WARSAW — The Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.

High School students who will be Juniors in the fall of 2026 are eligible to apply.

Applicants can apply from the following schools:

Warsaw Community High School, Lakeland Christian Academy, Wawasee High School, Tippecanoe Valley High School, Triton High School, Whitko High School, Northwood and Fairfield High School.

Other area students attending a high school not mentioned (if you reside in Kosciusko County) are encouraged to apply, along with home-schooled students from Kosciusko and southern Elkhart County.

All applications this year will be filed online. Go to www.KosciuskoYouthLeadership.org, and click on the “Apply” tab.

Students are encouraged to apply early. A firm application deadline is the end of the day on Wednesday, May 20.  Any questions can be directed to Carl Lauster at 574-269-2932 between the hours of  10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy is in its 33rd year of service to the county. A local non-profit 501(c)(3), KYLA’s purpose is to train students in leadership skills through a year-long course consisting of formal classroom training and through the development and completion of a community service project. To date, KYLA alumni have completed over 260 community service projects by over 830 alumni, benefiting Kosciusko County residents.

For more information, visit  www.KosciuskoYouthLeadership.org.

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WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients: Titiksha Gorhe and Ian Parrott.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition scholarship that enables recipients from each participating Indiana county to attend an Indiana college or university of their choice. In Kosciusko County, the Community Foundation appoints a committee to lead a blind review process of all local applications.

Titiksha Gorhe

Titiksha Gorhe is a senior at Warsaw Community High School and will graduate in 2026 with academic honors. She plans to major in neuroscience.

“Learning about the nervous system greatly fascinated me because there is still so much to discover; the sense of mystery and opportunity for ongoing research fueled my interest in becoming a Neurosurgeon. I want to dedicate my life to bringing hope back into people’s lives, allowing them to lead the healthy life they deserve,” she shared.

Titiksha participated in the HOSA Future Health Professionals, Environmental Club, Hope and Hygiene Foundation, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Hugh O’Brian Leadership Conference, Envirothon, Harvard Pre-Med Summer Academy, KEY Club, Student Organ Donation Advocates, Varsity Diving, Ballet, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, and the Science Academic Super Bowl.

Ian Parrott

Ian Parrott is a senior at Warsaw Community High School and will graduate in 2026 with academic and technical honors. He plans to major in electrical engineering.

“Some of my favorite memories are with my 3DS. I always wanted to be able to make something that could bring people the same kind of imaginative experience,” he shared. “The beauty of engineering is that you can make a difference in so many ways, no matter where you go. I plan to explore the countless options at Purdue University.”

Ian participated in the South Bend Youth Symphony, Business Professionals of America, His Majesty’s Puppeteers, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, National Honor Society, Club Diving: Indiana International School of Diving, Warsaw Community Church Youth Group, Phi Theta Kappa, Tiger Leadership Council, Inclusivity Council, School Orchestra, and the diving, pole vault, and soccer teams.

Titiksha and Ian were both celebrated with a surprise award ceremony on December 15 at Warsaw Community High School.

How Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are selected

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, fees, and an allocation for books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university.

The Kosciusko County selection process for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship begins as Community Foundation scholarship reviewers evaluate each application without access to the students’ names or other identifying information. Qualifying criteria include academic excellence, community service, extracurricular involvement, work experience, references and essay responses.

Once the committee selects the finalists, the Community Foundation submits these applicants to Independent College of Indiana (ICI), the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship program for the final selection of recipients.

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.

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. Although 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 funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private, nonprofit 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.

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KYLA taking applications for next year

WARSAW — Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 academic year.

High school students who will be juniors in fall 2025 are eligible to apply.

Applicants can apply from the following schools: Warsaw Community High School, Lakeland Christian Academy, Wawasee High School, Tippecanoe Valley High School, Triton High School, Whitko High School, NorthWood and Fairfield High School. Other area students attending a high school not mentioned (if you reside in Kosciusko County) are welcome to apply along with homeschooled Kosciusko County students.

Deadline is Tuesday May 20. Additional questions can be directed to Carl Lauster, KYLA president, at 574-269-2932 between the hours of  9 am to 5 pm.

Applications can be filed online here and then look for the "apply" tab.

Pierceton will celebrate new sidewalks on May 29

Pierceton will celebrate its combined 2,600 feet of new sidewalk with a ribbon cutting on May 29.

The Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) Kosciusko and the town of Pierceton will host a ribbon-cutting at 4 p.m. at the corner of Third Street and Pierceton Elementary School. 

The project spans the east side of Seventh Street, the south side of School Street and the east side of Third Street. 

Improvements include the installation of 6-foot-wide concrete sidewalks, ADA-compliant ramps, driveway enhancements and grass seeding.

LKH workshop looks at emergency first aid

WARSAW — Learn fundamental lifesaving techniques from Lutheran EMS and Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital staff during the next LKH Community Health session on Thursday, May 15 from 8:30 am - 9:30 am in the LKH Administration Classroom, 2101 E. DuBois Dr., Warsaw.

Engage in four processes of emergency first aid: assess, plan, execute and evaluate.
Join us for a morning of fundamental practical instruction.

Topics include:
• Introduction to CPR basics
• Administering opioid overdose medication: when and how to use it
• Stop a bleed
• Signs of a stroke - BE FAST
• Adult and infant choking

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Those interested in attending can call 260-435-7787 or email CommunityRelations@LHN.net.

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NORTH WEBSTER — Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy on Wednesday celebrated the success of community projects organized by 28 students from six area high schools.

[caption id="attachment_92568" align="aligncenter" width="750"] 2023-2024 KYLA STUDENTS — Front Row (L-R): Kaytlin Skeans, Warsaw Community High School; Ruth Heckaman, Warsaw Community High School; Samantha Middaugh, Triton Junior-Senior High School; Eleanor Schenck, Warsaw Community High School; Jetta Hughes, Tippecanoe Valley High School; Gabriella Griffith, Whitko Junior-Senior High School; Piper Elrod, Lakeland Christian Academy; Isaac Winters, Wawasee High School. Middle Row (L-R) Sydney King, Triton Junior-Senior High School; Ella Beer, Wawasee High School; Allison Slone, Warsaw Community High School; Caden Large, Triton Junior-Senior High School; Benjamin McFarland, Triton Junior-Senior High School; Griffin Roe, Warsaw Community High School; Sutton Victa, Warsaw Community High School/Homeschooled; Marisol Anahi Cervantes Maldonado, Warsaw Community High School; Dayton Sibert, Lakeland Christian Academy; Nevaeh Lowe, Lakeland Christian Academy. Back Row (L-R) Josue Montoya, Warsaw Community High School; Mya Davis, Triton Junior-Senior High School; Travis Barnhart, Triton Junior-Senior High School; Luke Kompagne, Wawasee High School; Amy Brown, Whitko Junior-Senior High School; Colton Crabb, Tippecanoe Valley High School; Micah Macias, Wawasee High School; Noah Macias, Wawasee High School; Lucas Conley, Warsaw Community High School. Not Pictured: Kohen Schipper, Whitko Junior-Senior High School. Photo provided.[/caption]

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WARSAW -- The application deadline for the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy is Wednesday, May 17.

Students who are currently sophomores and entering their junior year this fall are eligible to apply.  Applications can be picked up at your high school counselor's office or can be downloaded from the KYLA website at KosciuskoYouthLeadership.org.

Schools eligible are Warsaw, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley, Lakeland Christian Academy, Whitko, Triton and Northwood High School. Home-schooled students may also apply as long as they reside in Kosciusko County.

A firm deadline of May 17 will be adhered to. Postal service could take up to three days after it is sent so plan accordingly.

Any questions can be directed via email to the board through the KYLA website in the contact section.

KYLA is a non-profit organization and is in its 30th year of educating and training youth in leadership skills through community service work.

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WARSAW -- Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy celebrated the graduation of 34 students on Wednesday night at the Owls Nest in North Webster.

This year marks 30 years of KYLA with students participating in the year-long program, which strives to give students a chance to learn leadership skills while also learning more about the community.

Groups of students worked on seven in-depth projects.

During the dinner, organizers spotlighted three programs. Those included a tree planting initiative that led to 50 saplings being planted at Pike Lake. Another involved students working with clients at Cardinal Center and another saw students collect 500 toys for three pre-K schools.

The night was highlighted by a speech by Evelyn Magley –  Evelyn Magley - the first woman in the world to own a professional men's league and the CEO of The Basketball League.

Magley gave an uplifting speech about the importance of investing in youth, the role of leadership as well as the challenges social media has on youth.

“If you don’t know who you are, and you listen to the world, who are you?" she asked.

The world will own you. They’ll own every move you make. They’ll make every judgment on you," she said.

She said leadership, to a great degree, is all about knowing "who you are."

[caption id="attachment_78190" align="aligncenter" width="855"] KYLA cadets posted for a photo Wednesday night after graduation ceremonies at the Owls Nest in North Webster. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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