Muhlenkamp wins Lilly

Sara Muhlenkamp walked into the TV studio at Jay County High School unsuspectingly.

She looked around as she took a few more steps. Then, her hands went to her face and her eyes widened as she realized what was happening.

Moments later, Doug Inman of The Portland Foundation confirmed what the JCHS senior already knew. She is this year’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.

“Wow,” said Muhlenkamp. “It’s shocking. It’s amazing. I’ve never been so thankful in my entire life. I could not be more thankful to The Portland Foundation and everyone who has supported me.”

The scholarship provides her with free tuition to the Indiana college of her choice — Ball State University — and $900 per semester for books.

After getting the official word from Inman, Muhlenkamp was swarmed with hugs from her parents Lenny and Bridget and sisters Betsy and Rachel.

Then, she grilled them.

“Did you know?” she asked each of them as the reality of the situation sunk in.

“I really didn’t think I was getting it,” she said. “I was getting to a point where I just thought, ‘I’m not going to get it.’ I was having a lot of self doubt.”

Muhlenkamp was selected as Jay County’s recipient of the scholarship from a field of 41 applicants, all of whom had a grade point average of at least 3.5. She was one of four finalists along with Leah Hamilton, Taylor May and Macey Weitzel.

The process starts with an application that involves listing school and community activities as well as an essay about the choice of college and major. Criteria included are academic excellence, financial need, school/community activities and whether an applicant would be a first-generation college student.

“We’re looking for the well-rounded student, the student who is an academically excellent student,” said Inman, the foundation’s executive director. “But also someone who is involved in the community. Someone, whether it’s through work or sports or volunteering their time, someone who is actively engaged in making Jay County a better place to be.”

The field is narrowed to four finalists who write an impromptu essay and are interviewed by The Portland Foundation’s selection committee. That group then selected one nominee and two alternates and submitted them to the Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection.

Muhlenkamp carries a 4.254 grade point average, ranking her third in the JCHS class of 2020. She is vice president of Jay County FFA and has been an officer for three years, and is also an officer for CYO.

“It’s been the greatest experience,” she said of FFA. “We have so much fun. I get to be in charge of stuff and lead stuff. I like learning more and more leadership.

“There’s a lot of ways to give back and to learn how to lead,” she added of her involvement with CYO.

Her other activities include DECA (the new business club at JCHS), National Honor Society, student council and tennis.

Muhlenkamp’s college choice was driven by her major — interior design. She said she’s always enjoyed art and has developed an interest in architecture, making interior design a logical path.

She also did a job shadow experience with her aunt, Lisa Hatzell, who runs her own interior design business. It was Hatzell who touted the quality of Ball State’s program.

“So I went and toured it,” said Muhlenkamp, adding that she hopes to someday start her own business. “And I loved it.”

The scholarship is part of Lilly Endowment’s statewide initiative to help Hoosiers reach a higher level of education. County population determines the number of scholarships awarded per community foundation.

Muhlenkamp is the 38th Jay County student to receive the scholarship since 1998. She was one of 142 recipients this year statewide.