Batavia Chamber of Commerce opens 2022 Inspire Scholarship program

The 2022 Inspire Scholarships is now open for applications. The scholarship program, sponsored by the Batavia Chamber of Commerce, will be given to Batavia Unit District 101 high school seniors, with up to four awards given.

The four scholarships, worth $750 each, are motivated by the makeup of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce membership.

Because the chamber's signature awards event is called "Inspire: A Celebration of Those Who Inspire Us!," the name for each of the categories invokes this sentiment.

The scholarships are:

• Inspiring Entrepreneurship

• Inspiring Women in Business

• Inspiring Career & Technical Achievers

• Inspiring Contributors to a Batavia Chamber Business

According to Margaret Perreault, president and CEO of Batavia Chamber of Commerce, the thinking behind the scholarship program is twofold.

"As a community-minded organization, we were searching for another avenue to support our community," Perreault said. "Also, in discussions with our member businesses we repeatedly heard how difficult it is to hire well-trained and/or educated employees.

"It only makes sense that we help inspire students to further their education so they will be ready to fulfill those jobs that our members struggle to fill," she continued.

Each scholarship has a topic-specific application.

For instance, the Inspiring Entrepreneurship scholarship is to reward a student who has interest starting a business to encourage consideration to locate in Batavia.

One of the questions for this award is to "Cite one successful entrepreneur that you are aware of in Batavia and what you can learn from them."

Applications for any of these scholarships are currently being accepted through Thursday, March 31.

The financial award shall be paid directly to the institute the recipient will be attending.

The application must be fully completed and submitted to the Batavia Chamber by 4 p.m. Thursday, March 31. Visit www.bataviachamber.org.

Each scholarship recipient will be notified by email no later than Friday, April 15.

For more information about the scholarships, call Margaret Perreault, president and CEO, at (630) 879-7134 or email info@bataviachamber.org.

A local business-centered organization, the Batavia Chamber of Commerce sponsors or is involved with several annual Batavia events including the Mayor's Breakfast, Citizen of the Year/Ole Awards Event, and much more. Membership and information about upcoming chamber and community events are available online at bataviachamber.org, by calling (630) 879-7134, or by texting 478-CHAMBER.