Fehr Graham Scholarship Recipients 2026

2026 Fehr Graham Scholarship Recipients

March 16, 2026

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is pleased to announce this year’s Fehr Graham Scholarship Recipients, five students representing five high schools in communities within 50 miles of a Fehr Graham office. Each student intends to pursue a career in engineering and/or environmental fields, representing the areas of Fehr Grahams’ expertise.

Fehr Graham established the Fehr Graham Scholarship at CFNIL in 2023, in honor of the firm’s 50th anniversary and in thanks for the support of the communities they serve. Awarded annually via CFNIL’s Fall scholarship application cycle, the fund supports students pursuing careers in engineering, landscape architecture, land surveying, geology, hydrogeology, assessment and remediation, and environmental health and safety, and who live near one of Fehr Graham’s 13 offices in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Scholarship applications are reviewed and scored by community volunteers. A “blind” review process assures scholarships are awarded objectively to students who best fit the scholarship criteria. Learn more about the Fehr Graham Scholarship and CFNIL’s full scholarship program at cfnil.org/scholarships.

Meet the 2026 Fehr Graham Scholarship Recipients:

  • Abigail Baumann
    • Rockford Lutheran High School Class of 2026 (Rockford, IL)
    • Plans to Attend Michigan Tech to Study Geology and Engineering
       
  • Levi Benesh 
    • North Linn High School Class of 2026 (Troy Mills, IA) 
    • Plans to Attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to Study Civil Engineering
       
  • Zoie Koehler 
    • Scales Mound High School Class of 2026 (Scales Mound, IL)
    • Plans to Attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to Study Environmental Science and Conservation
       
  • Evan Pokorny 
    • Living Word Lutheran High School Class of 2026 (Jackson, WI)
    • Considering Schools to Study Civil Engineering
       
  • Zakary Willadsen
    • Kohler High School Class of 2026 (Kohler, WI)
    • Considering Schools to Study Structural Engineering
       

The full list of 2026 CFNIL Scholarship Recipients will be announced early June 2026. CFNIL will host Scholarship Award Night on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at Tebala Events Center (7910 Newberg Road, Rockford) to celebrate this year's scholars with recipients, their families, scholarship donors, and CFNIL volunteers. Please join us as we celebrate this momentous occasion! Reserve Your Spot »