• Acorn Equality Fund - due 9/22/23

  • Awards range from $1,000 to $4,000

  • Must be a resident of the Acorn Equality Fund service area (includes Scott County)

  • Scholarships are awarded in six categories

    1. Acorn - academics, volunteerism, community advocacy

    2. Central Illinois Friends - academics, commitment to public health

    3. Korty & Morton - volunteerism, community advocacy, financial need

    4. Luke - academics, financial need

    5. McKeon - academics, volunteerism, political advocacy

    6. Weber-Tucker - academic and social (or family) hardship

  • Applications are available in PDF, fillable PDF, and Word formats.

• Golden Apple Scholars - due 4/1/24 (priority deadline 12/1/23)

  • Up to $23,000 in total financial assistance

  • Academic and social-emotional support

  • Job placement assistance & mentoring

  • Must be a senior attending an Illinois high school, planning to enroll in an Illinois university or community college

  • Must be planning to become a teacher and agree to teach for five years in an Illinois school-of-need within 7 years of graduating college

  • More information on the program and the application can be found at www.goldenapple.org

• TBS Scholarship - due 1/16/24

  • Must have (or have hade during high school) an IEP

  • Must be graduating in December 2023 or May 2024

  • Must have applied to an educational institution for the 24-25 school year (includes trade school)

  • Must submit an essay (500 words max) OR video or audio presentation (5 minutes max) that includes:

    1. How your disability affected your school experience (academically, extra-curricular, social, leadership)?

    2. How has your disability affected your involvement in the community (work, volunteering, community service, leadership)

    3. What accommodations or supports did you use in school and how did these help you succeed?

    4. What are your postsecondary goals and how will higher education benefit you?

  • 5 $2,000 awards will be given

  • Click here for an application packet

• IL State Historical Society's Verna Ross Ordndorff Scholarship - due 1/15/24

  • $1,000 award

  • Must be an Illinois high school student

  • Must write a 1,500 word essay on the subject of Abraham Lincoln or the Civil War era in Illinois.

  • Essay should be 1,500 words with a title page, outline, annotated bibliography, and suggestions for further reading

  • Click here for more information and application form.

• Mensa Scholarships - due 1/15/24

  • Awards of $600-2,500

  • Must enroll in an accredited US institution of postsecondary education for Fall/Spring 2024-2025

  • Complete an online essay of 550 words or less describing your academic or career goals

  • 197 scholarships were awarded last year (over $209,000)

  • We are guaranteed to have one $600 winner from the Sangamon Valley area.

  • Go to www.mensafoundation.org to apply.

• Hagan Foundation Scholarship - due 12/1/23  Extended to 3/1/24 (this means they need applicants!)

  • Awards up to $7,500 per semester, renewable for up to 8 total consecutive semesters (excluding summer)

  • First year recipients receive $1,000 to purchase essential items, such as computer, clothing, etc.

  • Second year recipients will be provided with an HSF Schwab Brokerage Account to manage until graduation  ($10,000 the second year, $15,000 the third year, and $20,000 the fourth year).

  • Third year recipients achieving a 3.50 CGPA are eligible for an all-expense paid study and travel abroad experience worth up to $8,000

  • Recipients must work 240 hours from 1/1/2024 until the end of the 2024 fall semester in college

  • ELIGIBILITY: must have a 3.5 GPA, enroll at an eligible four-year college or university (full list of 400+ available on website), maintain a four-year or less graduation schedule (more information on website)

  • More information and application as www.hsfmo.org.

• Thomas H. Moore Illinois Electric Cooperative Memorial Scholarship Program - due 12/31/23

  • 16 scholarships of $2,000 each available to high school seniors

  • 10 of the scholarships are awarded to high school students whose parent(s) are an electric cooperative member residing in Illinois and receiving service from the cooperative

  • 1 scholarship will be awarded to a student who is the child of an electric cooperative employee or director

  • Must be a high school senior planning to enroll in a full-time (at least 12 hours) undergraduate course of study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational/technical school

  • 5 scholarships will be awarded to a high school senior who is enrolling full-time at a two-year Illinois community college.

