For
two days, Scottsburg High School senior Jordan Shuler had to keep a big
secret: he was named the Scott County Community Foundation 2016 Lilly
Endowment Community Scholar.
“I had to go on as if I didn’t know
anything about it,” Shuler said. “I was completely shocked and awed I
was getting it. I didn’t expect.”
As the Scott County Community
Foundation 2016 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, Shuler will receive a
full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana college of his choosing and a
$900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.
“It means a
lot,” said Shuler, who the son of Greg Shuler and Cherie Shuler, a
teacher at Lexington Elementary School. “Now, my mom doesn’t have to
worry about paying for college. I can come out of college with no debt.”
In
the fall, Shuler will be attending Grace College, a private, Christian
college near Warsaw. He plans to major in accounting and sports
management.
“I would be more comfortable in a small environment. I
don’t like super big. I didn’t want an IU,” Shuler said about why he
chose Grace College. “I wanted to be around people like me, who share my
values.”
Before receiving the Lilly Scholarship, Shuler received a
merit scholarship from Grace College, but it did not cover the entire
cost of education, like the Lilly scholarship provides.
“I will
come out of college with no debt,” said Shuler, who is the oldest of
three children. “I will be able to buy a house sooner. I will be able to
do a lot of things sooner because I don’t have loans to worry about.”
To
be considered for the Lilly Scholarship, Shuler put in hours of hard
work and dedication into his academics, his community, and his
extracurricular activities.
He is in the top 10 percent of his
graduating class; is a member of the SHS golf, tennis, and academic
teams; is a member of the Scott County Community Foundation Youth
Grantmaking Council; participates in Band of Warriors, Model United
Nations, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes; and attends First
Christian Church in Scottsburg.
“It must have been a tough choice
for the committee,” Shuler said about the five Lilly Scholar finalists
in Scott County. “There were very qualified people.”
According to
the Scott County Community Foundation, the recipient of the Lilly
Scholarship is chosen based on financial considerations, community
involvement, work and extracurricular activities, academics, and two
essays that were submitted with the application process. Five Scott
County students were chosen as finalists and were interviewed. One
winner and two alternates were submitted to Independent Colleges of
Indiana Inc., nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally
accredited colleges and universities, for final confirmation.