IWU scholarship for McLean County high school grads increases to $30,000

IWU
Seniors from 13 McLean County high schools are eligible for the scholarship. (WJBC File Photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – High school students from McLean County who are admitted to Illinois Wesleyan University are now guaranteed a total scholarship package of at least $30,000 a year.

The McLean County Scholarship was created by IWU last year to entice local students to stay close to home.

The Illinois Wesleyan Associates, a group of business and community leaders, have raised more than $1.1 million over the past two years, enabling the annual award to increase by $3,000, according to a news release Tuesday. The scholarship will go from $27,000 to $30,000, or $120,000 over four years.

“It is fitting that our community leaders of today are helping make it possible for the leaders of tomorrow to attend and flourish at Illinois Wesleyan,” said IWU President Georgia Nugent.

This year, 42 incoming McLean County students enrolled at the university, a 56% increase from 27 local students in 2017.

Seniors from 13 McLean County high schools are eligible for the scholarship; Bloomington, Central Catholic, Normal Community, Normal West, University High School, Olympia, Ridgeview, Tri-Valley, LeRoy, Lexington, Heyworth, Calvary Christian, and Cornerstone Christian Academy.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…