Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Application Available August 3

27 July 2026

Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Application Available August 3

The 2027 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application will be available August 3, 2026 in Fulton County through the Fulton County Community Foundation. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide with one being awarded in Fulton County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university.


The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Fulton County through the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, is open to all Indiana residents who:

•                   graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2027 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2027

•                   intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana

•                   meet the criteria specific to their local community foundation. Visit www.nicf.org for complete information regarding the Fulton County application criteria.


Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Fulton County and apply for this scholarship by visiting www.nicf.org/fulton-county/scholarships.  Applications must be completed and submitted by Thursday, September 3, 2026 to be considered.


Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: academic performance, service in community, work, and school, as well as application essays.

Finalists will be nominated by the Fulton County Lilly Committee, and their selection will be submitted to ICI for review. Scholarship recipients will be notified in December.


Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million. More than 5,400 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception.


The primary purposes of LECSP 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.


The Fulton County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its thirtieth year in Fulton County. “Each year, it is a privilege for us at the Foundation to administer the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship and witness the remarkable talent, leadership, and potential of students across our communities,” said Hannah Bahney, Northern Indiana Community Foundation Program Director. 


Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, Lilly Endowment Inc. is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.


Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 28 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,400 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5.3 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates. 


1 September 2026
Tell us a little about Nubiano’s Pizza! How did the business get started, and what inspired you to get into the pizza business? Nubiano’s Pizza was started in 1982 by Bob Newby, with assistance and training from my father, Mike Dingo. My father shared the original Bruno’s Pizza recipe and helped Bob get the business started. Nubiano’s was later sold to the Siciliano family, who loved and nurtured the business for many years before we had the opportunity to purchase it. For me, being in the pizza business is truly a family tradition. I grew up around it, so continuing that tradition while becoming part of the Fulton County community has been very meaningful to me. What do you think makes Nubiano’s Pizza stand out, and what are a few menu items you think everyone should try at least once? I believe Nubiano’s stands out because of the freshness and quality of our ingredients and the care we put into making our food. We work with a supplier that provides unique, high-quality Italian products, and we still do many things the traditional way. Our dough is hand-rolled nightly, our cheese is freshly ground from blocks, and our dough contains no unnecessary additives. We believe those extra steps make a difference you can taste. Everyone has a favorite, but I always say that if you really want to judge the quality of a pizza, try a plain cheese pizza. There’s nowhere for the ingredients to hide—you can truly taste the quality of the dough, sauce, and cheese. Another favorite is our Nachos Deluxe. We know nachos aren’t necessarily what you expect from a pizza place, but using our pizza cheese on them is a game changer! Every restaurant has its regulars! What’s the most popular order at Nubiano’s, and is there a menu item you think deserves a little more love? Our most popular pizza is definitely the Deluxe, topped with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. One menu item I think deserves a little more love in Fulton County is our ground pepperoni. It has been a longtime favorite with our Logansport customers, and I would love to see more Fulton County customers discover it. It has a fresh, distinctive flavor and is a great example of the quality ingredients we use. What has been the most rewarding part of owning and operating a business in the Fulton County community? The first thing that comes to mind is knowing that Nubiano’s has become part of so many Fulton County families’ traditions. Around the holidays especially, I hear heartwarming stories from customers about having our pizza after the birth of a child, celebrating an anniversary, gathering with family, or marking another special occasion. Knowing that our food has been part of those memories means so much to us. We also love having the opportunity to give back to the community. Whether it’s offering discounts to local teams, donating to raffles and fundraisers, sponsoring organizations, or helping a family or cause in need, being in this business gives us the ability to support the community that supports us. That opportunity to give back is truly priceless. What’s something people might not know about Nubiano’s Pizza—the owners, your team, or what happens behind the scenes? Something people may not realize is how much our team operates like a family. We cover for one another when someone needs help, check in on each other outside of work, and genuinely care about what is happening in each other’s lives. Of course, like any family, we work hard and occasionally drive each other a little crazy—but at the end of the day, we support one another. I think that sense of family carries over into how we treat our customers as well. 6. If you had to create a “Fulton County Pizza,” what toppings would be on it? I think our “Fulton County Pizza” would have to be a pepperoni pizza—with the pepperoni arranged in the shape of a heart—because we truly love being part of this community.
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1. For those in our community who may not be familiar with Mustangs to Fear, tell us a little about what you do and the products and services you offer. In addition to restoring/building classic Mustangs, we have also developed a line of custom parts for 1965-70 Mustangs including suspension, interior, fiberglass, and engine swap parts. 2. How did Mustangs to Fear get its start, and what inspired you to build a business centered around the Ford Mustang? After working in the truck accessories and collision industry for several years, the company gradually settled on Mustangs. After getting frustrated at how much extra effort it took to make the products on the market fit, we decided it would be better to develop our own. 3. Mustangs to Fear serves customers well beyond Fulton County. Where are some of your customers located, and what might surprise people about the reach of your business? We ship our products all over the world. After the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe are our largest markets. We frequently have customers come to our shop from eastern Canada and occasionally from western Canada to pick up their orders and tour the shop. 4. What goes on behind the scenes at Mustangs to Fear that the average person driving by your business might never realize? Probably the global reach of our business and our reputation for quality parts and outstanding customer service among those looking to restore their classic Mustang.  5. What do you enjoy most about operating Mustangs to Fear right here in Fulton County, and what has being part of this community meant to your business? We have the best customers and a truly outstanding team at MTF! Nearly all of the parts we sell are manufactured within 100 miles of Rochester. Not only buying American but also supporting local business is very important to the continued success of MTF
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