Earl Lacey embraces his tearful granddaughter, Ashly Jacobi, after she learned she was named the Lilly Scholar Tuesday.—Staff Photo by Bryce Mayer
Tears of joy flowed in the Jennings County High School guidance office Tuesday morning when Ashly Jacobi received a most happy surprise.
The senior fought unsuccessfully to hold back her emotions after JCHS Principal Dustin Roller told her that she has been named this year's Lilly Endowment Community Scholar in Jennings County.
Her grandfather, Earl Lacey, then hugged Jacobi as she buried her head in his shoulder while he told her how proud he is of her.
Others looking on, including members of the school's staff and Jennings County Community Foundation's Lilly Scholarship committee, couldn't contain their tears either.
"You guys really don't know what this means to me," Jacobi said, still wiping away tears. "This feels great. I knew I had a chance but I was pretty surprised. Everyone I know who applied deserved this, too."
The prestigious award includes a four-year, full-tuition scholarship and a $900 stipend for required books and equipment over the next four years.
Jacobi was chosen from among 47 applicants who were whittled down to eight and then three finalists by the Community Foundation's Lilly Scholarship committee. The committee includes Kathy Dove, Bridget Doran, Jessi Hill Yarbrough, Karen Snyder and Bill Burnett. The three Lily Scholar applicants with the highest combined application and interview scores were then forwarded to the Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection of the recipient.
Jennings County stormed back from a big deficit in the second half, but it wasn't enough to catch archrival Seymour. The visiting Owls won Tuesday's high school girls basketball game 67-54.
For Halle Grace Hughes, there is no such thing as a "season of giving.'
It's down to the nitty gritty for the Jennings County Coordinating Council's Christmas Food Basket project.
In this state, there are currently more than 1,500 children eligible for adoption. During Adoption Month, the sun shines in on this normally private legal matter and the public is allowed to witness firsthand the beauty of adopting a child and welcoming them into their forever family.
Kids Night Out at JCHS The Jennings County High School swimming/diving and girls basketball programs are co-hosting Kids Night Out on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The theme of "Toy Story" was used for the crowd-pleasing float entered by Rumors Salon in Saturday's Christmas in the City parade. Grayson Burke, left, and Briella Bland, both 4, and LeAnn Mull, behind them, portrayed three of the "toys" on and around the float. The entry earned the Most Creative Award in the parade. The other parade awards and the recipients were: Most Magical, Decatur Mold, Tool & Engineering; Most Christmas Spirit, the Catholic Churches of Jennings County; Most Creative Kids, ISU Bright Agency; and Best Lights, Girl Scouts Troop No. 1962.-Staff Photo by Bryce Mayer
