Commitments to academic excellence and community service are paying off for four members of Marquette’s Class of 2027. Olivia Hazzard, Mackenzie Snyder, Alondra Valdes, and Tim Wadle have been selected as finalists for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program. Hazzard represents Porter County, while Snyder, Valdes, and Wadle represent La Porte County.

Hazzard maintains a 4.3 cumulative grade-point average and is on track to earn 45 dual credits by the end of her seventh semester at Marquette. A two-sport athlete who competes in volleyball and basketball, Hazzard is also involved in peer ministry, National Honor Society, and the conversation partner program, which brings international and domestic students together. She intends to study business management in college.

Snyder boasts a 4.438 GPA and expects to earn 63 dual credits by the end of December. She is a member of National Honor Society, president of Marquette’s DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) chapter, and captain of the volleyball and track teams. She is also involved in spirit club, girls club, and HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). Snyder plans to pursue a career in medicine through a physician assistant program.

Valdes maintains a 4.334 cumulative GPA and expects to enter her final semester with 48 dual credits. A team captain and accomplished member of the academic super bowl team, Valdes is also in her fourth year of quiz bowl competition. She serves as an officer in girls club and spirit club and has been active in DECA since her sophomore year. After graduating from Marquette, Valdes intends to study nuclear medicine technology.

Wadle maintains a 4.378 GPA and will have earned 51 dual credits by the end of the fall semester. He serves as student body vice president, a team leader in Marquette’s peer ministry, and a committee leader for National Honor Society. A three-sport athlete throughout all four years at Marquette, Wadle has also captained the varsity soccer and baseball teams. A candidate for the Chick Evans Scholarship, he has completed more than 170 loops as a caddie at Long Beach Country Club over the past four summers. He also represented Marquette at American Legion Hoosier Boys State and participated in La Porte County Leadership. Wadle plans to study entrepreneurship or finance in college.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program aims to increase educational attainment in Indiana. The program awards 147 full-tuition scholarships to graduating high school seniors across the state, allowing recipients to attend any accredited, public or private, four-year college or university in Indiana.



Madeleine McCarther ’26 received one of La Porte County’s two Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships last year. Recipients of this year’s scholarships will be notified this winter.