Lilly Scholar Roman Hite joining Earlham’s Class of 2029

Roman Hite, one of Indiana’s prestigious Lilly Scholars, will study at Earlham as part of the Class of 2029. Hite is one of five designated Lilly Scholars for the 2025 to apply to Earlham as part of the fall entering class. Hailing from Versailles, Indiana, Hite plans to study engineering and will play second and third base for Earlham’s baseball team.

“I went on tour with one of the coaches and his assistants, and just fell in love with the campus,” says Hite. “They were really transparent when they talked with me, which I appreciated.”

Interested in engineering, Hite has already connected with faculty at Earlham and is eager to get started.

“The Lilly scholarship has been such a blessing,” says the future Earlhamite. “Personally, it opens up a lot more opportunities.”

Hite made an impressive impact throughout high school: he served as president and vice president of his Switzerland County high school’s chapter of Business Professionals of America, was a member of the Spanish club, and served as class president. While he’ll play baseball for Earlham, he’s also been active in soccer, swimming and bowling and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Sponsored by Lilly Endowment, Inc., the Lilly Scholarship comes with a full tuition scholarship at any Indiana college or university plus a textbook stipend. Hite joins 146 students awarded the scholarship each academic year. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is administered by the Independent Colleges of Indiana and includes participation by the community foundations serving each of Indiana’s 92 counties. Lilly’s program aims to inspire students to pursue higher education and careers in their home state.

But for Hite, the benefits of being a Lilly Scholar extend beyond Earlham.

“Beyond Earlham, the scholarship will allow me to get a master’s degree for a lot less than I would normally have to pay for it,” he says. “My dad was in The Marines, so between benefits from that and the Lilly scholarship, I’ll be able to attend both undergrad and grad school. I love Earlham, I love Richmond, I’m excited. There’s no other way to put it, a full ride scholarship changes your life.”

Written by Jay Kibble, writer/editor for Earlham College’s Marketing and Communications Office.

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About Earlham College 

Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion foster a collaborative learning community that inspires and motivates students with transformative opportunities and experiences so they can become catalysts for good in a changing world. Located in Richmond, Indiana, Earlham is one of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 national liberal arts colleges and offers one of the top 20 classroom experiences in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.