2020 Scholarship Recipients
Introducing the CFNIL Scholarship Class of 2020
Thanks to the generosity of local donors and the hard work of scholarship reviewers, the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois has recently finished its 2019 - 2020 scholarship season, making 176 awards worth up to $305,046 to local students. The scholarships will support the post-secondary educational aspirations of 144 students from 27 local high schools.
CFNIL administers over 90 scholarship endowments. The endowments were created by individuals and organizations that recognize the importance of education. Donors establish the criteria for each scholarship, based on their interests and the community’s need. Many of CFNIL’s scholarships are memorials, which celebrate the life and passions of individuals.Thanks to the generosity of scholarship fund creators, since 2000 CFNIL has awarded over $3,300,000 to local students.
Most of the recipients are graduating high school seniors in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. Scholarships are awarded to many kinds of students: academic achievers; non-traditional; those with financial need; athletes; all races and ethnicities; pursuing careers in education, STEM, business, fire science, and healthcare; and many more. Some of the scholarships are renewable for up to four years. The diversity of the recipients reflects the diversity of CFNIL’s donors and the communities it serves.
Scholarship applications are reviewed and scored by community volunteers. A “blind” review process assures that scholarships are awarded objectively to students who best fit the scholarship criteria. This year over 100 volunteers read and scored more than 1,300 scholarship applications.
“We are honored to serve as the steward of scholarship endowments that fulfill the charitable intent of our donors and create a permanent reservoir of opportunity for our students,” said CFNIL President Jon Bates.
Typically, CFNIL hosts a Scholarship Award Night event to honor all the recipients and celebrate with families, donors, and community members. This year, Scholarship Award Night is going virtual and will be broadcast on CFNIL’s Facebook page at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 11th. Watch for more details on this event to come!
View the CFNIL 2020 Scholarship Report below! Click the image to view in full screen.
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Alpha Delta Kappa Xi Education Scholarship
Shayna Drake | Pearl City High School | 2017
Kaitlyn Johnson | Harlem High School | 2016
Rachel Krein | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2017
Amanda Reed Memorial Scholarship
Aryan Arora | Auburn High School | 2020
Jacqueline Isaacson | Homeschooled | 2019
Amber Huber Memorial Scholarship
Natalie Carlson | Byron High School | 2017
Jordyn Conard | Byron High School | 2018
Arynn Mathieu | Byron High School | 2019
Amanda Williams | Byron High School | 2020
Anna Schiller Scholarship
Enzo Marcello | Rockford Christian High School | 2020
Annie and Oscar Blackwell Scholarship
Tahjanay Shelton | Guilford High School | 2020
Anthony and Charlotte Kinney Scholarship
Allie Greene | Pecatonica High School | 2017
Brianna Meyer | Pecatonica High School | 2018
Ashley E. Ketcher Memorial Scholarship
O'Veyonce Jack | Auburn High School | 2020
Beta Gamma Recruitment Grant
Alysha Monson | Hononegah High School | 2020
Betty Harlan Memorial Art Scholarship
Paola Sandoval | Pecatonica High School | 2020
Billy Smith Memorial Scholarship
Justin Kerestes | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2020
Bonnie Sorenson Scudder Memorial Scholarship
Lauren Shafer | Harvard High School | 2020
Buster Lindsay Memorial Scholarship
Debbinique Toney | Jefferson High School | 2020
Carolyn Wones Recruitment Grant
Alysha Monson | Hononegah High School | 2020
Community Foundation Scholarship
Angela Gavic | Auburn High School | 2018
Jeannel Mandujano | Auburn High School | 2017
Jazmin Martinez-Margarito | Pecatonica High School | 2017
Natalia Mihigo | Rockford East High School | 2019
Breon Newble | Guilford High School | 2018
Thuy Linh Nguyen | South Beloit High School | 2020
Tahjanay Shelton | Guilford High School | 2020
Montez Soliz | Jefferson High School | 2019
Deborah Jean Rydberg Memorial Scholarship
Doris Russo | Guilford High School | 2020
Dorothy Cleland Memorial NSDAR Scholarship
Joseph Alongi | Durand High School | 2020
Maya Pandya | Auburn High School | 2020
Dr. Constance L. Goode Memorial Scholarship
Chahnae Levison | Jefferson High School | 2020
Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship
Keisasha Anderson | Auburn High School | 2020
Honesty LaRosa | Rockford East High School | 2020
Amari Richardson | Guilford High School | 2020
Ciara Saucier | Rockford Christian High School | 2020
Deja Senter | Roosevelt Community Education Center | 2020
Tahjanay Shelton | Guilford High School | 2020
Jada Smith | Auburn High School | 2020
Myla Stanford | Auburn High School | 2020
Dr. Loomis/Rockton Lions Scholarship
Hope Markley | Hononegah High School | 2020
Early Childhood Educators Scholarship
Jada Cooper | Harlem High School | 2019
Era L. and Frances L. Walker Scholarship
Kevin Woods | Guilford High School | 2020
Ernest and Charlene Stachowiak Memorial Scholarship
Jazmin Martinez-Margarito | Pecatonica High School | 2017
Kim Phan | Guilford High School | 2017
Frances Grant Triebel Memorial NSDAR Scholarship
Jessica Lin | Keith Country Day School | 2020
Gary S. Wilmer/RAMI Music Scholarship
Victoria Wu | Auburn High School | 2020
Gene Bradford Memorial Scholarship
Alexis Trank | Byron High School | 2020
Geoffrey R. Laird Memorial Scholarship
Joseph Alongi | Durand High School | 2020
Wyatt August | Auburn High School | 2020
Dalton Morris | Rockford Christian High School | 2018
Harry H. and Floy B. Chapin Scholarship
Olivia Kuhl | Durand High School | 2020
Lily Moore | Durand High School | 2020
Hazel Mortimer Hyde Memorial Conservation NSDAR Scholarship
Lucas Anucauskas | Harlem High School | 2020
Hegel Family Soccer Scholarship
Jacob Bergstrom | Hononegah High School | 2020
Lydia Gleasman | Hononegah High School | 2020
Helen R. (Finley) Loescher & Stephen B. Loescher Scholarship
Ariana Tolu-Honary | Freeport High School | 2020
Howard and Eithal Curry Elementary Education Recruitment Grant
Edith Arroyo | Guilford High School | 2020
Paige Griffith | Hononegah High School | 2020
Howard D. Colman Honorarium
Zachary Bennett | Rockford Christian High School | 2019
Alicia Repka | Hononegah High School | 2019
Howard D. Colman Scholar
Adam Bohn | Hononegah High School | 2019
Matthew Danzl-Tauer | Belvidere High School | 2017
Dalton Morris | Rockford Christian High School | 2018
Howard D. Colman Scholarship Recipient
Rashad Ahmad | Guilford High School | 2020
Drake Buss | Winnebago High School | 2020
Sabrina Meng | Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy | 2020
Maya Pandya | Auburn High School | 2020
In Youth We Trust College Award
Aryan Arora | Auburn High School | 2020
David Consuelos | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2020
Talon Drake | Hononegah High School | 2020
Shannon Mastey | Hononegah High School | 2020
Natalie Muldowney | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2020
Amari Richardson | Guilford High School | 2020
International Management Council (IMC) Scholarship
Aryan Arora | Auburn High School | 2020
It's Up To Me Scholarship
Amari Richardson | Guilford High School | 2020
Marissa Rodriguez | Guilford High School | 2020
Jack Lovejoy Vocational Scholarship
Kyle Wallace | Hononegah High School | 2020
Janet L. Williams Mathematics Scholarship
Adam He | Hononegah High School | 2020
John E. Lindley Memorial Swim Scholarship
Amari Richardson | Guilford High School | 2020
Kristen Zuzga | Auburn High School | 2020
John Flynn Memorial Scholarship
Jenna Revell | Pecatonica High School | 2020
Jouris Family Scholarship
Gretchen Murray | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2017
Karen E. and Robert K. Harter Recruitment Grant
Sydnie Smith | Rockford Christian High School | 2014
Keith Maffioli Scholarship
Caleb Andre | Belvidere North High School | 2020
