Unity Foundation Announces 2016 Lily Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients

Unity-Foundation-2016-Lily-Scholarship-Recipiens-02Two outstanding La Porte County students have been named recipients of full tuition, four-year scholarships as Unity Foundation of La Porte County 2016 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.

Madeline Watterson and Rodrigo Serrano will receive tuition to the Indiana colleges of their choice, and an annual $900 stipend for required books and equipment.

Madeline is ranked at the top of her class at La Porte High School. She will graduate with an academic honors diploma, having taken 11 AP/Honors classes and nine dual credit courses. Madeline demonstrates leadership and team-building ability by serving as President of Debate Club and as a four-year competitor. She’s also President of National Honor Society and on the Student Advisory Council at La Porte High School. She served as a Senator for Hoosier Girls State, participates in monthly Math League competitions, and was recognized as Most Outstanding Junior by classmates and teachers.

She further has been part of the school “Kindness Campaign” for two years and plays school and travel softball. She’s been an active Teen Court and Girl Reserve volunteer for several years. Her parents are Charles and Audra Watterson and she plans to pursue a law degree.

Rodrigo will graduate with an academic honors diploma from Michigan City High School, having taken nine dual credit courses at Purdue North Central and 12 AP/Honors classes.

As a junior & senior, Rodrigo has participated in Leadership La Porte County, and was chosen as a student leader. He’s been active in Spanish Club, Ping Pong Club, Steering Committee and Mathletes, as well as National Honor Society. He received the Wolf Math Award & Alpha Science Award and was student of the month twice. He’s played soccer for four years and been captain as a Junior / Senior. Plus he was All-Academic in the state these years and earned the “Heart of a Lion” Coaches Award as a senior.

Unity-Foundation-2016-Lily-Scholarship-Recipiens-01Rodrigo enjoyed a year of tutoring an elementary student who couldn’t read or write English. He has also volunteered several hours of community service through National Honor Society. He plans to pursue a medical career and is the son of Perfecto and Viviana Serrano.

Irene Rosevear, 2016 Chair of the Unity Foundation Lilly Endowment Scholarship Committee said, “The applications submitted this year, were once again, truly outstanding. The committee had an extremely difficult task in choosing from so many deserving applicants. The students from La Porte County were inspiring in their academic achievements, leadership abilities and dedication to their communities.”

Unity Foundation received 55 applications for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship from students throughout the county. Applicants were judged on their academic achievement, service to others, extracurricular activities and, to a lesser extent, financial need. A committee comprised of La Porte County residents reviewed the applications, not knowing the applicants’ names until after the finalists were selected. The 10 finalists were then interviewed, and nominee and alternate names were submitted to the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. for the final selection.

Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state. The scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana currently ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor's degree.

Since 1992, the Unity Foundation of La Porte County has served donors, nonprofits and local communities. As La Porte County’s community foundation, it manages nearly $25 million in assets, administers more than 325 charitable funds, and has distributed approximately $14 million in La Porte County through direct grants and scholarships. The Council on Foundations has deemed Unity Foundation in compliance with all Indiana and national ethical and operating standards for community foundations.

Unity Foundation’s mission is to strengthen La Porte County now and forever by: building permanent endowments; providing leadership; offering philanthropic vehicles for everyone; and, being a catalyst for social and economic vitality. For more information, please visit www.uflc.net.