2023 Smart Rain Fall Scholarship Recipient: Lily Hestjean

Lily Hestjean was awarded the Smart Rain Scholarship for the fall 2023 semester.

She is presently taking classes at Purdue Northwest while finishing her Senior Year at Munster High School in Indiana.

This scholarship serves as an acknowledgment of Lily's successful academic endeavors and her drive to address local and global environmental issues.

Lily's deep-rooted interest in biology is amplified by her aspirations to harness science in order to provide clean water and nutritious food to everyone, a challenge that has been exacerbated by escalating droughts and desertification. Her passion for plant pathology, coupled with her leadership experiences, uniquely positions her to confront these contemporary challenges.

Outside of her rigorous academic classes, Lily is engaged in various extracurricular activities.

As the Co-President of Munster High School's Environmental Club and the weekend overseer of the Northwest Indiana Food Bank, she has showcased her ability to lead and make tangible impacts in her community. Furthermore, her role as the Co-President of her school's Science Olympiad team reveals her continued quest for knowledge. But she is most proud of being a Borlaug scholar with the World Food Prize organization, where she and other youth collaborate on solutions to global food and water insecurity.

Celebrating Emerging Scholar Lily Hestjean

Smart Rain Foundation is proud to announce our 2023 Fall Scholarship recipient, Lily Hestjean. She is an enthusiastic student and a role model for creating a more sustainable world. Smart Rain is honored to give Lily this scholarship.

Lily Hestjean started Purdue Northwest as a Freshman this year, but her collegiate accomplishments began even earlier. During Lily’s senior year at Munster High School in Indiana, Lilly was co-enrolled in college coursework in pursuit of her goal of contributing to solutions for local and global environmental issues. Her dedication to her education is remarkable. This scholarship stands as a testament to Lily’s exceptional academic accomplishments and her unyielding enthusiasm for sustainable environmental practices.

Lily is majoring in Biology, with the goal of working for a nonprofit that assists people in gaining access to clean drinking water and nutritious food. One of Lily’s proudest achievements is her role as a Borlaug scholar with the World Food Prize organization. Through this platform, she collaborates with her peers to pioneer solutions addressing global food and water insecurity. Lily envisions a world where science and sustainability lead the way, and she is working hard to make that dream a reality. Her courage and commitment to facing the climate crisis is truly admirable.

Congratulations to Lily Hestjean on her bright future! She is an excellent example of young leaders forging ahead to build a brighter tomorrow for our communities and the world. Join us in celebrating Lily’s accomplishments and her inspiring pursuit of a greener, more sustainable world. Together, we can make a difference.

Congratulations Lily and good luck at college!