IJAS Scholarships

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Applications

Students may apply for more than one scholarship for which they are eligible.
However, selected students will be granted only one.

Funding

Annual budget and special grants or donations

Amount

To be determined by the Board of Directors and/or the selection committee

Selection Committee

President, President-Elect, and Past President of the Illinois Junior Academy of Science

Most Senior Board Member-at-Large of the Illinois Junior Academy of Science

Student Advisor of the Illinois Junior Academy of Science

Purpose

To allow the Illinois Junior Academy of Science an opportunity to recognize outstanding scholarship,
leadership, and character as well as interest and ability for research in high school students

Criteria and Eligibility

• Senior in high school

• Notice of acceptance to a 2 or 4 year college or similar program (e.g. nursing school)

• Honor Roll ("B" average or better) for at least two of the last three semesters in high school

• Silver Awards or better in projects at the State Exposition in grades 9, 10, 11

Application

 In the subject line of the respondent’s email, please list the student's name, scholarship, and student’s school.

Deadline for submission of all the following materials is May 1, 2025 to: Jann Hawkins, IJAS Student Board Advisor jann.hawkins@ijas.org .

• Two letters of recommendation, one from a science or mathematics teacher and one from a regional officer, state student advisor, or an adult mentor of the student's choice (excluding parents). Letters must comment on scholarship, leadership, character, and on interest and ability for scientific research. Please attach these digital letters in the form of a Google or Word document in an email sent to the email above: jann.hawkins@ijas.org. Note - subject of the email as InitialOfScholarshipName_StudentFirstName_StudentLastName_TypeOfRecommender (ex.SWS_Jane_Doe_ScienceTeacher, ex2.SWS_Jane_Doe_AdultMentor).
  
  

• Transcript of high school record, including current courses as well as grades and classes through the seventh semester. Please send this from a counselor to jann.hawkins@ijas.org via email. Note - subject of the email as InitialOfScholarshipName_StudentFirstName_StudentLastName_Transcript (ex.SWS_Jane_Doe_Transcript).

• A listing of project titles and years in the Illinois Junior Academy of Science regional fairs and State Expositions. Please list this information in the personal letter of application email explained below.
  
  

• A personal letter of application. This letter may include such items as: how the scholarship will be used, interest and commitment to science, plans for higher education, and a personal resume to include accomplishments, hobbies, family or personal travel, interests, and so forth (not to exceed two pages). Please attach this personal letter of application in the form of a Google or Word document in an email sent to the email above: jann.hawkins@ijas.org   Note - subject of the email as InitialOfScholarshipName_StudentFirstName_StudentLastName_PersonalLetterOfApplication (ex.SWS_Jane_Doe_PersonalLetterOfApplication).

Selection Basis

• Merit based on the following criteria and requirements

Criteria and Eligibility

• Any student who has served responsibly as a State Student Officer for at least two years, with at least one of those years being at the eleventh or twelfth grade

• Awards at the state level as a high school student must be at least gold or silver in grades 9, 10, & 11

• Composite Enhanced ACT score of 24, or comparable SAT score

• GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point system at the midyear of their graduating year

• Confirmed acceptance at a college, university, or technical institution

• All things being equal, not a recipient of a Schroeder Wetzel Scholarship

Application

In the subject line of the respondent’s email, please list the student’s name, scholarship, and school.

Deadline for submission of the following materials is May 1, 2025 to: Jann Hawkins, IJAS Student Board Advisor jann.hawkins@ijas.org    

• Transcript

• ACT or SAT scores 

• Copy of acceptance letter

• Copies of award certificates (or complete project information-year, title, region number, school, and so forth)

• Two letters of recommendation from current science, mathematics, or English teachers

• Recipients must provide verification of college enrollment in order to receive the award.

Background

Susan Moy was an IJAS Board Member for many years serving as the Advisor to the Student Board and as the Zoology Category Chair.  She graduated from Mundelein College in 1982 with degrees in biology and chemistry.  Susan began her career as an animal keeper at the Lincoln Park Zoo in 1982 and being an animal keeper was her life’s work until her death in 2019.

Criteria and Eligibility

• Senior in high school

• Served responsibly as a State Student Officer for at least two years

• Notice of acceptance to a 2 or 4 year college or similar program (e.g., nursing school)

• Honor Roll (“B” average or better) for at least two of the last three semesters in high school

Application

In the subject line of the respondent’s email, please list the student's name, scholarship, and student’s school.

Deadline date for postmark of the following materials is May 1, 2025 to: Jann Hawkins, IJAS Student Board Advisor jann.hawkins@ijas.org   

• Transcript

• ACT or SAT scores 

• Copy of acceptance letter

• Copies of award certificates (or complete project information-year, title, region number, school, and so forth)

• Two letters of recommendation from current science, mathematics, or English teachers

• Recipients must provide verification of college enrollment in order to receive the award.