Durcholz, DeGeeter Named Lilly Endowment Community Scholars
Posted
Staff Report-
The Kosciusko County Community Foundation announced the county's 2007 recipients of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.
Surprise presentations were made Sunday to Kayla Durcholz and Danielle DeGeeter, both seniors at Warsaw Community High School.
Durcholz is the valedictorian of her class. She has worked at Zale's Drugs for the past two years. She has been very involved in school activities, including varsity swim team, Latin Club, National Honor Society and Mathletes to name a few. She is a National Merit Scholar semi-finalist and has been recognized in multiple ways for her academic achievements. Her community service activities are extensive and include church volunteer activities, volunteering at Our Father's House, Adopt a Highway cleanup and more.She described her biggest accomplishment as achieving her class rank while not letting that goal "consume" her.
In her essay, she wrote about a church group trip to Germany to celebrate her faith, getting frustrated with the overcrowding and logistical problems, but then realizing she couldn't focus on the negatives and enjoyed the trip anyway.
Durcholz plans to attend Notre Dame, where she has been accepted, to study liberal arts. Her career goal is to be a professor. Her references described her as intelligent, motivated, curious, dedicated, driven, faith-filled and kind. Kayla's parents are Bradley and Brenda Durcholz.
DeGeeter is ranked in the top 2 percent of her class. She has had several summer jobs, and has worked at her present job at Courthouse Coffee for more than a year. DeGeeter's school activities have included four years each in volleyball and basketball, along with shorter term involvement in tennis. She is in the National Honor Society and has served as a freshman mentor and DARE role model - to name a few. She has been recognized or received awards as a result of her participation in sports and with student council and NHS.
Her community activities have included Youth Group at her church, BLITZ volunteer program, coaching at sports camps, and a trip to help with Hurricane Katrina cleanup.
She considers her involvement in varsity volleyball as a significant accomplishment in her life.
In her essay, DeGeeter wrote about losing a city championship basketball game in elementary school and how that event helped shape her ability to stay positive and improve.
Her plans are to attend Indiana University and study health sciences. She believes she wants to be a physical therapist. Her references described Danielle as honest, industrious, compassionate, kind, a hard worker, focused, diligent, committed and disciplined.
Danielle's parents are Michael and Jeanine DeGeeter.
The Kosciusko County Community Foundation uses a "blind" selection process in reviewing LECS applications. Selection committee members do not have access to the names of the applicants. Recipients are chosen based on academic performance, extracurricular and work involvement, community service, essay response, and references.
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.
In Kosciusko County, the program may provide two scholarships. The award is for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $800 per year for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a bachelor's degree at any Indiana public or private college or university accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
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 St., Warsaw.
