The Gibson County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Gibson County – Max Wahl, Gibson Southern High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Scholarship award alternates were also announced. The first alternate, Allison Spindler, will receive a scholarship from the Friends of Gibson County Fund. Gage Maglis was named the second alternate. “Max demonstrated exceptional work ethic, leadership, and communication skills throughout his application and interview process," said Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Gibson County Community Foundation. "The nominating committee was privileged to meet Max and is proud to recommend him for this transformative opportunity.” Smith continued, “This year, we received applications from 20 highly talented students. Each excelled academically and significantly contributed to various extracurricular and community activities. The outstanding quality of the applications made the selection process challenging for our dedicated committee, which carefully reviewed and scored each submission based on the established criteria." Each 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. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students 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 both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. “I’ve always tried to do my best in the things I do, but I still can’t believe it would lead to an achievement like this. I’m so thankful for my family and my community for always supporting me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the Community Foundation for giving me this honor,” said Max Wahl, 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. “Now, I don’t have to stress about my college finances as much, and I can focus more on making our state and our communities a better place. I hope to attend Notre Dame in the fall, where this scholarship will help me reach my full potential. You only live once, so make the most out of your life!” In determining Gibson County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominees, consideration was given to GPA, SAT/ACT, school activities and work experience, community service and volunteer activities, personal statement, impromptu essay, and finalist interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1997-98 school year. Since then, grant funding in excess of $490 million has supported more than 5,300 Indiana students who have received scholarships through the program. 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.