Nancy Fike Scholarship focuses on the importance of fair and transparent elections

This year's Nancy Fike Scholarship checks the box on an important topic: Voting.

Named in honor of the Society's former administrator, the McHenry County Historical Society & Museum awards a $1,000 scholarship annually.

Applications are available online at mchenrycountyhistory.org/nancy-fike-scholarship-2023. The deadline for submission is April 10.

The scholarship is open to graduating seniors and (new) first-year college students who have graduated from a McHenry County high school and who are, or plan on, studying history, education or the social sciences.

Children and grandchildren of McHenry County Historical Society board members and staff are not eligible. The financial award will be given on behalf of the student to his or her chosen college or university.

Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average; show proof of community service; and write a minimum 500-word essay relevant to McHenry County.

The applicant also must be accepted to or attending a college or university by May 5, and notify the McHenry County Historical Society where he or she will attend.

The McHenry County Historical Society will pay the scholarship funds directly to the school on behalf of the scholarship winner after the successful completion of one semester. The scholarship award must be used for the upcoming school term.

This year's topic is: "As we approach the 250th anniversary of our independence in 2026, the hallmark of our representative democracy - free and fair elections - has come under recent scrutiny and question. Share your thoughts about the importance of fair and transparent elections at every level, and the repercussions should the process be undermined. In other words, what is the importance of free and fair elections to a representative democracy? What should be done to ensure the right to vote? For example, should the Voting Rights Act of 1965 be renewed?"

Essays will be judged on content, grammar, historical accuracy, originality, and their bibliography (students are expected to cite their sources). In some cases, interviewing a person(s) about the topic is advised. Smartphones are no substitute for smart people.

For additional information, call the historical society at (815) 923-2267, email info@mchenrycountyhistory.org or visit www.gothistory.org.