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The Lilly Medal
The Lilly Medal, a beautifully designed piece of original art, is awarded to the winner of the Indianapolis Prize, which also includes a $100,000 unrestricted award to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the conservation of an animal species. This cast bronze commemorative medal reflects the commitment of the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, which provided initial funding for the Indianapolis Prize program. In its design, the Lilly Medal reflects the relationship between man and the natural world and will provide a fitting remembrance to each of the Indianapolis Prize recipients for years to come.
The Lilly Medal was designed by Rik Tommasone, then a senior student at the Herron School of Art and Design, Indiana University. The Indianapolis Prize Organizing Committee instituted a design competition for the medal that was open to faculty, alumni and senior students at the prestigious Indianapolis art and design school. Rik’s design was chosen from the submissions by a panel of experts that included: Valerie Eickmeier, Dean of Herron; architect Jonathan Hess; arts patron Doug Tillman; Tom Peck from the Lilly Foundation; and, Indianapolis Prize chair Myrta Pulliam.
 Tommasone explained his concept for the Lilly Medal design with these words: “The medal design concept is classical, with imagery that will never grow out of style. The design features a shepherd, who is associated with watching over his flock, a concept similar to a conservationist watching over a species. He is surrounded by nature, with plants growing upward to represent positive outcomes. The sun in the background is rising to represent the light that guides the individual to unselfishly help the cause of animal conservation. The round shape of the medal speaks to the circle of life. The organic shape of the plant is intertwined with the circle shape to represent the balance of life for all creatures.”
Using Rik’s finished artwork, a medallic art sculptor modeled in clay a large format bas relief master model that was used to make the dies that minted the Lilly Medal out of solid bronze using more than 1,200 tons of pressure. Each medal was then meticulously hand finished with a chocolate brown patina. The completed three-inch diameter medal features Tommasone’s artwork on the front and a quote from naturalist John Muir on the reverse side: "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."
According to Prize chair Myrta Pulliam, “The look, the feel and the sheer weight of the Lilly Medal reflects the importance of the Indianapolis Prize as well as its place among major awards. We are very pleased with the final design and the artistry of people involved, from Rik Tommasone’s original concept through the casting and the application of the patina.”
The Lilly Medal is accompanied by a special display case handcrafted in limestone by well known Hoosier sculptor Dale Enochs. The case, a work of art in its own right, has a specially designed hinge that converts the top into a holder in which the round medal may be displayed vertically.
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