The Franklin County Community Foundation is pleased to announce Stephanie Billman as Franklin County's 2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. Stephanie attends Franklin County High School and is the daughter of Carrie and John Billman. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.

The 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 of undergraduate study on a full-time basis 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 scholars with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. The scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities.

The top two scholarship finalists will receive $500 FCCF scholarships. These finalists include:  

Derek Brimhall from Franklin County High School.  Derek is the son of Darrell and Kendra Brimhall. Peyton McCreary, from Franklin County High School.  Peyton is the son of Steve and Jenny McCreary. 

In nominating Franklin County's Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, consideration was given to Leadership, Character, Honors, Community Involvement, Essays Written and Applicant Appraisals by the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Nominating Committee.  After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, ICI, for the selection of scholarship recipients.

In recent years, “I've grown, not only in my personality, but also as a student”, said Stephanie, “I have learned how to manage my time, work with my classmates along with my teammates, and also how to be a good leader.  I also feel that I am always positive around people, and a great role model for younger members of FFA, teammates and other students.  Helping others is what I love which is why I plan on becoming a Nurse Practitioner, my dream job.”

Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling in excess of $486 million. More than 5,000 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.