Local Students Named 2017 Lilly Scholars
Anastasia Reisinger, Elinor Schnautz and Arjun Dhawan have been named the Vanderburgh Community Foundation's 2017 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. Each of these exceptional students will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their choice, as well as a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.
The daughter of Lynn and Kurt Schnautz, Elinor is a graduating senior at Reitz Memorial High School. She plans to enroll in the biology program at the University of Notre Dame and hopes to become a periodontist.
"I am truly honored to have been selected as one of this year's Lilly Endowment Scholars,” Schnautz said. “I have dreamed of attending the University of Notre Dame my entire life and feel incredibly blessed to have been awarded this opportunity. I would like to thank all of my teachers, coaches, teammates, my two amazing sisters, and especially my parents for their love and support."
Anastasia, a senior at Mater Dei High School, plans to attend the University of Notre Dame, where she will study biology with hopes of entering the field of medicine. She is the daughter of Melissa and Patrick Reisinger.
"I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of the Mater Dei community and I am thankful for the continued support and love that has led me to these levels of success,” Reisinger said.
The son of Radhika and Sandeep Dhawan, Arjun is a graduating senior at Signature School. He plans to study engineering at Purdue University. Alternates for the award are Abby Grillo and David Wahl, both graduating seniors at Signature School.
These scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor's degree. There were 142 such scholarships awarded statewide.
Independent Colleges of Indiana is a nonprofit corporation that represents thirty-one regionally accredited degree-granting, nonprofit private colleges and universities in the state. The Vanderburgh Community Foundation was founded in 1992 to help people make meaningful gifts that improve life in Vanderburgh County today and for generations to come. Information on all of the Foundation's giving programs can be found atwww.vcfoundation.org.
