The Kosciusko County Community Foundation announced the 2008 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.
Connor Beer, of Wawasee High School, and Kate Denlinger, of Warsaw Community High School, have won the prestigious scholarship. This award provides full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $800 per year for required books and equipment toward an undergraduate degree at any accredited college or university in Indiana.
Connor is the son of Keith and Beth Beer of Milford. He plans to attend Purdue University and study pre-med and biomedical engineering. His career goal is to become a pediatrician.
Connor has kept busy during his high school career. He has held a part-time job while balancing his studies, sports and extracurricular school activities. He served in student government for four years, three as class president, and currently serves as student body president. He has also been a four-year member of both the football and golf teams. Connor's volunteer activities included involvement in his church through mentoring, fundraising and community service projects. At his school, Connor tutored other students and participated in fundraising drives for Riley Children's Hospital. He also volunteered at Lakeland Youth Center's Soccer Camp and helped with tornado clean-up in Nappanee.
Connor ranks third in his graduating class with a grade point average of 11.365 on a 12 point scale. His references described Connor as friendly, intelligent, determined and prepared.
Kate Denlinger is the daughter of Kent and Karla Denlinger of Winona Lake. Kate plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan and major in Psychology. Her career goal is to be a marriage and family therapist.
She has successfully balanced school, work and extracurricular activities. She has worked at a publishing/book-selling company and currently has a weekly paper route. She was a four-year member of volleyball and basketball teams. Her volunteer and community service activities included participation in Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services, sporting camps and youth groups.
Kate is ranked second in her graduating class and has a grade point average of 13.068 on a 12 point scale. Her references described Kate as focused, dedicated, mature, humble, caring, trustworthy and teachable.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is a statewide program created by Lilly Endowment Inc. to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana and to leverage further the ability of Indiana's community foundations to enhance the quality of life of the state's residents.
The Kosciusko County Community Foundation is charged with recommending recipients for the award from Kosciusko County. The Community Foundation uses a blind selection process during which applicant names are removed from their applications. The Foundation recommends recipients based on academics, community service, work, extracurricular involvement, essay response and references.
Since 1968, Kosciusko County Community Foundation Inc. has brought caring people and charitable endeavors together for the good of the community. The Community Foundation is a public charity, and gifts made to the Foundation are tax-deductible. For more information about the Community Foundation, visit www.kcfoundation.org, call 574-267-1901, or visit the office at 102 E. Market Street, Warsaw.
