2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar

Mylez Clark

Mylez A. Clark is the recipient of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship (LECS) for Shelby County. Each LECS awarded provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for eight semesters of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities.

Mylez resides in Shelbyville with his parents, Jason and Meranda Clark. He will graduate in May from Shelbyville High School (SHS). Upon applying and during his interview, Mylez indicated that he intends to apply to the University of Notre Dame to major in Biology on a pre‑medical track. After completing his undergraduate studies, he plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a neurosurgeon.

His dedication to pursuing neurosurgery was clear in both his written application and personal interview. He described the fascination he felt shadowing surgeons, radiologists, and physical therapists, as well as the responsibility he witnessed in caring for patients’ lives. He summed up his goal perfectly:  “The brain is the most undiscovered organ in the body, and I want to give certainty where little certainty can be found. By being a neurosurgeon, I know I can give hope that patients can live a satisfying life, and someday I dream to give them the certainty that a quality life awaits.”

 At the time of application, Mylez ranked first in his graduating class with a GPA of 4.67 on a 4.0 scale. His extensive resume demonstrates outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community service. He is a consistent Superior Honor Roll student, was named a Rising Star of Indiana for academics, and earned the AP Scholar with Distinction award. Mylez has also received multiple subject-area awards for academic excellence in advanced placement and dual credit courses. His leadership experience includes serving as President of the National Honor Society, Captain of the Shelbyville Boys Varsity Soccer Team, and Captain of the Science Academic Team. He has also contributed to the Social Studies Academic Team, helping the team achieve a first-place area finish and fourth place at state. In addition to academics and athletics, Mylez is actively involved in Quiz Bowl, Science Club, Spanish Club, and Spell Bowl. He is also an active volunteer, supporting school and community initiatives such as tutoring, translating for non-native English speakers, Gleaners food distribution, Waldron Elementary programs, and youth outreach activities through Faith Trinity Pentecostal Church.

In a glowing recommendation, Douglas Uehling, SHS Language Arts teacher praised Mylez stating, “Within the school and community, this young man is a natural leader. He is incredibly respected by his teachers and peers. He understands the nature of philanthropy and works to better his community on a regular basis through numerous service opportunities.  He is a genuine learner; always seeking out opportunities to grow and develop. His approach is earnest and passionate, and frankly he is truly one of a kind. In my years providing recommendations for this scholarship, I truly can say this is the finest candidate I have had the privilege to endorse.”

 After a comprehensive, blind review of all applications, with applicants’ names removed during this phase,  the Foundation’s scholarship committee selected four finalists for personal interviews. Interview criteria included determination, decision-making skills, knowledge of what it takes to succeed in college and the ability to apply that knowledge, goal orientation with evidence of life planning, and intellectual curiosity in the student’s chosen field. Julie Alvis, Communications and Scholarships Director for BRCF, reported that the committee reviewed 46 fully completed and qualifying applications this year. Alvis added, “Each year, our Scholarship Committee carefully reviews applications from Shelby County students who exemplify excellence in both academics and community service. The exceptional quality of these candidates makes selecting finalists, and ultimately a recipient, a rewarding yet challenging task.”

 In addition to Mylez, the following students were named LECS finalists and interviewed for the scholarship: Hannah Baker (Shelbyville High School), Mia Garthwaite (Morristown High School), and Eli Sego (Triton Central High School). Due to their impressive personal and academic accomplishments, each of these three students will receive a four-year renewable scholarship from one of the 118 scholarship funds administered by BRCF.

ICI oversees the administration of the LECS Program and provides final review and selection of the recipients.  ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 29 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges, and universities in Indiana.

Lilly Endowment Inc. created the LECS Program for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling in excess of $505 million.  More than 5,400 Indiana students, including 45 from Shelby County, have received the LECS since the program’s inception.

Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Furthermore, the primary purposes of LECS Program are:

1. to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana

2.  to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities

3. to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit, and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

 Blue River Community Foundation has served Shelby County since 1988.  Since the first scholarship was awarded from a BRCF administered scholarship fund in 1994, over $8.5 million dollars have been awarded to students pursuing post-secondary education credentials.  In addition to providing these forms of educational resources in the community, BRCF strives to elevate the quality of life for Shelby County residents through various community initiatives and grant opportunities (over $30.6 million awarded since 1994).

 Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

 Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment. 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 total local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.