Reception honors scholarship winners

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Over 30 area scholarship winners were are honored at a reception Tuesday evening. The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette recognized students in the community who been awarded scholarships to pursue their education.

"It is really important to apply for the scholarships because you never know what you might get," scholarship winner Liz Irk said.

Local students received more than 40 scholarships to help pay to further their education. The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette presented the students with their scholarships during an award ceremony at the Lafayette Country Club. Then the students were able to thank the different donors for their scholarships.

Irk is a senior at Lafayette Jefferson. She received the Lilly Endowment Scholarship which pays four years tuition and fees plus an annual stipend for books.

"I'm so thankful for it. It is going to pay for most of my college. Without it, it would be very difficult to pay for college. It is really expensive now-a-days. I'm so grateful to have received it," Irk said.

Fellow Jeff classmate Graviel Del Real was awarded a $1,500 scholarship for pursuing a college degree in some aspect of business.

"It is going to help immensely. It is $1,000 I don't have to pay. I can use toward other things. It helps out a lot," Del Real said.

Community Foundation helps area students find scholarships. CEO and President Greg Kapp said the reception allows donors and recipients to meet each other and recognize both parties.

"You can bring a student who may or may not have been able to go to college together with a donor who really cares about educating students. You bring them together and you have parents hugging donors and it really is a transformational thing because you can see the benefit of your gift right before your eyes in person," Kapp said.

The scholarships ranged from $300 up to the full amount of tuition, which in most cases is $6,000 or more.