Newest Lilly scholarship winner

West Washington senior Mason Guthrie said when he gathered around an envelope addressed to him from the Washington County Community Foundation with his dad, Tim and his mom, Tricia there was a mixed bag of emotions. 

The letter inside could have contained disappointment letting Guthrie know that he did not receive the Lilly Scholarship, or it could have said the opposite and shared news that would change the course of the next couple of years and beyond. 

Fortunately for the Guthries, it was the latter, but Mason confessed when he opened it, he expected bad news. 

“I didn’t get my hopes up too much, because I was afraid if I did, I would be disappointed,” he said. “My mom and dad were excited. I opened it up and read it and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I won!’ I read it and it really didn’t click the first time. Mom and dad were excited and I am standing there just stunned and I read it again and that’s when it hit me, ‘This is real!’ It took reading it a second time for me to process what had happened, because it’s such a big thing.” 

What the Lilly Scholarship means for Guthrie is full-tuition, required fees and book stipend for four years (does not pay room, board or travel expenses) to any public or private, Indiana four-year college or university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

For Guthrie that will be Vincennes University, where he said he will study agri-business. 

Read more about Guthrie in The Salem Leader, Jan. 4, edition.

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