Cass County Community Foundation Announces 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipient
Last Updated on December 11, 2025 by Cass County Communication Network
The Cass County Community Foundation is pleased to announce that Mia J. McKaig, a senior at Pioneer High School, is their 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership.
Mia is the daughter of Darren and Sarah McKaig and embodies all those characteristics and more. She plans to attend Taylor University and study human physiology and preventative medicine with a minor in chemistry. Her long-term plans include attending Indiana University School of Medicine and becoming a general physician with a practice in rural Indiana. Mia currently has a 4.0 GPA on an unweighted 4.0 scale all while volunteering in the community and numerous extracurricular activities and leadership positions. Mia also has the distinction of scoring a perfect 1600 on the SAT and a perfect score on the PSAT.
Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for undergraduate students studying on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities.
Mia was selected from a pool of twenty-two candidates and is a member of many school organizations and active in National Honor Society where she has served as Vice-President and Treasurer. She is currently President of Student Council, Class Treasurer, Logansport Savings Bank Junior Board, and Fellowship of Christian Students. She has played varsity basketball and golf throughout her high school years and is currently team captain for both.
Mia has received numerous academic and athletic awards ranging from Math Conference Champion in Algebra, Precalculus, and Calculus to IHSAA Golf State Finalist, All -Conference Basketball and Golf honors, and Indiana Arts Festival Piano Awards. She has been named to the high honor roll every year of her high school career.
Mia is ranked first in her class and named as a College Board National Top School Recognition in 2025.See has volunteered at Shiloh Christian Church, Emmaus Mission Center, United Way of Cass County and worked as a Kids Camp Leader.
Mia is the thirteenth recipient from Pioneer High School and the 45th Lilly Scholarship Recipient for Cass County since the program began in 1998.
Since its inception in 1997–98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefiting over 5,400 Indiana students. The program’s primary purposes are:
· To raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana.
· To increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations play.
· To encourage and support Lilly Scholars’ engagement with Indiana leaders to improve quality of life statewide.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment supports community development, education, and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana.
For more information on this award or the Cass County Community Foundation, please call 574-722-2200.
SOURCE: News release from Cass County Community Foundation