  • Awards are based on GPA, SAT/ACT scores, work and volunteer experience, participation in extracurricular activities, biographical statement, and knowledge of electric cooperatives as demonstrated by a short essay

  • Go to https://aiec.coop/iec-scholarship/ for more information and to apply.

• CBAI Foundation For Community Banking Annual Scholarship - due 2/16/24

  • Must be a high school senior graduating in the spring and entering an institution of higher education in the fall

  • Must be a US citizen and Illinois resident

  • Immediate family members of community bankers and part-time employees are not eligible

  • 24 scholarships awarded

    1. 1 - $1,000 per year for four years

    2. 11 - $1,000

    3. 12 - $500

  • Must write a one-page essay on the topic "What is a community bank and how does it affect the economy?"

  • Click here to download more information and application form.

  • Essays are due at CNB Bank & Trust, N.A. branch in Chapin and can be mailed to the following address:

    2. • Diana Hubbert, 510 Superior, Chapin, IL 62628

• Farm Credit Illinois Agriculture Scholarship - due 2/29/24

  • 30 awards of $2,500 each ($1,250 per semester)

  • Must reside in one of 60 central and southern Illinois counties (yes, that's Scott county!)

  • Selection criteria includes participation and leadership contributions within school and community organizations, a passion for farming and/or agriculture, and a committment to pursing an agriculture-related career.

  • Must create a 30-45 second video capturing passion for agriculture as part of the application.

  • LLCC agriculture program provide a $1,250 scholarship match to Farm Credit Illinois Ag scholars enrolling fulltime in agriculture in the Fall 2024 semester.

  • Application and more information can be found at www.farmcreditIL.com

    1. Click on the homepage story link

• Prairieland FS Scholarship Program - due 3/22/24

  • 5 awards of $1,000 each

  • Must be a full-time student pursuing a career in agriculture

  • Be active in local ag groups or vocational classes, including FFA and/or 4-H

  • Be a high school senior with at least a 3.0 GPA

  • Click here for the fillable application form.

• Illinois Masonic Rite Scholarships - due 4/1/2024

  • Health Career scholarship

    1. Open to the public

    2. Must intend to enter healthcare field, be a resident of Illinois, maintain a 3.0 GPA

  • Kresin Scholarship

    1. Resident of Illinois, minimum 3.0 GPA

  • Masonic Relationship scholarships

    1. Several different scholarships requiring a relationship (grandparent, parent, uncle, etc.) who is a member of the Illinois Masonic Lodge.

    2. Most require 3.0 GPA, one requires a 2.75 minimum GPA.

  • Click here for all Masonic scholarship applications

• FOR JUNIORS (and some seniors)- Horatio Alger Scholarship - due 3/15/2024

  • 600+ scholarships awarded from $10,000 to $25,000 each

  • Must be a high school junior, have demonstrated critical financial need (less than $65,000 adjusted gross family income), and be a US citizen

  • Apply at horatioalger.org/scholarships

• ISCA Student Scholarship - due 2/16/24

  • 9 awards of $1,000 each

  • Open to students graduating in 2024

  • Must be enrolling in a 4-Year College/University, 2-Year College/University, Trade School, or Apprenticeship/Vocational  Program

  • Two essay questions:

    1. Describe your post-secondary educational and career goals in detail, and explain how receiving this scholarship will alleviate financial burdens and support your educational aspirations. Please provide specific examples.

    2. Discuss the mentorship and support you've experienced from your school counselor throughout high school, going beyond schedule adjustments. Describe the ways in which this support has equipped you to take advantage of the opportunities that you will encounter in college/post-high school.

  • Click here for the application.

