New Trier Township Board creates new scholarship for Oakton College Students
Oakton Community College students will get a boost toward reaching their educational goals thanks to a recently approved $20,000 gift from the New Trier Township Board of Trustees to the Oakton Educational Foundation.
The funds will be available for award in the 2022-2023 academic year to students who live in New Trier Township, have a 2.75 GPA or higher, and need financial resources to attend college. Currently, New Trier Township students comprise about 10.9 percent of Oakton's student body.
"Oakton is tremendously grateful to Supervisor Eisenberg and her colleagues at the New Trier Township Board of Trustees for approving a gift that will change the lives of residents in their community by removing financial barriers, and enabling students to reach their educational goals at Oakton," said Katherine Sawyer, Oakton's chief advancement officer and Educational Foundation executive director.
"The community college system was developed in this country in recognition of the importance higher education can have on economic mobility and the barriers to entry to traditional four-year institutions. Research has demonstrated that community colleges provide a significant earnings increase to those who would otherwise not have attended college, said New Trier Township Supervisor Gail Eisenberg. "The Board hopes to offer a transformative experience by launching this scholarship and anticipates renewing it again next year."
To complete a scholarship application, students must have already applied to Oakton Community College and been accepted for admission. Registration for the summer 2022 term is now open, and fall 2022 registration opens for new students April 7. Visit www.oakton.edu/register to get started.
At Oakton, current-use scholarships can be created through a one-time contribution, or with a multi-year pledge to support the scholarship with an annual gift. Scholarship sponsors determine the name of the award, along with awarding criteria. During the fall semester, the Oakton Educational Foundation hosts an annual Donor Recognition Banquet where donors and scholarship recipients have an opportunity to meet.
New Trier Township's mission is to provide leadership, advocacy, and resources to benefit the physical, mental, and social well-being of Township residents. Established in 1850, New Trier Township government serves more than 60,000 residents in the villages of Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette and Winnetka, plus portions of Glenview and Northfield east of Harms Road and Northfield Road. The Township office is located at 739 Elm Street in Winnetka and online at www.newtriertownship.com.