The Community Foundation of Bloomington & Monroe County is proud to announce the recipients of Monroe County’s 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships are Sophia Craiutu and Tamanah Fazel.
Including Monroe County’s two scholarship recipients, the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership.
LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the required books and equipment costs for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis, leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. The program is administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally through the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County.
Sophia Craiutu is a Bloomington High School North senior. Her parents are Aurelian Craiutu and Christina Craiutu.
At Bloomington North, Sophia is Cougars for Change’s co-president, Bridge USA president, and co-publicist with the Student Council. Sophia’s other school activities have included Cougar Leaders, United Nations (School SDGs), and Letters for Rose.
Outside of school, Sophia has been a competitive figure skater for over 8 years and is a lead coach at Frank Southern Ice Arena. She has also been actively involved with the Monroe County Youth Advisory Council, Bloomington’s NextGen Advocacy Program, the Bloomington chapter of the National Organization for Women, Braver Angels, the American Cancer Society Action Network, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Sophia is also an Institute for Youth in Policy Fellow and a Civics Unplugged Fellow.
Sophia’s interest in public policy, current events, and international issues led her to co-found Global Learners. Through this organization, high school students work with K-eighth grade students to get them interested in current events, news, global issues, politics, and policy through approachable lessons and hands-on activities.
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The idea for Global Learners came to Sophia after spending summers in Romania with her family, where she realized that her U.S. elementary education had not included much focus on international news and events.
“I thought of Romania and Bloomington as two separate worlds, through which no apparent efforts could be made to bring connection,” said Sophia. “I found power in my age, realizing that it didn’t matter that I was young — I could bridge my two worlds and provide younger students with the opportunity to learn about what was happening there. I began my organization, Global Learners, to connect Bloomington and Fundatiça, but it soon expanded and ended up connecting communities far beyond mine as well. It brought me a sense of connection. I became a bridge builder.”
“I cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunity from the Community Foundation and the Lilly Endowment,” added Sophia. “I aim to pursue an education centered around advocating for those around me and promoting equitable policy — this scholarship will make my journey that much more impactful.”
Tamanah Fazel is a Bloomington High School South senior. Tamanah’s parents are Solaiman Fazel and Megan Fazel.
At Bloomington South, Tamanah is president of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) and BPA (Business Professionals of America) and has led fundraising activities for the Women Empowerment Club, Dance Marathon, and Asian Culture Club. Tamanah’s other school activities have included Diversity Club, Student Council, Debate Club, Students Advocating for a Greener Environment, and Girls Soccer.
Outside of school, Tamanah has studied Taekwondo and piano for over 10 years, mentoring and instructing younger students in both, and volunteered at WonderLab and Indiana University’s Science Fest.
In 2021, following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Tamanah had the opportunity to meet, comfort, and serve as a translator to evacuees relocated to Indiana’s Camp Atterbury.
“The young women I met shared their difficult journeys to the United States,” said Tamanah. “They endured a lot to escape the Taliban suppression and restrictions.”
This experience inspired Tamanah to study finance and start her own nonprofit to help women become independent through financial literacy and education.
“I hope to play a part in a future where women can be the masters of their destinies and have access to education and employment. My experiences since 2021 have not only reshaped my perspective but also strengthened my resolve to drive change in the realm of women’s rights and economic independence.”
“I’m incredibly thankful for my family, friends, and teachers for the endless support throughout the years,” added Tamanah. “I would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Lilly Endowment and Community Foundation for this amazing opportunity. I’m so grateful and honored.”
“Sophia and Tamanah are shining examples of the talented and compassionate young leaders emerging from Monroe County and the Indiana Uplands region,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson. “Their achievements, determination, and drive are a testament to the potential of young people everywhere. We proudly welcome them to the Lilly Endowment Community Scholars network and look forward to following their successes as they embark on their academic journeys.”
The Community Foundation has also announced that Monroe County’s eight other 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship finalists will each receive $1,000 scholarships to use at a college or university of their choosing. Congratulations to Monroe County’s 2025 JP Morgan Chase Bank and Community Foundation Scholarship recipients:
“This year’s finalists for Monroe County’s Lilly Scholarships have all demonstrated outstanding achievement in academics, leadership, and community service,” said Peterson. “Although we can only select two Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships for Monroe County, we are proud to award each of these deserving students with a Community Foundation scholarship to support their continued academic pursuits.”
Monroe County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients were selected from among 110 applications submitted by students from six of the 10 high schools that serve Monroe County students. Eligible schools include The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, Covenant Christian School, Bloomington Graduation School, Bloomington High School North, Bloomington High School South, Edgewood High School, Harmony School, Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics & Humanities, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and Seven Oaks Classical School.
CFBMC’s Board of Directors establishes the criteria and selection process for selecting Monroe County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients.
High school seniors submit scholarship applications between July and August. Applications are blindly reviewed and independently scored by members of a Lilly Scholarship committee at each Monroe County high school to identify semifinalists. The size of each high school’s senior class size determines the number of semifinalists identified.
Next, semifinalists submit additional content and references and the Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee selects 10 finalists. Each finalist is interviewed and their scores are combined with scoring from the written applications.
The finalists’ rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations, are then submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. for final selection of scholarship recipients for Monroe County prior to the formal announcement in December.
Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $490 million. More than 5,300 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception.
For more information on the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program or other scholarships administered by CFBMC, visit https://www.cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-scholarship/ or contact Marcus Whited, Program Director, at 812-333-9016 or marcus@cfbmc.org.
