Kyle Baird THS	Amber Clark TCHS	Kayla Dearth TCHS
Katey Humphries TCHS	Mallory McQuinn THS	Monica Planalp THS

Two students will receive full, four-year scholarships as the Tipton County Foundation 2007 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. Capri Copp and Alyssa Harper will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of their choice and an $800 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

Twenty-eight Tipton County residents applied for these prestigious and valuable scholarships this year. Their applications were anonymously and independently reviewed by the Foundation’s scholarship committee, composed of education and business leaders, who selected eight candidates to be interviewed in person. The criteria included academics, leadership, community involvement, activities (including work and travel experiences), and an essay about their most significant accomplishment to date.

After completing the selection process, the Tipton County Foundation submitted the finalists’ names to the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for selection of the recipients. ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

Thanks to the bequest of Howard N. Myerly, who established a significant George R. Myerly & Sons scholarship fund in memory of his grandfather, the Tipton County Foundation was able to grant new Myerly Scholarships of $2,000 each to the remaining six finalists in the demanding LECSP process.

Receiving the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships are:

Capri Copp is the daughter of Rollie and Melissa Copp of Sharpsville. She will attend Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, majoring in pre-professional biology in the pre-med program. She attended Girls State, is president of the National Honor Society and historian of student council,  and is involved in three varsity sports, along with being a medical trainer. Capri plans to become a pediatrician.

Alyssa Harper is the daughter of Michael and Mary Harper of Tipton. She will attend Butler University to major in business. Active in national art honor society, 4-H (2005 Fair Queen), sports, and student council, Aly seeks an entrepreneurial career, perhaps in advertising.

The premiere Myerly Scholars are the following students.

Kyle Baird is the son of Greg and Brenda Baird of Tipton. He plans to attend Purdue University and is enrolled in the college of science. He has chosen a double major of actuarial science and statistics. Organizer of the Blue Crew pep group, Kyle served as a class officer the past two years at Tipton High School.

Amber Kay Clark is the daughter of Andy and Lisa Clark of Windfall. She will be attending Purdue University in Lafayette as a Biochemistry major this fall, and plans to pursue a veterinary medicine degree. 2007 salutatorian at Tri-Central High School, she is in the National Honor Society, student council, and was a Hoosier Girls' State delegate. She volunteers at Hughes Veterinary Clinic and in the children's ministry at Rock Prairie Baptist Church.

Kayla Dearth is the daughter of Gary and Susan Dearth of Sharpsville. She plans to major in elementary education at Purdue University. Kayla has been student council president, varsity cheerleading Captain, and editor of the Triton yearbook.

Katey Humphries is the daughter Jeff and Robin Humphries of Windfall. She plans to attend Franklin College, with a major in elementary education. Katey has been a Girls' State delegate, HOBY ambassador, and a student trainer.

Mallory JoAnn McQuinn is the daughter of Mark and JoAnn McQuinn of Tipton. She is going to DePauw University to major in biology, seeking a career in Veterinary Sciences. Her activities include several sports, cheerleading, and 4-H.

Monica Planalp is the daughter of Neil and Cherie Planalp, Tipton. She will attend Franklin College to major in biology, planning to become an orthopedic surgeon in the sports medicine. Monica participates several sports and is president of the National Honor Society. She was Academic All-State in basketball, and is a 10 year 4-H livestock participant.

Pioneer Family Establishes Permanent Legacy

The late Howard N. Myerly (1925-2004) and his wife Marjorie valued education. In planning his estate, Howard set up a means to provide scholarship opportunities for his neighbors' children for all time.

Five generations earlier, in 1842, George Myerly and his wife Susannah, originally from Maryland, established a farm in eastern Tipton County. They took part in the official organization of the County. Their son Silas, his son George R., and his son Lee all continued farming, as did Lee's son Howard. Howard was also a die setter at the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors in Anderson for 32 years, retiring in 2000.

Howard made arrangements that, upon his death, the farm would be sold and the proceeds given to the Tipton County Foundation in honor of his grandfather, to provide an endowment that would assist in funding higher education for county high school graduates, forever.

According to TCF Scholarship chairman Brad Nichols, "The size of this endowment is so noteworthy, it will produce a significant amount of money that can be awarded each year. We were pleased that Mr. Myerly's heirs agreed with us that the rigorous Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship selection process was the best way to determine who should receive the Myerly scholarships as well."

The Tipton County Foundation is a volunteer-driven nonprofit public charity established in 1986 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve the quality of life in Tipton County, forever. Contributions to TCF are tax-deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Visit www.tiptoncf.org or call 765-675-8480.

Last modified: Tuesday, June 15, 2010