Batavia Chamber announces four ‘Inspire’ scholarship winners

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce recently announced the winners of their Inspire Scholarships for 2025.

The scholarship categories are motivated by the makeup of the chamber membership. All winners are members of the 2025 graduating class of Batavia Unit District 101. The $1,000 financial award will be paid directly to the institute the recipient will be attending.

According to Margaret Perreault, chamber president and CEO, the program received the most applicants since its inception in 2020. The scholarship committee was impressed by not only the number but also the quality of the applicants for this year’s scholarship program.

“We are happy to support our community and our membership with this program,” Perreault said. “Because we are looking for future inspiring leaders, the scholarship application explored this sentiment. The answers we received were inspirational, making it difficult to choose only one awardee in each category.

“Also, when our businesses share the scholarship program with their employees, it is another opportunity for them to show that they are committed to their employees and their families,” she added. “Therefore, we always encourage our members to share this opportunity.”

The awardees, their intended college, scholarship category and some information about each recipient follows.

• Inspiring Entrepreneurship — Lukas Giesen: To encourage a student interested in starting a business to locate in Batavia someday. Lukas, who will attend Eastern Illinois University, dipped his toe into the entrepreneurial waters by founding his own business, GTS Solutions, where he provides power washing services. He says that it taught him many relevant skills, including customer relations, budgeting and marketing. As he pursues a career as a physical education teacher, Lukas plans to not only continue GTS Solutions, but also to expand it to a year-round business.

• Inspiring Women in Business — Sophia Hayden: To encourage more females to pursue a business major. Sophia will attend McGill University where she hopes to pursue business-related coursework in political science and international relations with a further goal of becoming a lawyer. Her interest in international relations led her to establish Batavia High School’s Model United Nations team/club.

• Inspiring Contributors to a Batavia Chamber Business — Amanda Melvin: For a student working for a Batavia Chamber business during high school. Amanda plans to attend Illinois State University for her undergraduate degree with a longer-term study goal of becoming a physician assistant. Since November 2023, Amanda has worked at Chick-fil-A, a job that she says has taught her the importance of communication and working as a team. She explains that training for and working in a job that stresses good customer service will assist her in the health field where patient relationships and bedside manners are of huge importance.

• Inspiring Career & Technical Achievers — Emelin McHugh: For a high school student interested in a trade or career in manufacturing. Emelin plans to attend University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to pursue a career in architecture. She says that she has always enjoyed putting things together, and if there is an option to do so, creatively constructing is her preference. A summer camp at Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning, along with engineering coursework at Batavia High School cemented her decision to pursue architecture. Her long term goal is to work on projects as an architect that have a positive impact on communities.

The four recipients will be acknowledged and presented with their checks at Senior Recognition Night at Batavia High School on Tuesday, May 13.

“We sincerely wish our scholarship winners, along with all the top-notch applicants, much success as they continue their educational journey,” Perreault said. “Congratulations to all!”

About Batavia Chamber of Commerce:

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