Three Tippecanoe School Corporation seniors have been named 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars, a prestigious honor that provides full tuition and fees for four years at any Indiana college or university.

The scholarships were presented by the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette and its scholarship committee, which selects recipients based on academic achievement, involvement in extracurricular activities, volunteerism and work, and a demonstrated commitment to giving back to their community.

Keiley Eads, McCutcheon High School

For McCutcheon senior Keiley Eads, the moment she learned she was a Lilly Scholar was emotional.

“The first thing that went through my mind was that I had to tell my parents,” Keiley says. “As the youngest of nine children, my parents worry about us a lot. I knew they were going to be so happy for me. It was a sigh of relief and a weight lifted.”

Keiley plans to major in nursing and is considering Purdue University, Indiana University Bloomington and Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing. She says the scholarship opens doors to opportunities she once thought might be out of reach, including children’s cancer research projects.

“The clubs and teachers in TSC have impacted me the most,” she says. “Cheer at McCutcheon gave me a second family. The teachers and counselors here have helped me so much. I genuinely owe so much to the support system I have at McCutcheon.”

Antonio Figueras, Harrison High School

Harrison senior Antonio Figueras says his initial reaction to the news was disbelief.

“Shock,” Antonio says. “It didn’t seem real yet. All the inevitable college debt had just been taken care of. It’s genuinely an honor to have been chosen.”

Antonio plans to major in biomedical engineering and is currently considering Purdue University and Trine University. He says the scholarship allows him to move forward with confidence while staying focused on his goals.

“If people are investing that much in me, I want to make sure they don’t regret it,” he says. “Now the stress of paying for college is gone, and I can keep pushing myself further.”

Antonio credits his involvement in bowling and volleyball, along with challenging coursework, for shaping his growth as a student.

“My sports helped me improve socially and gain confidence,” he says. “Classes like geometry and chemistry taught me how to work hard and how important balance is to success.”

Lucas Learman, McCutcheon High School

McCutcheon senior Lucas Learman says he was stunned when he realized he had been selected as a Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.

“When I saw the group from Lilly, I was in shock,” Lucas says. “I looked around the room to see if there were any other finalists I knew, and there were not. I didn’t know how to react.”

Lucas says the moment became even more meaningful when he saw his family and classmates present during the surprise announcement in his AP Macroeconomics class.

“I saw my mom and sister in the room and was immediately filled with joy,” he says. “All my friends and girlfriend are in that class. It was truly a blessing to be surrounded by all my biggest supporters.”

Lucas says the scholarship will have a lasting impact on his family and his future.

“Alleviating a large part of the financial burden will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on having to work,” he says. “I’m also really excited that this will benefit my sister, because my parents will be able to help her more with college expenses in the future.”

Lucas plans to study business analytics and information management and is also interested in integrated business and engineering and entrepreneurship. He is currently considering Purdue University and Indiana University.

At McCutcheon, Lucas says his involvement in tennis had the greatest impact on his growth.

“I had never played tennis before trying out in ninth grade,” he says. “We put in hundreds of hours of work, and this fall we won the first boys tennis sectional in McCutcheon history. Tennis taught me a lot about making mistakes and growing from them.”

Academically, Lucas credits Dr. Dharmini Patel’s AP Language and Composition class for helping him realize his potential.

“She taught me that I was capable of much more than I originally thought,” he says. “Not only am I a better writer, but I also learned how to manage a rigorous, college-level course.”

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is one of Indiana’s most competitive scholarship programs, providing students with the opportunity to pursue higher education while continuing their commitment to leadership and service.