Karen S. Williams Memorial Scholarship
To honor the memory of Karen S. Williams by providing educational resources to students graduating from Jefferson High School who have financial need.
Scholarship Background and Intent
Karen S. Williams, 42, of Rockford, died Wednesday, August 27, 2014, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center as a result of injuries from an automobile accident. She was born on March 2, 1972, in Taichung, Taiwan, to Bennie L. and Ching-Pi Wu Williams. Karen graduated from Jefferson High School in 1990, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, a master's degree from Villanova, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore. She was a practicing attorney in the Chicago area for nine years before returning to Rockford. While in Chicago, she worked as a contract attorney in the litigation department at Shefsky & Froelich, Ltd. Currently, she was a certified arbitrator at the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois. An activist and energetic cheerleader in all areas of her life, Karen served as president and member of the Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League, an organization that identifies young professionals and guides them to become future community leaders. Recently, she moved back to Rockford to make a positive impact on her hometown community. She aspired to enter politics to help make Rockford a better place to live and work. Since returning home, Karen founded the Jefferson High School Alumni Association, creating and managing their alumni website, the J-HawkNest. She also developed and maintained the website "Growing Up In Rockford" and was a member of the newly formed advisory board of Midway Village & Museum Center. Karen excelled in various sports; she played on the Cleo Soccer team, participated in softball, and was an active member of Peak Sports Club, engaging in swimming, running, and group fitness classes. She was passionate about her family genealogy and her community, working diligently to keep people connected.
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 for student who exhibits a zest for life and commitment to improving their community.
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 Karen S. Williams 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!