Deborah J. Grenlund Memorial Scholarship
To honor the memory of Deborah Grenlund by providing educational resources to active members of 4-H Clubs in Boone County, IL who demonstrate a strong work ethic and a commitment to community involvement.
Scholarship Background and Intent
Deborah “Deb” Grenlund grew up on her family’s farm in Boone County, where the values of hard work, resilience, and community were woven into daily life. For Deb, 4-H wasn’t just an extracurricular activity—it was a foundation. Deb began her 4-H journey in elementary school as a Leroy Commanders 4-H Club member. Over the years, she earned hundreds of ribbons for projects ranging from cattle showing and sewing to public speaking, showcasing both her versatility and dedication to the 4-H program.
Her leadership and accomplishments in 4-H quickly made her a familiar name at local, state, and even national levels:
1970 – Entered the 4-H Dress Revue for the first time
1973 – Named First Runner-Up for Capron Centennial Queen; began modeling in the Illinois State Fair Dress Revue
1974 – Crowned Boone County Fair Queen and Green Festival Queen
1975 – Named Boone County Beef Queen; selected for the Illinois State 4-H Conference; crowned Queen of the Illinois County Fairs
1976 – Received the Illinois State Dress Revue Project Award; attended the National 4-H Club Congress where she was one of only six national-level winners; served as Chairperson of the Boone County 4-H Queen Contest Committee
Her legacy in 4-H reflects a passion for learning, leadership, and community, a spirit this scholarship now honors for future generations of 4-H members. Those lessons she learned through 4-H carried her through life, shaping the woman she became: dedicated, resourceful, compassionate, and strong.
The Deborah J. Grenlund Scholarship Fund was created to honor Deb’s life and to continue the legacy of opportunity she so deeply valued. This fund provides scholarships for Boone County youth who, like Deb, are eager to grow, learn, and lead through their involvement in 4-H. By investing in these young people, the fund ensures that future generations can experience the same transformative impact of 4-H—building skills, friendships, and a lifelong commitment to community.
Your support makes this vision possible. Every donation helps cultivate the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers—young people who will carry forward the same spirit of resilience and service that Deb exemplified.
Join us in honoring Deb’s legacy. Together, we can plant seeds of opportunity that will grow for years to come!
Eligibility Criteria
Every CFNIL scholarship has a unique intent, often reflecting the background of the donor or person in whose memory the fund was created. CFNIL uses an online "universal" application to ensure the most efficient process; as an applicant, you do not need to predetermine which scholarships you should apply for. Complete ONE application each cycle, and your answers to a series of yes/no and personal background questions automatically match you to every scholarship you are eligible for. Because our scholarships were created to support students of all ages, backgrounds, and aspirations, we encourage every scholarship seeker (high school graduating seniors and older) to apply!
Specifications
- Preference will be given to active members of the LeRoy Commandoes 4-H Club in Boone County, Illinois.
- Preference will be given to students attending a college or university in Illinois.
- Definition of “active” is having participated in a significant number of 4-H activities within the last 12 months.
Written Prompt
Each CFNIL scholarship is created with a specific purpose in mind. As you complete the application, the system automatically matches you with every scholarship for which you are eligible and will present you with a specific written prompt for each. You're encouraged to craft a unique response to each prompt to show the reviewers why you're the best candidate for that scholarship.
Would you like to support the Deborah J. Grenlund Memorial Scholarship? You can make a donation directly to this fund, to help grow its impact and ability to provide support for our community — forever!