Hoffman Estates chamber awards 3 scholarships

The Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce recently awarded area outstanding students with academic scholarships.

Recognizing that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, the Hoffman Estates Chamber members have committed to investing in our future through a series of scholarships offered to graduating high school seniors, current college students or graduate students. This year, thanks to a generous donation from Ambria College of Nursing, the chamber added an additional $1,000 nursing student scholarship.

The chamber was pleased to recognize three students at a reception Tuesday, April 24, hosted by Ambria College of Nursing. Students applying for the scholarships submitted their entries in February and met the following guidelines: they are at least 17 and either an employee or the immediate family member of an employee who is a Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce member. Applicants also submitted current transcripts and an essay, which were evaluated and graded on a point system.

This year’s scholarship award winners are:

Shannon Norris

Winner of a $500 scholarship sponsored by Hoffman Estates Community Bank.

Shannon Norris will graduate from William Fremd High School in June. She applied to the University of Wisconsin, The University of Minnesota and the University of Missouri. Her designated course of study is Biology/Pre-Medicine.

Shannon maintained a 3.73 GPA while balancing a busy schedule that included participating in high school soccer, serving with the Holy Family Catholic Parish Peer Ministry, completing 25 hours of service with the National Honor Society and working with a Spanish foreign exchange student.

She has been on her high school honor roll for the past 3 years.

Mallory O’Donnell

Winner of a $500 scholarship sponsored by Massage Envy.

Mallory O’Donnell is currently attending William Rainey Harper College, pursuing a Liberal Arts degree and carrying a 4.0 GPA. Her extracurricular activities include working with the Mobile Library Project, serving with the Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity and assisting with an environmentally sustainable construction program.

Mallory is putting herself through college by working as a server at Claim Jumpers.

Mercedes Adams-Kloepfer

Winner of a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by St. Alexius Medical Center.

Mercedes Adams-Kloepfer will attend the University of Missouri-Columbia to pursue a degree in nursing. Mercedes earned a 3.79 GPA from McHenry East High School, where she served as the National Honor Society president for the last two years.

Mercedes was also on the student council, Warrior Nation, Operation Click, a junior varsity cheerleader, and captain of the junior varsity tennis team.