One Ripley County student has been named recipient of a full tuition, four-year scholarship as the Ripley County Community Foundation 2017 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. Paul Ritter will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of his choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment. Paul is the son of Jade and Elizabeth Ritter of Batesville and is a senior at Batesville High School. He plans to major in actuarial science and/or business administration. The RCCF scholarship committee is composed of Ripley County residents representing all areas of the county. The committee is not aware of whose application they are viewing as names and schools of students applying for the scholarship are removed from the applications. At the interviews of the finalists, the students are only introduced by their first names, allowing for as much objectivity as possible. There were 85 applicants for this award in Ripley County this year drawing from six high schools. Five outstanding students were chosen as finalists for this prestigious award. After the Ripley County Community Foundation scholarship committee narrowed the field to five nominees, the finalists’ applications were submitted to the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the selection of the recipient. 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 ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree. There were 142 scholarships awarded statewide. Each Ripley County finalist not receiving the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship will be awarded one of the Ripley County Community Scholarships of $2,000. Those receiving the 2017 Ripley County Community Foundation Scholarships are Jacob Dodge, Jac-Cen-Del High School son of Clinton and Jennifer Dodge of Osgood; Mary Margaret Glaser, Oldenburg Academy, daughter of Thomas and Susan Glaser of Batesville; Caleb Moster, Batesville High School, son of Sebastian and Angela Moster of Batesville; and Josie Wesseler, Oldenburg Academy, daughter of Neil and Carrie Wesseler.
