Congratulations to the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Finalists for Shelby County!

These six outstanding students were recently selected by BRCF’s Scholarship Committee through a blinded application evaluation process. They are now moving on to the personal interview phase, scheduled for October 4th. The recipient of this prestigious award will be announced in December.

The Robert Edward Elliott Jr. Memorial Scholarship was established in 2024 by Theresa and Joe Harlan to honor Theresa’s brother Robert Elliott. Robbie was a lifelong resident of Shelbyville, Indiana and served on the Shelbyville Fire Department from 1989 until his retirement in 2009. Robbie was extremely proud to have served his community in this capacity, and his service and dedication to the cause was a sense of pride for him and his family. Robbie loved his colleagues as they did him, and he will be truly missed by all who knew him. It was Robbie’s dedication and spirit in his service and his family’s love for him that inspired this fund. The scholarship is open to those students, whose parents are affiliated with the fire departments in Shelby County including volunteer organizations, who seek a 2 year or 4 year accredited trade, vocational, or university degree.

This scholarship fund was established by David in 2024 in memory of his wife, Katherine, who passed away earlier in the year. The Platts were lifetime residents of Shelby County where they raised their five children. David served in the National Guard for 9 years and was an employee of Tippecanoe Press for 38 years. Katherine worked for the State House for 2 years before they started to raise their family. Katherine was later a Boy and Girl Scout leader and also the bookkeeper for a campground that the couple purchased in 1983. Together, David and Katherine enjoyed square dancing, bowling, and fishing. They also loved to travel, especially taking cruises. She and David were married for 65 years. Katherine was a loving wife, caring mother, grandma and great grandma. She was a wonderful caregiver caring for her mother-in-law. She enjoyed sewing and doing upholstery work. The Platt's established a scholarship to help support students with financial need who might not perform at the top of their class academically but who excel with using their hands and mind.