WARSAW — This morning, Dec. 8, two Warsaw Community High School seniors were called to the stage in front of the junior and senior classes. They were surprised with a gift from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation that will have a huge impact on their futures.

Hunter Haines and Allison Miller are the two Kosciusko County students named 2017 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. They will each receive four-year, full-tuition scholarships to the Indiana colleges of their choice.

The students’ parents were invited to the school but were not given any clues as to why. The foundation wanted the reveal to be a complete surprise.

Hunter Haines, son of Tyler Haines and Maxine Spangle, was ranked in the top 4 percent of his class at the time of his application. He is active in student council, Kosciusko County Leadership Academy, Business Professionals of America, National Honor Society, track and field, select choral, Tiger Student Athletic Board and the Indiana Association of Student Councils. Haines founded Designate and Dine, performed at Wagon Wheel Theatre and is a 10-year 4-H member. Haines currently works as a corporate accounting intern with Zimmer Biomet.

“I’m completely surprised,” said Haines. “There are so many people in our class who are amazing students.”

Haines plans to attend the University of Notre Dame to study business.

Allison Miller, daughter of Matthew and Jennifer Miller, was ranked No. 1 in her graduating class at the time of her application. She is active in cross country, track and field, Octagon Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honors Society, the swim team, Academic Superbowl and Mathletes. She is also a 10-year 4-H member, a member of First Baptist church of Warsaw, where she volunteers in the nursery and has served as a swim instructor for the YMCA. Miller works as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Miller’s Merry Manor.

“I’m completely humbled and blessed and completely surprised,” said Miller. “This has been a dream of mine since I was little.”

Miller plans to attend Butler University to study health sciences and hopes to become a physician’s assistant.

“It’s the best Christmas present ever,” said Tyler Haines, Hunter’s father.