McCulley earns “Realizing the Dream” Award
Clara McCulley ‘25 has been selected as Hanover’s recipient of the “Realizing the Dream” Award. Established in 1989, the state-wide honor recognizes outstanding academic achievement and leadership potential displayed by a first-generation college student during their first year on campus.
McCulley, who was honored Feb. 25 during a banquet in Indianapolis, Ind., is an elementary education major from Madison, Ind. She has an interest in special education and is a member of the Hanover College Education Association.
The “Realizing the Dream” Award, presented by the Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The honor is annually presented students from Indiana’s 29 private, non-profit colleges and universities. The award includes a certificate and $4,000 scholarship to help offset the recipient’s educational cost. The honor also provides a $1,000 professional development grant to a former teacher or mentor who most influenced their decision to attend college.
About Independent Colleges of Indiana
Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private, non-profit 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.
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
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. While 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 maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana, it also funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion.
