Scholarships
• Philip B. Elfstrom Scholarships, which are administered by the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, are available to graduating high school seniors who live within the city of Batavia or Batavia School District 101. Eligibility is restricted to students who will be furthering their education at a four-year college or university on a full-time basis.
These scholarships are based on academic ability without reference to financial need. Students must have demonstrated a history of community service through prior participation in civic or church activities, within the school setting or in community-based organizations such a Scouting, volunteering for charitable causes.
Batavia High School seniors may obtain a Community Foundation Scholarship Program application from their school's guidance office. Application materials must be returned to Batavia High School's guidance office by Jan. 31.
Eligible students at other educational institutions and home-educated students may receive information and applications for these scholarships by contacting the Community Foundation office by telephone. Deadline for receipt of application materials from these students is also Jan. 31.
For information, call Rhonda Soos at the Community Foundation at (630) 896-7800.
• Applications are available for the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley's 2008 Scholarship Program. The program awards grants to students who will be attending college or a vocational program on a full-time basis.
Scholarships will be offered to high school seniors who will be graduating in the spring of 2008 from any of the high schools within the Community Foundation's service area, which includes the city of Aurora, the Tri-Cities and Kendall County.
Students from the following high schools may obtain scholarship materials from their guidance counselors: Aurora Central Catholic, Aurora Christian, Batavia, East Aurora, Geneva, Kaneland, Marmion, Newark, Oswego, Oswego East, Plainfield South, Plano, Rosary, St. Charles East, St. Charles North, Waubonsie Valley, West Aurora and Yorkville High School.
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy students are eligible for Community Foundation scholarships if their permanent residence is within the foundation's service area. Applications for these students are available at the IMSA Guidance Office.
A limited number of scholarships are available to undergraduate students currently attending college and to students attending graduate school. These students must live within the foundation's service area and attend school full-time. Applications for these scholarships may be obtained by calling the foundation office.
Financial need and academic ability are the basis for most foundation scholarships. However, a few scholarships do not consider financial need.
Deadline for receipt of application materials is Jan. 31.
For information, call Rhonda Soos at the Community Foundation, (630) 896-7800.
• The Hansen-Furnas Foundation, Inc., a non-profit, charitable organization, announces information on 2008/2009 college and university scholarships.
Prospective students living within 12 miles of Batavia city center are eligible to apply.
Criteria for granting scholarship awards are based primarily on financial need and academic scholarship. Character references, the quality of thc applicant's letter of intent, and work experience are also considered to ensure successful selections. The general undergraduate scholarships offer payment toward tuition and fees for students pursuing studies at any accredited college or university. The William Carlyle Furnas scholarship and Leto M. Funas scholarships are granted to one individual each year. All applicants must be United States citizens and students must re-apply for a scholarship each year.
Hansen-Furnas Foundation, Inc. General Undergraduate Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded to individuals planning to enroll, or enrolled, as undergraduate students. These awards offer a maximum of $3,000 per year.
William Carlvle Furnas Undergraduate Scholarship
This full-tuition scholarship is awarded to a student planning to enroll, or enrolled, at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Furnas Electric Co. founder Carl Furnas graduated from Purdue in 1908.
Leto M. Furnas Graduate Scholarship for Women
This scholarship is awarded to a woman planning to enroll, or currently enrolled in, a post-graduate degree. The award is named for Leto M. Furnas, the spouse of Furnas Electric Company founder William Carlyle Furnas. This tuition award is a maximum of $5,000 per grant.
William Carlyle Furnas and Hansen-Furnas Scholarship applications are available in your local area high school guidance counselor's office.
To receive a renewal application for your scholarship awarded by the Hansen-Furnas Foundation, Inc., or the L. M. Fumas Graduate Scholarship for Women application, interested students should contact Sandy Bahe; Ransen-Furnas Foundation, Inc., 28 South Water St., Suite 310, Batavia, IL, 60510, or call (630) 761-1390.
• St. Charles Township has announced the Township Officials of Illinois scholarship program for graduating high school seniors planning to attend an Illinois college or university in the fall of 2008.
The program sponsored by the state association, TOI, is for deserving Illinois students who have demonstrated a willingness to accept leadership responsibilities and serve their respective communities. TOI will award six $2,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who will attend Illinois colleges or universities this fall. Applications as well as eligibility criteria may be obtained at the St. Charles Township offices at 1725 Dean St. or at your high school's guidance office. For information you may contact St. Charles Township Road District's Highway Commissioner, Ron Johnson at (630) 584-3496 or St. Charles Township Supervisor, Jerry Swanson at (630) 584-9342. Deadline for applications is March 1.
The Township Officials of Illinois is a private, not-for-profit organization that represents 99 percent of the state's 1,433 townships. TOI has maintained a scholarship program since 1982.
• Garfield Farm Museum has founded a $2,000 scholarship for graduate studies in museum administration. The Garfield Farm Museum Historic Administration Scholarship Fund has been established within the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley. This annual scholarship is focused on students at the masters level or higher, pursuing degrees in historic administration, public history, museum administration or related fields of study who preferably have demonstrated a strong commitment to the preservation of historic sites through their studies, work experience, volunteer or other community activities.
Potential applicants from the southern half of Kane County and Kendall County enrolled at an accredited college or university are encouraged to inquire of the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley by calling (630) 896-7800 or visit www.CommunityFoundationFRV.org. Outstanding candidates who live in close proximity to the Valley in Will, DuPage or northern Kane County, will also be given due consideration.
The successful candidate will also be given special consideration if she or he later applies for Garfield Farm Museum's Graduate Student Internship Program.
Ron Yenerich, a friend and donor to Garfield Farm Museum approached the museum with the proposal of establishing such a scholarship. The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley (formerly known as the Aurora Foundation) will handle all the administration of the scholarship funds and applications.
The 370-acre Garfield Farm Museum is the only historically intact former 1840s Illinois prairie farmstead and teamster inn being restored by donors and volunteers from 2,800 households in 37 states as an 1840s working farm museum. The farm is owned by the nonprofit Campton Historic Agricultural Lands with Garfield Heritage Society providing the interpretation of the site through tours and programs. Garfield Farm Museum is five miles west of Geneva, off Route 38 on Garfield Road. For information, call (630) 584-8485 or e-mail info@garfieldfarm.org.