More than $45,000 in scholarships available through Starved Rock Country Community Foundation

Through the generosity of several donors, more than $45,000 in scholarships will be available in 2025 from the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, including two new awards.

The SRCCF scholarship application period is underway through 5 p.m. Friday, March 7. Visit www.srccf.org for the application and information. Awards ranging in value from $10,000 to $500 include the:

• Rising Star Scholarship, a $5,000 award established by retired teacher Ethel McConnell of Ottawa for a student pursuing an elementary education degree at Illinois State University.
• Carol and Dick Janko Scholarship for Promising Entrepreneurs is awarded to students who intend to create their own business upon college graduation. The Janko awarded $8,000 to four students in 2024.
• Internet of Things (IoT) Scholarship for Science, Engineering and Technology presented by Advantech offers a pair of $2,500 scholarships to a male and female student.
• Mac-Aero Scholarship for Aeronautics and Aviation is a $10,000 award established by Ethel McConnell to honor her late husband Ed who had a passion for aviation.
• Tangled Roots Brewing Company Pie It Forward Scholarship offers $1,000 for students pursuing a career in hospitality and/or culinary arts.
• Charles H. Beckett Scholarship for Culinary Arts, a $2,500 award established by Chuck Beckett of Ottawa to support a student in the Culinary Arts Management program at Joliet Junior College.
• Women Inspired Network Young Leaders Scholarship, two $3,000 awards for female students who have demonstrated significant leadership skills and accomplishments throughout their high school or college career.
• Stephen Charles Vogler Scholarship for Electronics and Communications, a $1,220 award established by Starved Rock Media President John Spencer for students pursuing an electronics or communications degree at Illinois Valley Community College.
• Robert J. and Ellen G. Moore Memorial Scholarship for Fieldcrest High School and Wenona students. The amount will be based on financial need and more than one Moore scholarship may be awarded.
• Molly Lenora Yacko Memorial Scholarship, a $1,000 award funded by proceeds from the Run Today for Tomorrow 5K in Ottawa. It rewards a college junior or senior who is pursuing a mental health-related degree and plans to return after college to work in Starved Rock Country.
• Streator Leading Ladies Maxine Wargo Working Women’s Scholarship, a $500 award for women returning to school after a year or more absence. It honors Maxine Wargo, a businesswoman and role model for women in Streator.

New Starved Rock Country Community Foundation scholarships include:

• Dolores “Dee” Heflebower Memorial Nursing Scholarship, a $3,000 scholarship for students pursuing an RN degree at IVCC. And the,
• Robert Cotner Memorial Scholarship for students studying English literature or fine arts. The $1,500 scholarship will award students studying literature, painting, sculpture, photography, music, dance or theatre.

The application covers the student’s academic history, honors, leadership, community service, employment and extracurricular activities. It also requires a separate essay for each scholarship and two letters of recommendation from educators.

For information, contact SRCCF Director of Operations Janice Corrigan at 815-252-2906, ext. 2 or janice@srccf.org.