Luna Tafolla wins 2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship

Dec. 6—Logansport High School senior Luna Tafolla was a bit confused when she walked out of the school office and saw Principal Matt Jones waiting for her, ushering her forward.

When she noticed her family hiding on the other side of the Christmas tree a dazed look crossed her face. Reality hit when Cass County Community Foundation president and CEO Deanna Crispen came into view.

Luna Tafolla had won the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.

She immediately embraced her family, tears running down her face.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is presented by the Cass County Community Foundation and provides the winner with full college tuition and up to $900 per year for textbooks and additional class supplies. Twenty-seven students from across Cass County applied for the scholarship.

Tafolla plans to use the scholarship to attend Notre Dame and study behavioral neuroscience and minor in psychology.

She ultimately hopes to be a doctor and work with cancer patients.

"I'm shaking," she said. "I just feel excited. Very grateful for the opportunity."

Tafolla has worked hard both inside the classroom and within the Logansport community. She has a 4.0 grade point average and has served as class vice president, Diversity Club president, Spanish Club president and speech team co-captain. Tafolla is a National Speech & Debate Association Academic All-American and has qualified for the state speech tournament three times. She is also a member of the Logansport High School National Honor Society.

Tafolla is an artist. She's won the Outstanding Art Student award at the high school and won "Best of Show" this year at a Logansport Art Association competition.

She recently won the Cass County Distinguished Young Woman competition and will compete in the state competition in February.

She attends All Saints Catholic Church where she serves as an acolyte, lecturer and alter server.

Her mother and father, Telma and Ramon, and sister Soledad were on hand for the presentation.

Afterwards, her mother spoke about how proud she was of Tafolla while her sister interpreted.

Her mother said Tafolla wants to help others so this was a big moment for Logansport as well.

"When she is done (with college) she can come back," Telma Tafolla said. "Logansport is a good community and she can help people out."

Her sister remembered Tafolla always working hard, striving for an A even as a child.

"(Luna) deserves it," she said. "She's brilliant. I'm so happy for her."

Tafolla's parents came from Mexico and she will be a first generation college student.

She is also the first Latina to win the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, said Crispen, and embodies everything the scholarship is about.

Principal Jones recalled meeting Tafolla when she was preparing to enter junior high. Tafolla introduced herself to him with great confidence and also told him her future ambitions.

"Luna is a talented, dynamic and intelligent young lady," he said. "She has taken some of the most rigorous courses on campus to prepare herself for this moment and all of her hard work and dedication beyond the classroom walls. She's a very well rounded student."

Logansport Community School Corporation superintendent Michele Starkey was also at the school to celebrate Tafolla's accomplishment.

"Luna is an outstanding young lady and she is going to do great things in the community," she said. "I just think about being a first generation college student and what a difference this opportunity is going to make in her life. This is life changing."

Finalists for the award included Grace Alpha (Pioneer High School), Gracie Kitchell (Logansport High School), Alexander Pawlowski (Pioneer High School) and Halle VanCuren (Logansport High School).

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program was created by the Lilly Endowment to raise the level of educational attainment in the state, to raise awareness of how community foundations can impact their communities and to encourage current and past Lilly Scholars to improve the quality of life in Indiana.

Tafolla credited Logansport High School for allowing her to become a well-rounded student thanks to opportunities that let her be involved in the school and the community.

"I would like to thank the foundation for allowing me to further my education and fulfill my dreams as a doctor," she said. "And last but night least, go Irish!"