MADISON, Indiana – The Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Jefferson County – Lillian “Lilly” Canida of Madison Consolidated High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are recognized for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership, and are awarded a full tuition scholarship to the Indiana four-year college or university of their choice.
Jefferson County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship nominee is selected through a blind process, meaning that applicant identities are withheld from the review committee. Scoring consideration is given to strong academics, school and community involvement, character references, a timed essay, and a final interview. After narrowing the field of applicants, the nominee was submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), the statewide administrator of the program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients.
Lilly plans to major in Business at Butler University and participate in the university’s Pre-Law Advising Program, hoping to pursue a career in Real Estate Law. She is the daughter of Ben and Becky Canida and the granddaughter of Bob and Charlotte Canida of Madison. Among many accomplishments, Lilly is ranked in the top of her class and is involved in the National Honor Society, Captain of both the Varsity Volleyball and Swim teams, and is President of the Madison Student Athletic Council.
Upon learning of the award, Lilly commented, “I am honored and ecstatic to be chosen as the 2026 Jefferson County Lilly Endowment Scholar out of such a competitive group of candidates. I look forward to representing Madison and the Community Foundation at Butler University, both academically and on the swim team. I want to give a special thanks to everyone who has helped me get where I am today, including my supportive family, my dedicated teachers, my amazing friends and teammates, the Community Foundation, and most of all, God.”
Six Jefferson County students ranked in the top ten percent of their classes were selected as finalists for the 2026 scholarship. In addition to Canida, the remaining finalists were Brady Cook (Southwestern), Max Joseph (Southwestern), Braxton Lewis (Southwestern), Ellie Whitaker (Madison Consolidated), and Jamison Williams (Shawe Memorial). These five finalists will each receive a $1,500 Community Foundation Scholar Award from the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County for their efforts and achievements.
Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Scholars can also join the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects them with resources and opportunities to lead on campus and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. to ICI.
Since its inception in 1997-98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefitting over 5,400 Indiana students. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are:
- To raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana
- To increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play
- To encourage and support Lilly Scholars’ engagement with Indiana leaders to improve the quality of life statewide
Since 1991, the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County has worked to build a strong, vibrant community by helping donors provide perpetual funding for the people, projects, and passions of Jefferson County, Indiana.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment supports community development, education, and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana.
Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year graduation rates and produce 30% of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20% of its undergraduates.
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