What has been your favorite LSN experience?

Hands down, it is Lilly Scholars Launch! Call it nostalgia for my college days, but seeing the incoming cohort meet one another at camp is magical. The highlight of my summer is seeing them walk away with new friends and feeling more prepared for their college experience. Launch makes a wonderful first impression, and I cannot wait to see those Launch attendees maintain their connection to LSN and become active alumni!

 

What about this work with LSN excites you?

As an advocate for stronger communities, the civic and community education and engagement pieces are the things I am most looking forward to developing for the Network. There are so many ways to get involved, and I want to equip and empower our alumni to be changemakers and active citizens. 

 

What’s something you hope to accomplish in the next year with LSN?

I’m excited about selecting our second LSN Academy Class and to host really meaningful program days for that group. The Academy not only shines a spotlight on organizations doing incredible work in Indiana, but also expands the leadership tools for our Alumni Scholars. 

 

What did the scholarship allow you to do that you otherwise wouldn’t have done?

Receiving the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship changed the trajectory of my life. I would have either gone to a different university or graduated with more student loan debt, but more than that, the connection with other Lilly Scholars allowed me to envision a life working as a scholarship professional. I didn’t even know that existed when people were asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. 

 

What’s one way you’ve been able to give back to your community? Or If you could do anything to help your community, what would it be?

If I could do anything for my community, I would increase walkability and public transportation. Finding alternatives to using cars to get around is good for forging connections with your neighbors, better for the environment, encourages local exploration to find those hidden gems, and more. Addressing transportation and walkability has a ripple effect on public health by increasing daily exercise, access to food, and lowering emissions. Public transit can be a positive thing for people across socioeconomic backgrounds, and it is vital to a thriving, interconnected community!

 

What’s one community organization you’re proud to be a part of?

The Julian Center is the largest domestic violence shelter in the state, and they served nearly 1,800 survivors last year. I first started working with Julian Center and the associated thrift shop Thrifty Threads when I was in college, and I have continued to volunteer and donate since my time at Butler. Julian Center has been doing incredible work for survivors for 50 years now, and I am always glad to support their mission.