LA PORTE COUNTY, IN—Unity Foundation of La Porte County is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for La Porte County: Lupita Osornio-Luna of Tri Township Jr./Sr. High School and Madeleine McCarther of Marquette High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are recognized for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.

Osornio-Luna is deeply involved in service and student leadership. After volunteering with her local Leos Club, she was inspired to create “Learn with Leos,” a mentor-based tutoring program at her school. She also founded the “Happy Hands Project,” a toy collection initiative that provides sensory and fidget toys to Tri Township students experiencing anxiety. Her leadership roles include President of National Honor Society, Treasurer of Student Council, Science Team Captain, Lead Student Leader of Leadership La Porte County’s Youth Program, and President of Kankakee Valley REMC’s Junior Board of Directors. In 2025, she was selected as keynote speaker at Hoosier Girls State. She resides in La Crosse and is the daughter of Nora Luna and J Guadalupe Osornio.

McCarther is a two-time recipient of the Presidential Service Award for her outstanding commitment to serving others. She has completed more than 200 service hours through her volunteer work with veterans and legislative paging for the Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana Senate. McCarther attended Hoosier Girls State in 2025 and ranked among the top five finalists for Indiana’s “Outstanding Girl.” She has demonstrated long-term dedication to the performing arts as a classical ballet and modern dance student and is a senior member of the Southhold Theater pre-professional dance company. She resides in La Porte and is the daughter of Denise and Ben McCarther.

“Lupita and Madeleine embody the spirit of community, leadership, and perseverance that the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship seeks to honor,” said CC Payne, Director of Operations at Unity Foundation. “Both nominees demonstrated exemplary dedication to service, extracurriculars, and their academics. La Porte County is well represented through these two exceptional young leaders.”

“I feel truly blessed and thankful for the opportunity to continue to grow my education and passions. I have so much gratitude towards everyone who has played a role in my life to get me to this position. I truly wouldn’t be here without you all,” said Osornio-Luna.

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees, and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Scholars also join the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects them with resources and opportunities to lead on campus and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).

“I am so grateful to the Foundation for this opportunity to make a difference in my life and hopefully for my community,” said McCarther. “Thank you so much for assisting me in this way, and I cannot wait to pursue my goals and dreams with the support I receive from the Lilly Endowment.”

In determining La Porte County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholars, the committee considered academic achievement, service to others, extracurricular activities and, to a lesser extent, financial need. After narrowing the field of applicants, nominees were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), the statewide administrator of the program, for final selection.

Since its inception in 1997–98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefiting over 5,400 Indiana students. The program’s primary purposes are:

• To raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana.
• To increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations play.
• To encourage and support Lilly Scholars’ engagement with Indiana leaders to improve quality of life statewide.

About Unity Foundation
Since 1992, Unity Foundation of La Porte County has served donors, nonprofits and local communities. As La Porte County’s community foundation, it manages nearly $60 million in assets, administers more than 400 charitable funds, and has distributed nearly $29 million through direct grants and scholarships. Unity Foundation’s mission is to strengthen La Porte County now and forever by building permanent endowments; providing leadership; offering philanthropic vehicles for everyone; and being a catalyst for social and economic vitality. For more information, please visit uflc.net or call 219-879-0327.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment supports community development, education, and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana.

About Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI)
Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for Indiana’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year graduation rates and produce 30% of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20% of its undergraduates.