Arianna Smith, fourth from left, was named the 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar in December 2017. Smith was surprised with the news surrounded by faculty and staff at Lakeland High School. From left are Amy Sayers, Leah Stoltzfus, Sherry Severson, Rachel Stroup and Maggie Pechin.
Lakeland senior plans to study computer science
Arianna Smith, a senior at Lakeland High School, has been named the recipient of the LaGrange County Community Foundation’s 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. In addition to the four-year scholarship to the accredited public or private Indiana college of her choice, she will also receive a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.
Arianna Smith reacts to being named the 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. Smith was suprised with the announcement at Lakeland High School.
Smith resides in Howe with her parents, Bret and Vickie Smith. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science at an Indiana college.
During her high school career, she has been involved in Show Choir, Spell Bowl and English and Science Academic Team. At the time of her application, Smith was ranked fifth in her graduating class with a 4.1 grade point average. She also is a member of Interact Club and National Honor Society.
During her freshman year of high school, Smith became intrigued with computer programming and taught herself programming languages using online resources. She serves as a teen leader in LaGrange County’s 4-H Spark Club, teaching children of all ages about computer science. Recently, she was selected by state administrators to design official lesson plans for SPARK clubs. She has also helped organize and create computer science clubs at local elementary schools.
Her community activities have included serving as a representative for Relay For Life, Cancer Services, Light the Night and tutoring middle and high school students. She also was selected as a state representative for the National 4-H Computer Science Delegate.
This year, 33 applicants, participated in LaGrange County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship selection process. The foundation’s Lilly Scholarship Committee narrowed the field to five finalists based upon criteria that included scholastic profile, work history, financial need, community service, school activities, leadership, essays and interview performance.
The committee’s recommendations were forwarded to Indianapolis for final review and approval from Independent Colleges of Indiana.
Other finalists included: Taylor Targgart and Kiara Smith, both of Lakeland High School and Olivia Hibbs and Ashley Brown of Westview Jr.-Sr. High School. Each of the finalists will receive a $1,000 four-year renewable scholarship from the Lambright Leadership Scholarship Fund established by Kevin and Carrie Lambright in 2013.
Since 1998, a total of 37 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships, including Smith’s have been awarded in LaGrange County. The total amount awarded to local LaGrange County students through this opportunity exceeds $3 million.
ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state. The scholarships are result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. This year, 143 scholarships were awarded statewide. There have been more than 4,300 scholarships awarded statewide since the program begin in 1998.
