On May 27 the Rush County Community Foundation distributed 86 scholarship awards to 58 students at its 2009 Scholarship Celebration at Benjamin Rush Middle School. These scholarships were awarded from 44 local scholarship funds established with the Foundation along with two Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships. More than 170 Founding Contributors, fund representatives, donors, Foundation board and committee members, recipients and their families attended the celebration.

Garry Cooley, Foundation executive director, welcomed everyone on behalf of the Foundation’s board of directors and staff. He thanked them for taking the time to join in this celebration to award scholarships to assist our students in achieving their education goals.    

Betsy Williams, Foundation board president, thanked everyone for coming then addressed the recipients.

“These scholarships would not be possible if it weren’t for the willingness of others to give unselfishly,” she stated. “Many people in this room, and some who are unable to attend this evening’s celebration, understand the importance of knowledge and have invested in your futures by starting funds at the Foundation to help support your education. You have all worked hard to get to this point in your life. When you leave home for the first time, or go back to school to continue your education, you will face many challenges. As you look around this room you will see faces of those who will be here to support you through your journey. Take advantage of the many experiences that come your way and enjoy them, but don’t forget where you started, in God’s country, Rush County, Indiana, USA!”  

Terry VanNatta, Assistant Executive Director and CFO of the Foundation joined Williams, fund representatives, Foundation board members and Cooley in presenting the scholarship awards to the students.

After the presentation of the scholarships Cooley stated “Our first scholarships were awarded in 1995 from the Frank and Frances Hilburt Fund. Five students shared in $8,750 in scholarships that year. Tonight, we have awarded over $72,000 from local scholarship funds established over the last 18 years with the Rush County Community Foundation. Since those first scholarships in 1995 we have now awarded over $670,000 from those funds to assist our students. Including the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships, the Foundation has now awarded over $2.2 million toward educating of the youth of our community.  

One of the highlights of the annual celebration is to have past Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients return, after completing four years in the program, to update and let everyone know what their scholarships have meant to them. Recipients from 2005, Tamara Schwering and Nathan Hedrick were in attendance and addressed those present. Schwering attended Purdue University and received her degree in Hospitality and Hotel Management. While at Purdue she interned in Denali National Park in Alaska and overseas in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. She will be working for White Lodging Services at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown as front desk supervisor. Hedrick attended Rose Hulman Institute of Technology and received his degree in chemical engineering. He spoke of the opportunity his scholarship had given him. He played one year of NCAA Division III basketball and interned for two summers. He stated that without the Lilly Scholarship he would not have been able to attend Rose Hulman. He will be working at Endress and Hauser in Greenwood as a service technician.

Following are the 2009 scholarships and recipients: Hubert and Grace Alexander Scholarship – Matthew Kaster; John Sam Anderson Scholarship – Brittney Leising; Richard and Loretta Busald Family Nursing Scholarship – David Augsburger; Hubert E. and Anna L. Chance Scholarship – Amanda Wainwright; Harold Clifton Jr. Memorial Scholarship – Emilie Kuhn and Justin Orme; Richard S. Earnest Diabetes Scholarship – Lexy Laker; Morris F. and Jane Marshall Fisher Fund – Kathryn Walke; Danny E. and Barbara J. Gettinger and Family Scholarship – Samuel Riggs; David L. Green, M.D. Creativity Award – Jackson Hubbell and Chanse Ford; Dr. Frank H. and Jean C. Green Memorial Scholarship – Amy Bare; Carol Niehoff Hardwick Memorial Scholarship – Paige Froman; Kyle Henderson Memorial Scholarship – Richard Yager; Frank L. and Frances L. Hilburt Scholarship – Eric Amos – Danielle Angle – John Beaman – Sam Beaman – Elizabeth Billman – Jordan Borders – Mary Coffman – Lisa Collyer – Alex Conklin – Hannah Conklin – Blake Connolly – Zachary Ernstes – Brittany Huskins – Nicolie Kuhn – Chance Landreth – Ashley Macy – Corey Marsden – Valerie Martin – Leann Masters – Melissa Richardson – Megan Turner – Sherry Wood; Jeff Hufford Memorial Scholarship – Jessica Neeb; Courtney Anne Huskins Memorial Scholarship – Megan Earnest and Hannah Nigh; Michael J. Keith Memorial Scholarship – Jackson Hubbell; Kiwanis Scholarship – Hannah Nigh; Madeline Gullion Knight Memorial Scholarship – Daniel Riddell; Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship – Jessica Cole and Brittany Driesbach; Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Nominee Fund – Crystal Heim; Grayson J. Mahin Scholarship – Amanda Wainwright; Laurie Saunders Marlatt Memorial Scholarship – Emily Baker; Thomas F. Marshall Memorial Scholarship – Jillian Evans; Jessy L. McClure Memorial Scholarship – Brittney Leising; Joan L. McLaughlin Memorial Scholarship – Caleb Drake and Leann Masters; Mental Health Association Bobby Dean Interest Free Student Loan – Megan Earnest; Robert Meyer and Family 4-H Scholarship – John Beaman; Phillip E. Mitchell Scholarship – Melissa Martin; Dick Neeb Memorial Scholarship – Philip Harr and Richard Yager; Bob and Avie Pike Family Memorial R.N. Scholarship – Leah Saunders ; Rex A. and Lucille G. Readle Educational Fund – Paige Froman, Katie McCallister and Kathryn Walke; Duward G. Reddick Kiwanis Scholarship – Caleb Drake; R.N. Club Scholarship – David Augsburger; Rush County Friends of Purdue University Scholarship, Mary K. Waits, Principal Donor – Ryan Neeb; Rush County Junior Leader 4-H Scholarship – Denise Amos and Brittney Leising; Charlotte Frame Sleeth Trust – Megan Earnest; Mildreth I. (Jackson) and Byron P. Smith Fund – Angel Burton and Brittney Leising; Holli Spaeth Memorial Scholarship – Allison Harpring, Caleb Drake, Nathan Duncan and Justin Orme; Wilma B. Wainwright Memorial Scholarship – Keith Brashaber; Jean H. Walker and Ivan G. Alexander Fund – Jessica Bostic; Alice R. Wiley Scholarship – Amanda Wainwright; Gordon D. and Mary S. Wilson Fund – Allison Harpring, Jessica Neeb, Ryan Neeb and Kathryn Walke; John and Susan Wilson Unsung Hero Award – Chris Hodge; ACE/Rita Yager Memorial Scholarship – Justin Orme.

In its 18th year of meeting the philanthropic needs of Rush County, the Rush County Community Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit public charity established to serve donors, award grants and scholarships, and provide leadership to enrich and enhance the quality of life in Rush County.