The Knox County Foundation, now in its 75th year, distributed more scholarship dollars and received more applications than ever in its history. The total amount awarded was $1,035,915. This is the second year in a row scholarship giving has surpassed $1 million.

KCF’s Lisa Lloyd, Program Director, at the 2019 Danville High School award ceremony awarding scholarships to Dalton David, Madison Elliot, Madisyn Neitzelt and Julia Rine.

There were more than 550 applicants this year, including 14 non-traditional students who have been out of high school for at least two years and were looking to attend school for the first time or return for a new field of study. High school seniors were awarded their scholarships by the Foundation at their respective schools’ senior award ceremonies throughout the month of May.

“As many of you know, the Foundation changed its name from the ‘Community Foundation of Mount Vernon and Knox County’ to ‘Knox County Foundation’ at the beginning of 2019. I am very happy that the name change didn’t seem to affect our scholarship applicants as the scholarship selection committee once again reviewed a record number of applications this year totaling over 550!” explained Lisa Lloyd, Program Director. “Being able to present scholarships to such deserving students is always so rewarding. I feel like I got to know them through their applications and recommendations.”

The Foundation utilizes a few committees comprised of community volunteers who read and evaluate each application based on coursework taken, grade point averages, extracurricular activities, a personal statement and other scholarship fund-specific criteria. Currently, there are nearly 140 Foundation scholarship funds for current high school seniors, undergraduate college students, non-traditional students and medical students. The Foundation welcomed six new scholarship funds created in 2018, which awarded scholarships this year to current Knox County high school seniors. Each had varying criteria but were created by donors to assist local students with the rising costs of college.

“I am grateful to live in such a generous community where individuals believe in Knox County’s next generation of leaders and wish to lessen their financial burden after college,” said Lloyd.

Knox County Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Knox County through charitable giving; to provide a vehicle for donors of varied interests to support charitable and community activities; to assess and respond to emerging and changing community needs; and to develop a permanent endowment for the community, serving as a catalyst for the initiative of vital projects.