Wabash High School senior Payton Sodervick filled out an application for the four-year, full-tuition Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship with little confidence he would be selected as the 2020 recipient. He knew the competition would be stiff among the high ability, high need students in the county, but in the end, the Community Foundation of Wabash County, the local manager of the scholarship selection process, named Sodervick for superior academic achievements, essays, leadership, student involvement, volunteerism, work ethic, and financial need.
Payton is the son of Lisa Sodervick of Wabash and Barry Sodervick of Huntington. He credits his mother and his Sodervick grandparents with keeping on the pressure to go to college. Payton’s grandfather was the first principal of O. J. Neighbors Elementary School and his grandmother was a respected teacher in Wabash City Schools, but his parents did not attend college and the dream of postsecondary education was not a given. Still, Payton’s mom urged him on, knowing that college delivers benefits all through life.
Payton plans to attend Indiana University to study accounting and finance to become an accountant or financial analyst. He worked for the Wabash City Street Department every day last summer to save for college. While he liked the work, he looks forward to achallenging career at a desk job. In addition to hard work in school, Payton has taken on numerous leadership roles, including student council officer, football team captain, baseball team captain, Fellowship of Christian Athletes member, and Key Club member. In his junior year, Payton and other entrepreneurs formed a business that helped senior citizens in the community with yard work and landscaping. He is also active in helping younger athletes build skills, practice accountability, and develop a strong sense of teamwork.
When asked about the greatest influence in his life, Payton points to his mother who has supported his educational ambitions. The greatest relief in receiving the LEC scholarship for Payton is not that he will have an opportunity to acquire a college education without debt, but the assurance that his family won’t be burdened with his college debt. Payton would like to thank the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for this incredible opportunity.
The foundation recognizes five additional finalists for their achievements.
Wyatt Davis is a Wabash High School senior and son of James and Amanda Davis of Wabash. Wyatt plans to attend Indiana University or Ball State to study secondary education or nursing. He is drawn to professions that help people and volunteer activities that give his sense of compassion an outlet, such as Blessings in a Backpack, mission trips, holiday meals for people in need, and Trick or Treat for UNICEF. Wyatt is also a natural leader who has served as leader of FCA, soccer team captain, coach, and a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council. He has earned an academic letter, been inducted into National Honor Society, and was named a scholar athlete. Wyatt goes at challenges, crises, and opportunities with a combination of determination and caring, which areessential skills for teachers and health professionals.
Levi Fulkerson graduates from Northfield in May 2020 and heads to the University of Indianapolis to study physical therapy. Levi is the son of David and Michelle Fulkerson of Roann. He gets his inspiration for PT from his father, who is a therapist. Levi points out that PT is practiced in numerous settings, from hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, and sports facilities, for a variety of children and adults. He looks forward to theopportunities the profession offers. Levi is an athlete, a scholar, and a leader. In between schoolwork and sports, he leads children’s worship at church, volunteers at the museum and a mission, and does yardwork for seniors. Levi strives for excellence. He earned an SAT super score and was recognized for achievements in anatomy and physiology and AP biology.
Shyla Judy is a senior at Southwood High School and the daughter of Laura Lee Enix and the late Sean Judy. Shyla plans a career in health sciences and psychology after college. A strong interest in people and how they think is the motivation for Shyla’s interest in physical and mental health careers. Having experienced the loss of her father two years ago, Shyla knows what kind of emotional support people need in the midst of tough challenges. Also, Shyla has interest in helping people with addictionsin Indiana. Her volunteer activities include A Night to Shine (a prom for young adults with intellectual disabilities) and a mission trip to South Carolina to clean up after recent flooding. Whenever given the opportunity, Shyla dives in head first to learn about a wide variety of people in an array of situations, all of which fascinate her.
Anna Pyle is a Manchester High School student and daughter of Kirk and Jennie Pyle of North Manchester. Anna plans to study linguistics at Taylor University and pursue a career as a linguist. Already fluent in two languages, Anna enters college with a linguistic advantage. She hopes to foster international business communication, assisting Indiana businesses with international connections in Asia. Anna was born in China where, she notes, she was the recipient of charity at an orphanage. Now, one of her favorite activities is serving meals with her youth group in a homeless shelter and giving back to people in need. Anna has been honored for academic excellence and has been inducted into the National Honor Society. She has participated in tennis, track, choir, and 4-H. To save for college, Anna works part-time at Timbercrest Senior Living Community.
Jackson Simons will graduate from Southwood High School in May and is considering enrolling at Indiana University or Wabash College to major in pre-law. He is the son of Rebecca Simons of Wabash. Jackson has a passion for public speaking and debate, which led him to an interest in law. He has wide interests in both school work and extracurricular activities. He served on the Crossroads Junior Board of Directors, took part in student government, played football, won the local Trig-Starcontest, and was named Spanish III Student of the Year. His volunteer activities include helping with Special Olympics and a mission trip to South Dakota to work with a Lakota community. A senior internship with Wabash County Court Services has cemented Jackson’s interest in practicing law and given him exposure to many aspects of law enforcement for the first time.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, begun in 1998, has awarded full-tuition scholarships to 4,769 students, representing over $379 million in scholarship tuition. The primary purposes of LEC scholarship 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; and 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 through the state.
The Community Foundation of Wabash County administers the LECS application and selection process for Wabash County students. Since 1998, thirty-eight Wabash County students have received the LEC scholarship. The prestigious program is an important aspect of Wabash County’s drive to increase the educational attainment level of citizens and prepare generations for the 21st century workforce.
