses a “blind selection process in which reviewers do not have access to the identity of the applicants they are reviewing. The award is based on academic achievement, community service, work experience, extracurricular involvement, essay responses and references.” The foundation’s scholarship committee made their recommendations to Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection of the recipients.
ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree-granting, non-profit, private colleges and universities in Indiana.
The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. There were 142 scholarships awarded statewide this year.
Since 1968, the KCCF Inc. has brought caring people and charitable endeavors together for the good of the community. The Foundation is a public charity, and gifts made to it are tax deductible. For more information about the KCCF, visit www.kcfoundation.org, call 574-267-1901 or visit the office at 102 E. Market St., Warsaw.[[In-content Ad]]
Barbara Kimmel, TVHS senior, and Rebecca Ailes, WCHS senior, will receive full tuition to the Indiana colleges of their choice and $900 yearly stipends for required books and equipment.
Suzie Light, KCCF executive director, made the announcement to Barbara and her parents, Joe and Cindy Kimmel, at about 11:35 a.m. Monday in the school cafeteria. To keep the announcement a secret, Valley Principal Kirk Doehrmann invited Joe and Cindy to the high school by saying the school wanted to recognize Barbara for an athletic award she received last week.
“It really is (a dream come true),” Cindy said. “She’s always worked so hard.”
Besides TVHS, Cindy said Barbara also takes classes at Ivy Tech and Warsaw Area Career Center. Barbara plans to major in psychology and occupational therapy at the University of Indianapolis, which are two majors that typically don’t go together. She said Barbara has always had to rearrange and work through things that never been done before, all the while maintaining her grade point average.
“She’s always worked hard and done the impossible,” Cindy said.
Her old brother and his wife are in college, so the Kimmel’s finances are tight, “So this is amazing,” she said.
“I’m forever grateful,” Barbara said. “This is something I couldn’t ever have dreamed of.”
Even though she took a shot at it, she said she didn’t think actually winning it was possible. In announcing Barbara as a winner, Light said the committee chose her because she created opportunities for herself where they didn’t previously exist.
According to information provided by the KCCF, Barbara is ranked first in her class at TVHS.
She has gained work experience as an assistant gymnastics coach, helping her family’s racing team and by providing child and pet care. She is a varsity cheerleader, swimmer, diver and gymnast. Additionally, she has participated in track and field, youth group, student government and National Honor Society.
Barbara has gained volunteer experience through her gymnastics gym, church, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy and Key Club. Her references describe her as hard working, determined and motivated.
Light announced Ailes as a recipient of the scholarship in her seventh-period class Tuesday afternoon. Her parents, Steve and Michele Ailes, were at the school, having been told they were there for a conference on their daughter.
“We are so proud of her! We can’t be more proud of her. She has worked so hard, her whole academic career,” said Michele.
“I’m just so excited because this will help out a lot financially,” said Rebecca.
She plans to become a veterinarian and the scholarship will help pay for her schooling. “It’s just really great,” she emphasized.
“I’m thrilled! I’m thrilled!” said Steve.
Having previously served on the Lilly scholarship committee in Miami County, Steve said he knows how prestigious the scholarship is and how difficult it is to get.
“I’m almost speechless,” he said. “She’s worked so hard for this.”
According to KCCF information, Ailes is ranked third in her class at WCHS. She plans to attend Purdue University and study pre-veterinary and animal science. She works at the Animal Welfare League.
Ailes’ activities include church youth group, volleyball, softball, FFA, National Honor Society and the Tiger Student Athletic Board.
Her volunteer work has included AWL and outreach with her church youth group. Her references described her as generous, responsible and compassionate.
The KCCF uses a “blind selection process in which reviewers do not have access to the identity of the applicants they are reviewing. The award is based on academic achievement, community service, work experience, extracurricular involvement, essay responses and references.” The foundation’s scholarship committee made their recommendations to Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection of the recipients.
ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree-granting, non-profit, private colleges and universities in Indiana.
The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. There were 142 scholarships awarded statewide this year.
Since 1968, the KCCF Inc. has brought caring people and charitable endeavors together for the good of the community. The Foundation is a public charity, and gifts made to it are tax deductible. For more information about the KCCF, visit www.kcfoundation.org, call 574-267-1901 or visit the office at 102 E. Market St., Warsaw.[[In-content Ad]]
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