Pictured in front, from left, are Ronna Kawsky, Warsaw Career Center principal; Amy Cannon, program director Kosciusko County Community Foundation; Eric Williamson, 2018 Lilly Scholar; and Laurie Williamson, Eric’s mother. In back are Angela Huffman, class of 2018 assistant principal; Glen Williamson, Eric’s father; Troy Akers, Warsaw Community High School principal; and Susie Light, executive director Kosciusko County Community Foundation.

WARSAW — One Warsaw student got a big surprise this morning, Dec. 15, as his principal, parents and representatives from the Kosciusko County Foundation surprised him during his AP Calculus-BC class. Senior Eric Williamson, Warsaw, was named  2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, receiving a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to a university of his choice.

At the time of his application, Williamson was ranked number 12 in his graduating class. His school activities have included cross country, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Mathletes and track and field. His community activities have included his church’s youth group, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, Octagon Club and Purdue Engineering Expo. Williamson logged over 140 elective hours of community service, with activities ranging from yard work for the elderly to helping teach the English language to non-native speakers.

He also has a part-time job at Martin’s Supermarket and is said to make the best bread, a fact Principal Troy Akers said Williamson left off of his application. Williamson said he started making bread about a year ago, with his interests intensifying this past August.

Williamson’s references described him as compassionate, courteous, honest, reliable and kind. He plans to attend Purdue University to study aerospace engineering.

In Kosciusko County, the Kosciusko County Community Foundation recommends recipients of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship to Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection. The local process is blind in that committee members do not have access to student names when reviewing the applications. Scholarship selection criteria include academic excellence, community service, extracurricular involvement, work experience, references and essay response.

Williamson’s parents, Glen and Laurie Williamson, thought they were coming in to hear about a special project Williamson was partaking in. Only Williamson’s teacher Chuck Wiebe and the school’s principals knew the surprise was coming.