Peters Is Lilly ScholarSOUTH WHITLEY - As she began to realize Wednesday afternoon she was the recipient of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship, Whitko High School senior Gayle Peters began to tear up.
Her friends, realizing who Kosciusko County Community Foundation board member Rob Parker was talking about as he read the recipient's achievements, even though he hadn't yet said Gayle's name, also began to tear up and smile.
Gary and Ginger Peters, Gayle's parents, had been hiding from view from Gayle so as to not ruin the surprise. But they had been told Gayle was getting a SADD award, not a full-ride to any Indiana college of Gayle's choosing. As Parker continued to read Gayle's many accomplishments, her parents also couldn't help but get emotional.
After Parker finally said Gayle's name, Gayle shared many hugs with her parents, friends and WHS staff. Her classmates gave her a round of applause.
Gayle was one of two recipients of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship as a Kosciusko County Community Foundation 2011 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. The second recipient has not yet been announced, according to a press release from the KCCF.
Gayle will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of her choice and an $800 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.
Gayle plans to attend Purdue University to study pre-veterinary (animal science) to become a veterinarian.
She is ranked first in her graduating class, and holds a grade point average of 12.34 on a 12-point scale.
She contributed more than 450 hours of community service to a variety of charitable projects and organizations, many through her membership in Future Farmers of America.
Her school and extracurricular activities included FFA, SADD, National Honor Society, Whitko Wire, Art Club, Student Council, Drug Free Indiana and 4-H.
Her work experiences included child care, providing horse training and riding lessons and working at a local movie theater.
Gayle's references described her as "accomplished", "extraordinary", "dedicated", "honest" and "dependable."
The Kosciusko County Community Foundation uses a "blind" application review process in which the names of applicants are removed from applications before they are reviewed by the scholarship committee. Applications were scored based on academics, extracurricular involvement, employment history, community service, essay response and references.
Gayle was one of two top-ranked applicants after the scoring process was complete, according to the press release. The KCCF forwarded recommended recipients to Independent Colleges of Indiana for review and ICI selected Gayle as a recipient.
ICI is a non-profit 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.
Since 1968, the KCCF has brought caring people and charitable endeavors together for the good of the community. The Foundation is a public charity, and gifts made to the Foundation are tax deductible.
For more information about the KCCF, visit its website at www.kcfoundation.org, call 574-267-1901 or visit the office at 102 E. Market St., Warsaw.
