BEDFORD – Jayella Filler has been named a recipient of the highly competitive Lilly Scholars at Purdue scholarship, an award that will cover her full tuition at Purdue University and provide a paid summer internship with Eli Lilly and Co., along with a guarantee of post-graduation employment with the company if she chooses to accept it.
Filler completed high school in just 3½ years while simultaneously earning an associate’s degree from Vincennes University, a path that required careful planning and sustained academic effort. Beginning in her sophomore year, she worked closely with school counselors to design a schedule that allowed her to complete 60 college credit hours, including upper-level coursework and online classes.
Although the workload initially felt daunting, Filler said support from teachers and a balanced schedule helped her succeed. Completing her associate’s degree stands as her proudest academic achievement, along with passing calculus during her junior year, a class that required extensive tutoring, study time, and persistence.
Outside the classroom, Filler remained deeply involved in school activities. A lifelong soccer player, she competed on the Bedford North Lawrence girls’ varsity soccer team for all four years of high school and served as team captain for three seasons. Soccer provided an important balance to her academic workload. During her senior year, she earned the Hoosier Hills All-Conference Award.
Filler was also a member of the Lab Club at BNL, where weekly experiments helped shape her interest in science and pharmaceuticals. “I could see myself working in pharmaceuticals in a lab from the experience I had in this club,” she said.
In addition, she served on the student council for three years, helping organize school events such as Starnival, an experience she said was demanding but rewarding.
This fall, Filler will attend Purdue University in West Lafayette, where she plans to major in biology. Through the Lilly Scholars program, she will complete an internship with Lilly Pharmaceuticals during her sophomore year, providing hands-on experience in the field. She is also exploring healthcare career options, including the physician assistant profession.
Receiving the scholarship has had a significant impact on her future plans. Filler said the award removed financial barriers that once led her to consider less expensive college options and allowed her to confidently pursue her goal of attending Purdue. “Without the stress of paying tuition, I have been more confident about reaching my goals,” she said.
She learned of the scholarship while checking her Purdue admissions portal and said the news came as a complete surprise. “I was in total shock,” Filler said. “I was caught completely off guard.”
Throughout her academic journey, Filler credits her family, particularly her mother, for helping her maintain balance and avoid burnout. She also values the support of friends who helped make demanding school years manageable.
Reflecting on her academic journey, Filler encouraged other students to pursue their passions and take opportunities even when success feels uncertain. “Find what makes you tick and go after it,” she said. “And finally, make sure you apply for all the scholarships you think you have no chance of getting.”
On January 22, Jayella was featured on an episode of WBIW’s Talk of the Town to discuss her big win and what comes next. Catch the whole show here.
