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Superintendent’s Scholarship Celebrates First-Generation College Students
Feb. 12, 2020
As the members of the Class of 2020 begin to finalize their post-graduation plans, those who will be first-generation college students are being encouraged to apply for School District U-46’s Superintendent’s Scholarship by the Feb. 29 deadline.
The program was created nearly a decade ago in order to celebrate and support U-46 graduates who will attend college without coming from a family with a college-going tradition. Due to generous donations from individuals and organizations, U-46 has awarded the $1,000 scholarship to more than 220 students in total.
“These students are committed to pursuing post-secondary education, and they deserve our support,” said U-46 CEO Tony Sanders. “The Superintendent’s Scholarship program has grown each year, and we aim to not only help these students with financial resources but also to show them that we believe in their bright futures.”
Bartlett High School graduate Steven Phan said being named a Superintendent’s Scholarship recipient in 2018 let his parents know “their sacrifices for me were not in vain.” He is now majoring in computer engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“Every person has their own story about overcoming adversity, but these Superintendent Scholars are the best of the best,” Phan said. “Every bit of money can ease a bit of pressure off their shoulders and help remove one obstacle on their road to excellency and success.”
Applications for the 2020 Superintendent’s Scholarship are now open and will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. Central time on Saturday, Feb. 29. Eligible students should be U-46 seniors with a 2.5 GPA or higher whose parents did not graduate from a trade school, community college, or four-year institution.
Students who want to apply will need to write an essay about why they deserve the scholarship, gather a recommendation from an adult who can comment on their qualifications, and submit their FAFSA application, if applicable.
More information, and a link to the application, can be found here.
For members of the public who would like to support the Superintendent’s Scholarship, donations are accepted through the U-46 Educational Foundation. Make sure to put “SS 2020” in the special instructions.
The 9th annual Superintendent’s Scholarship reception and awards ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 30, in the library at Larkin High School. During the reception, students awarded the Superintendent’s Scholarship will be celebrated for their accomplishments. They will also be encouraged to practice their networking skills as they visit with donors and District administrators.