Friends for Kids of Daviess County recently received a $1,000 grant from the Daviess County Community Foundation through the Daviess Gives Grant Program. The Daviess Gives Grant Program allows Daviess County Community Foundation advisory board members to recommend $1,000 grants to local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation’s most recent grant recommendation was made by Amy Matteson for general support of Friends for Kids of Daviess County. For more information about funding opportunities through the Daviess County Community Foundation, contact Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812-890-4469 or via email lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org . Pictured: Amy Matteson, Daviess County Community Foundation Advisory Board member; and David Self, Friends for Kids of Daviess County board member.

The Daviess County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Daviess County – Katie Elizabeth Raber of Barr-Reeve High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. “Not only is Katie at the top of her class academically, but her dedication to her school and community was also apparent in her application and interview. The nominating committee was honored to have the opportunity to meet Katie and recommend her for this life-changing scholarship opportunity,” said Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Daviess County Community Foundation. Katie is the daughter of Christopher and Rose Raber. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a major in Psychology and eventually become a Psychologist. Katie plans to attend either Taylor University or Indiana Wesleyan. In addition to excelling academically, she is active in a variety of school activities including Daviess County CEO, Indiana Senior Beta Club, SADD, Spell Bowl, FCA and FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America). Katie is also active in Track and Field and Cross Country, earning six varsity letters. She has been named Team Captain for Cross Country. Katie is very active in her church youth group, teaching Vacation Bible School, counselor at Bible Memory Ministries and has attended Mission trips to Guatemala, Mexico and Columbus, Ohio. Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. In determining Daviess County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominee, consideration was given to academic performance; community service and volunteer activities; personal statement of goals and essay; school activities, sports, and work experience; those advancing to phase two were scored on an impromptu essay; civic pride and interest; and an in-person interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. “The Community Foundation was thoroughly impressed with the quality of applicants and their level of involvement, Daviess County has many outstanding young adults full of talent and drive,” said Hazelman. Scholarship award alternates were also announced, Mariah Brunson of Barr-Reeve High School was named the first alternate, and Adeline Jarrett of Barr-Reeve High School was named the second alternate. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year since with grants totaling in excess of $505 million. More than 5,200 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.