Megan Lambert, a senior at La Porte High School who strives for excellence both inside and outside the classroom, is truly a credit to the Region. Her years of dedication paid off last December when it was announced she had won the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. This competitive scholarship, sponsored by Independent Colleges of Indiana, rewards its winners with enough money to completely cover the tuition fees of their chosen Indiana-based school. Lambert plans to attend Butler University where she will major in health science on the pre-physician’s assistant (PA) track and minor in medicinal Spanish.
“It really is crazy,” Lambert said. “A year ago, I never could have imagined I would go on to accomplish what I have. I don’t know what opportunities I will have in the future, but I look forward to the many things that I have yet to experience.”
A lifelong resident of La Porte, Lambert began her education at Kingsbury Elementary School. She then went on to attend Kesling Intermediate School where she had the unique opportunity to witness the school’s remodeling first hand. After graduating from Kesling, Lambert began attending La Porte High School.
During this period of her scholastic career, Lambert became involved in a wide array of extracurricular activities. She joined the school’s cross country team and was a member of La Porte High School’s Key Club, a community-focused volunteer organization. Lambert also volunteered at the school’s performing arts center, was actively involved with several youth groups at her church, and joined GreatNews.Life as a #1StudentNWI writer. While she participated in these and other extracurricular activities, Lambert took the time to further explore her favorite subjects.
“I've always been interested in numbers and science,” Lambert said. “My mom works in the medical field, so I was able to take tours at the hospital when I was younger. I was able to meet medical professionals and talk to them about what they do. I also took classes where I did hands-on projects that made me even more interested in the medical field. I've even done medical research on my own and I'm planning to start shadowing soon.”
After deciding that she wanted to study to become a PA, Lambert realized Butler University’s prestigious PA program – the oldest in Indiana – offers precisely what she was looking for. Drawn to the school’s welcoming demeanor, she applied and, after being accepted, was offered free room and board. This, coupled with the Lilly Scholarship, will essentially enable Lambert to attend college free of charge.
Although her Lilly Scholarship win was announced only last December, Lambert has been preparing to compete for it since her freshman year. She would ask older students who had applied for the scholarship for advice on the best strategies. As soon as the Lilly Scholarship applications opened last August, Lambert worked on the application assignments. These included a questionnaire, three mandatory essays, and one optional essay that asked her insightful questions about her past experiences and her plans for college.
“I believe working with GreatNews.Life as a #1Student helped me improve my grammar and enhanced my literary diction,” Lambert said. “The things I’ve learned while writing for GreatNews.Life helped me enhance my Lilly Scholarship essays in a specific way.”
After submitting her four essays along with a list of her volunteer activities, Lambert was selected as a finalist for the scholarship. The final step of the process was an interview with an evaluation panel, which Lambert attended three days after learning of her finalist status.
“Even though it was an interview, they made it feel like we were just having a conversation,” said Lambert. “I tried to talk to them in a personal way, almost like they were my friends. I wanted them to see me as the person I am, not as someone who is just trying to get this big scholarship.”
The road to her Lilly Scholarship win has by no means been an easy one for Lambert. During her freshman and sophomore years respectively, she overcame anorexia and binge eating. In her junior year, her father, who had been battling alcoholism, passed away. However, Lambert has persevered in the face of these tragic events. She expresses a deep gratitude for the support she has received from those around her during the trying moments of her life.
“My mom has been not just a parental rock, but also a personal rock throughout the difficult times I’ve experienced in the last four years,” said Lambert. “Michael Pham, my boyfriend of two years, has also seen me through some of my dark moments and helped me get my true self back. I've been able to share everything with him during all those tough times knowing that he won't judge me. I also feel my father has been right there with me during the Lilly Scholarship process and the other opportunities I’ve had.”
Lambert wants to draw from her own life experiences to help others overcome their adversities and ultimately thrive and succeed.
“I've been able to take strength from my eating disorder recovery and I really want to help other people get through their own eating disorders,” said Lambert. “I want to make sure that no one else has to experience that.”
During her down time, Lambert enjoys reading fantasy books and practicing yoga. She is an avid baker and even had a cake pop business several years ago. More recently, she has gotten into making such baked goods as blueberry scones and brown butter cookies. Lambert is looking forward to the two-week vacation in Vietnam she will be taking with her boyfriend later this year.