GREENFIELD — It was a big night Thursday for two Hancock County high school seniors as they were awarded full college scholarships courtesy of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship program.
Mya Adams of Mt. Vernon High School and Cameron Mann of New Palestine High School were this year’s recipients of the coveted award, which covers full tuition for two carefully selected Hancock County seniors each year.
The scholarship program is carried out locally by the Community Foundation of Hancock County, which honored this year’s recipients Dec. 14 with a reception at the foundation’s Thrive Center in Greenfield.
Both of the scholars’ principals shared a bit about each student’s character and accomplishments at the reception.
“Mya is an outstanding student and an all-around great person,” said Brooke Tharp, principal at Mt. Vernon High School, who then shared Mya’s long list of volunteer-based activities.
James Voelz, Principal at New Palestine High School, did the same for Cameron.
“I’ve known Cameron since he was about six years old,” said Voelz. “He has an incredibly special family who did a great job of raising him. He is such a positive light in our school and everywhere he goes.”
Both Mya and Cameron said they were overwhelmed to be selected among a field of 60 highly accomplished candidates throughout the county, including two finalists from each of the county’s four high schools.
“It’s truly been a life changing experience. I’ll definitely carry it with me for the rest of my life, and I hope to be able to pay it forward in the future,” said Mya, the daughter of David and Mary Adams of Fortville.
Mya plans to attend the University of Notre Dame or Butler University in the fall, where she hopes to major in political science, psychology and history. Her goal is to pursue a career in public law.
Cameron, the son of Jeff and Janet Mann of New Palestine, plans to attend Purdue University and major in pre-med, engineering or computer science. His goal is to become a cardiologist.
Last year, Cameron was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a hereditary disease which makes it hard for the heart to deliver blood to the body, which can lead to heart failure. His hope is to become a heart doctor to help kids who face the same challenges he has over the past year.
While they both have lofty goals to one day serve others professionally, Cameron and Mya have already devoted a good portion of their young lives to giving back to others, which is among the highest held factors in the Lilly Scholarship selection process.
Before his own cardiomyopathy diagnosis, Cameron’s sister collapsed at school in 2021 from the same disease, prompting him to want to do something to support her and other students who may face the same type of crisis.
He has since been working toward getting New Palestine High School certified through Project Adam, a nonprofit which seeks to equip schools with Automated External Defibrillators — portable electronic devices which can provide life-saving emergency treatment.
“While there are many steps to completion, I would like to eventually certify all schools in the county,” Cameron said.
He also created a radio station called Chemo Radio, the world’s first online radio station created to provide comfort to those undergoing chemotherapy.
“I hope the station gives them some cheer and provides a smile during difficult times,” said the teen, adding that at last count the station was listened to in 11 different countries.
Cameron also enjoys making a difference close to home. He’s been a Fresh Start leader, mentoring incoming freshmen at New Palestine High School.
Each year since the seventh grade, he’s helped his former middle school running coach lead a group of elementary school runners in a weekly program.
The high school senior co-created an organization that creates STEM lessons for elementary-age kids and designed a math workbook called Fridays With, which helps elementary and middle school students practice problem-solving skills without using the internet.
He’s also created Super Pawn Chess, a game variant he hopes can be played by dementia patients like his grandfather.
When his heart condition forced him to quit the varsity track team, he became a peer buddy on his school’s Unified Track Team instead, supporting student athletes with special needs.
Mya has also racked up a long list of accomplishments throughout her high school career.
As a junior, she attended a leadership program in which students were encouraged to identify and address issues within their school corporation. To help students struggling with bullying, substance abuse and mental health, Mya created a website called Outreach Tree to provide resources that can help. Working in collaboration with the school’s guidance department, she affixed QR codes in the bathroom stalls throughout her high school which students can scan to access the site.
The teen also helps serve younger students in a variety of programs, like helping with the parent-led group at Fortville Elementary which oversees school activities like festivals, trunk or treats, dances and babysitting for PTO meetings.
May also prepares weekly crafts at the Vernon Township Public Library, has served as a Camp Invention counselor and has participated in the Best Buddies tutoring program at her high school. She’s also helped Fortville Elementary teachers prepare their classrooms for the new school year over summer break.
She said the organization she’s loved serving the most is Ballerina’s Academy of Dance, a small locally-owned dance studio where the staff teaches dance classes and life lessons to students from preschool to high school.
