Dist. 46 accepting scholarship applications
Submitted by Elgin Area School District U-46
Elgin Area School District U-46 is taking applications for its second annual Superintendent Scholarship program, which was established to support students who are the first in their immediate family to attend college. Last May, 21 high school seniors were awarded with $1,000 scholarships.
This year, Superintendent Jose M. Torres committed to a personal contribution of up to $10,000. Torres will match all new contributions until he gives $10,000, thus doubling the impact of an individual’s donation. For example, if an individual gives $25, the superintendent will match the $25 donation.
He plans to donate a total of up to $50,000 during his tenure to help grow the program, in addition to generous donations made by community members and friends of District U-46.
“There is no greater joy than making a difference in the life of a young person,” Torres said. “These scholarships support the average student, who like me, is a first generation college-going student who might earn B’s or C’s. Many of the students who received scholarships last year made significant positive changes during their high school careers and are on a road to success, but need a little extra support.”
Recipients of last year’s scholarships — in addition to being the first in their families to attend college — may have had the following experiences: participant in the Ten Boys Initiative; AVID participant; teenage parent; former dropout who graduated from a U-46 school with a high school diploma (not GED); completed entire education in U-46 (K-12); member of Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council; member of Future Teachers Club; and intend to pursue studies in the following area(s): science; technology; mathematics; education field.
High school seniors can visit www.u-46.org/cnt/docs/SuptScholarshipApplication2013.pdf to find applications for the Superintendent Scholarship program, which must be submitted to high school guidance offices by Thursday, March 7. Students who plan to attend a two-year technical college are also eligible to apply for the Superintendent’s Scholarship. Scholarship recipients are notified in April and attend an award ceremony later that month.
“It is my hope that this program will continue to grow for years to come so that our district can celebrate the tremendous accomplishment of students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education,” Torres said. “U-46 is committed to preparing students for college and putting them on a path to a brighter future and this scholarship is just another way to support these goals.”
Thus far, Dr. Dean Lodding and Patricia Whitten have contributed to the Superintendent’s Scholarship during the 2012-2013 school year.