BARTHOLOMEW CO.— The Bartholomew County Community Foundation has announced the winners of this year’s prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships. Columbus East High School senior Keana Wooten and Columbus North High School senior Neal White have been selected as the recipients for Bartholomew County.
Keana Wooten, the daughter of Keesha Wooten, has demonstrated remarkable leadership and community involvement throughout high school. She has served as a youth leader at The Ridge, participated in the prom committee and Student Assembly, and worked as a Patient Care Technician at Columbus Regional Hospital. Wooten plans to pursue a nursing degree, continuing her dedication to helping others.
Neal White, the son of Stacia Neal, has been equally active in his school and community. He has participated in cross country, track and field, Student Assembly, National Honor Society, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County, and peer tutoring. White intends to pursue a degree in computer science, furthering his passion for technology and problem-solving.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships offer full tuition and required fees for up to four years of undergraduate study at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. In addition, recipients receive a stipend for books and equipment, easing the financial burden of their education.
This year, Heritage Fund received 37 scholarship applications, from which finalists were selected. The finalists included:
- Columbus East High School: Austin Menefee and Ella Powell
- Columbus North High School: Benjamin Ferguson and Rebeca Cantu Garcia
- CSA-New Tech: Santi De Luna, Sydney Morrow, and Dane Tibbs
- Hauser Jr-Sr High School: Samantha Holzer
Since its inception in the 1997-98 school year, the Lilly Endowment Scholarship program has awarded more than $490 million in scholarships, supporting over 5,300 Indiana students. This year’s winners, Wooten and White, join an esteemed group of scholars who will benefit from this transformative educational opportunity.
