Lilly surprise

“No way.”

“No way.”

Those were the only words Chloe Campbell could muster when she realized what was happening.

“Yes way,” responded her father Craig Campbell before he and his wife Stacy pulled their daughter into a happy hug.

Campbell was surprised Monday morning with the announcement that she was selected as The Portland Foundation’s 2021 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.

“It doesn’t feel real,” the Jay County High School senior said. “I don’t think it’s entirely set in yet that I got this huge honor.”

It was an honor she wished for years ago.

As a fourth grader, one of Campbell’s school projects was to write a letter to herself to be read when she was a senior. She opened hers a few months back, discovering that her 9-year-old self had written that she hoped she would get the Lilly scholarship.

The surprise of Monday’s presentation made the realization of that dream even better.

“It was kept a secret,” said Campbell. “I think that leads up to the best part. It’s … a big announcement. It makes it even more special.”

After the hugs from mom and dad in the TV studio at JCHS, Campbell was approached by The Portland Foundation executive director Doug Inman. He explained the details of scholarship, which covers full tuition at an Indiana college or university. There is also a $900 annual stipend for books and equipment.

“She was a very qualified candidate,” said Inman. “She is just an exceptional young lady that we think will represent Jay County well. We are excited for her and her family and wish her all the best.”

Campbell plans to attend Ball State University to study speech language pathology, with a goal of earning a master’s degree. She specifically wants to use her education to work in the geriatric field, noting that she has volunteered at Miller’s Merry Manor long-term care facility in Dunkirk throughout high school.

“It’s just something I really love, that particular population,” said Campbell.

“It’s something that really interests me,” she added of her planned college major. “And I think I’ll enjoy it.”

Campbell currently ranks third in the Jay County Class of 2021 with a 4.25 grade point average. She is an officer in the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society and is involved with student council.

She is a member of Jay County FFA’s soil judging team, which has qualified for nationals each of the last two years. She will also be a 10-year 4-H member showing swine and sheep, including the grand champion market lamb this summer.

A member of the Patriot girls track team, she is also a student leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and her youth group.

Part of the process toward earning the scholarship was an interview with The Portland Foundation’s scholarship committee. She said she wasn’t expecting the scholarship because she was thrown off by a particular question about who has had the greatest impact on her life. It brought her to tears.

“I talked about my mom,” Campbell explained. “Just to see her strength going through lung cancer. That makes me feel like I can do anything because I’ve seen her go through that and just still be her same person, still teaching, still living a normal life.”

Campbell was one of five finalists for the scholarship along with Ashlyn Dow, Ava Stockton, Maria Dirksen and Raquel Wehrly. They were selected from 22 JCHS seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.5 who applied.

The initial process includes an evaluation based on academic excellence, school and community activities, financial need and response to an essay question. The finalists then complete an impromptu essay and are interviewed by The Portland Foundation’s selection committee. A nominee and two alternates are then submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection.