Two Ripley County students have been named recipients of full, four-year scholarships as the Ripley County Community Foundation 2008 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. Kellen Stolze and Tyler Giesting will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their choice and an $800 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

Stolze is the son of Loren and Terri Stolze of Osgood. The Jac-Cen-Del senior plans to major in physics and is undecided on a college. He and his family were very excited when they were told the news on Friday of last week.

Giesting is the son of Suzanne Westerfeld and Terry Giesting of Batesville. He is a senior at Batesville High School and plans to major in mathematics, with his college choice not decided.

The 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 scholarships 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 50 applicants for these scholarships in Ripley County this year drawing from six high schools. Eight outstanding students are chosen as finalists for these prestigious awards. After the Ripley County Community Foundation scholarship committee narrowed the field to eight nominees, the finalists names were submitted to the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the selection of the recipients. ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

The scholarships are the results 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 216 scholarships awarded statewide.

Each Ripley County finalist not receiving one of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships will be awarded one of the Ripley County Community Scholarships of $1,000. Those receiving the 2008 Ripley County Community Foundation Scholarships are: Amber Hountz, Batesville High School, daughter of Marvin and Marilyn Hountz of Batesville; Chelsea Cook, Oldenburg Academy, daughter of Todd and Roberta Cook of Batesville; Katherine Case, Oldenburg Academy, daughter of Jon and Margarita Case of Batesville; Bernard Sieverding Jr., South Ripley High School, son of Bernard and Karen Sieverding of Versailles; Deborah Fryer, Milan High School, daughter of Leisa Fryer of Milan; and Megan Rumpke, Oldenburg Academy, daughter of Dave and Pam Rumpke of Milan.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Pictured from left are Sally Morris, executive director, Ripley County Community Foundation, Loren and Terri Stolze, parents of Lilly Scholarship recipient Kellen Stolze; Jane Diewert, Ripley County Community Foundation and Alissa Stolze, sister of the recipient. The family gathered at Jac-Cen-Del on Friday when the announcement was made that Kellen would receive a full four year college tuition.