• Illinois Sheriffs' Association Scholarship - due 3/15/24

  • Must be an Illinois resident

  • Must be used at an Illinois postsecondary institution

  • Must be enrolled full time as a college student during the 24-25 school year

  • Completed applications should be submitted to the Scott County Sheriff's office.

  • Click here for fillable PDF application.

• Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) Female Leadership Scholarship - due 3/30/24

  • Four $2,000 scholarships awarded

  • Must exemplify SDCCW's mission and values of leadership, faith and service

  • Must submit a typed completed application, essay, and two letters of recommendation to the address below

Shirley Dallmier

PO Box 414

Arcola, Illinois 61910

• Click here for application.

• Two Rivers Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarships - due 3/27/24

  • Five $1,000 scholarships to students in Pike and Scott Counties (two guaranteed to go to Scott County!)

  • Must be a senior pursuing an education at a tech school, trade school, college, etc. in an AGRICULTURE-related major

  • Must be a member (or child of a member) of the Pike-Scott Farm Bureau

  • Minimum 3.00 GPA, short essay, and two letters of recommendation

  • Click here for more details and the application form.

• Prairieland FS Scholarships - due 3/22/24

  • 5 $1000 scholarships

  • Must be pursuing a career in agriculture

  • Must be active in local ag groups or vocational classes (including FFA or 4-H)

  • Click here for more information and application.

• Doodle for Google - due 3/14/24

  • Open to students in Kindergarten through Grade 12

  • Theme: My wish for the next 25 years

  • Create a Google Doodle (draw, paint, sculpt, build, film, etc.) and submit it (or an image of it) along with the entry form.

  • Top prize is a $55,000 college scholarship + $50,000 supplies for your school

  • Five additional finalists will receive $5,000

  • Learn more and download an entry form at www.doodle4google.com.

• The J.L. Wade Foundation Scholarship - due 4/15/24

  • Specifically for students in Pike, Calhoun, Scott, Greene, and Adams counties

  • Preference to students pursuing degrees that promote the study of nature and the preservation of the environments (e.g. ag science, atmospheric science, environmental engineering, environmental health, conservation, etc.)

  • Award of $5,000 renewable up to three consecutive  years

  • Selection criteria include grades and test scores, recommendation of principal/teacher/counselor, extracurricular activities, and character and motivation

  • Click here to download the PDF information and application.

• MCS Community Services Scholarship - due 5/28/24

  • Award up to $2,000

  • Must be planning to enroll (for the first time) in an Illinois college or trade school

  • Must be a resident of Morgan, Cass, or Scott counties

  • Must be economically disadvantaged (income guidelines listed in packet)

  • Application packet must contain

    • Completed application

    • Official high school transcript

    • Typed, 300 word essay signed by applicant setting forth their vocational or professional goals and relating how past, present, and future activities will make this goal probable

    • Two letters of reference

    • Copies of social security cards for all household members

    • Proof of last 90 day income for all household members

  • Click here to download application packet.

• Harry G. Story Trust Scholarship  - due 3/1/24 3:00 pm CST

  • Awards ranging from $3,000-8,000 and renewable for up to 3 years

  • Must be a Caucasian male residing in Morgan or Scott County for at least 10 years prior to the application

  • Must be a high school senior planning to enroll in fulltime undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA

  • Must be pursuing a BS in Agriculture or a BS or BA in Pre-Law

  • Click here for more information and the online application.

• Illinois Municipal Utilities Association Scholarship - due 3/8/24

  • High School seniors whose parents/guardians or residential customers of an IMUA member utility

  • Four $1,000 awards

  • Must write a 500 word essay on one of the following five topics: benefits of public power, nuclear fusion and small modular reactors, electric grid security/cybersecurity, water, other industry challenges.

  • Click here for fillable PDF application.

• Will Cook Memorial Scholarship - due 3/1/24

  • $1,000 award

  • Must be planning to pursue an agricultural area of study

  • Go to www.ilfarmagents.com/apply