Emma Thurow | Stillman Valley High School | 2020
Kim and Ruth MacCloskey RAMI Music Scholarship
Michael Ahrens | Hononegah High School | 2019
Kjellstrom Women's Scholarship Initiative
Rachel Perez | GED Program | 2002
Sydnie Smith| Rockford Christian High School | 2014
Larry & Betty McGee Scholarship
Aganze Mihigo | Rockford East High School | 2017
League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford Scholarship
Erika De La Mora | Jefferson High School | 2020
Leonard D. Carmichael Community Service Scholarship
Joshua Bunger | Rochelle Township High School | 2017
Angel Cruz | Rochelle Township High School | 2020
James Hart | Rochelle Township High School | 2019
Anakin Weston | Rochelle Township High School | 2018
Leopold Education Project Scholarship
Greyson Fout | Warren Township High School | 2020
Lieutenant Kelli Ingardona Memorial Scholarship
Lane Dinges | Byron High School | 2020
Margaret T. Craig Community Service Scholarship
Alexander Bauling | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2019
Yasmin Carrillo | Jefferson High School | 2016
Mary Freedlund | Hononegah High School | 2017
Samuel Heim | Rockford Christian High School | 2018
William Kinczewski | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2018
Alaina Kline | Christian Life High School | 2018
Jazmin Martinez-Margarito | Pecatonica High School | 2017
Tremayne Meadows | GED Program
Khrisa Miskell | Hononegah High School
Alicia Repka | Hononegah High School | 2019
Sydnie Smith | Rockford Christian High School | 2014
Spencer Timmons | Rockford Christian High School
May-Cassioppi Scholarship
Jacob Stroup | Guilford High School | 2020
Mike Lindberg Memorial Scholarship
Alexis Belvedere | North Boone High School | 2020
Nancy Kalchbrenner Scholarship
Tahjanay Shelton | Guilford High School | 2020
Nettie and Jesse Gorov Scholarship
Kaitlyn Johnson | Harlem High School | 2016
Emily Munoz | Belvidere North High School | 2019
Angela Ray | Lincoln-Way East High School
Northwest Community Center Scholarship
Jeannel Mandujano | Auburn High School | 2017
Northwestern Illinois Building Trades Blais Family Scholarship
John Schnor | Keith Country Day School | 2020
Phyllis Howard Memorial Scholarship
Brett Beaman | Boylan Central Catholic High School
Pi Gamma Omega/AKA Scholarship
Lillian Hardy | Harlem High School | 2020
O'Veyonce Jack | Auburn High School | 2020
Ciara Saucier | Rockford Christian High School | 2020
R.I.S.E. Nursing Scholarship
Kristie Meyerhofer | Winnebago High School
Randall A. Blank Memorial Scholarship
Alaina Kline | Christian Life High School | 2018
Thuy Linh Nguyen | South Beloit High School | 2020
Richard Dopp Memorial Scholarship
Sabrina Meng | Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy | 2020
Richard L. Bernardi Memorial Scholarship
Felipe Gelacio | Guilford High School
Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity College Scholarship
D'Juan Eskridge | Guilford High School | 2019
Rachel Perez | GED Program | 2002
Syeria Scott | Auburn High School | 2017
Rockford Products Corporation Foundation Scholarship
Christopher Dach | Harlem High School | 2020
Drake Dutz | Belvidere High School | 2017
Samuel Heim | Rockford Christian High School | 2018
William Kinczewski | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2018
Tommy Lee | Rockford East High School | 2019
Maya Pandya | Auburn High School | 2020
Crystal Schuring | Hononegah High School
Rockton Lions Scholarship
Sam Praneis | Hononegah High School | 2020
Roger L. Ekstrom Memorial Scholarship
Katelyn Sayyalinh | Guilford High School | 2020
Senior Memorial Scholarship
Nor Alamery | Guilford High School | 2020
Sorensen Memorial Architecture Scholarship
Madelyn Craft | Auburn High School | 2020
Kevin Jenks | Belvidere High School | 2019
Sorensen Memorial Engineering Scholarship
Matthew Freedlund | Hononegah High School | 2019
Carl Granath | Auburn High School | 2020
Sorensen Memorial Music Scholarship
Grace Hoening | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2020
Gabriel Roethle | Auburn High School | 2019
Sorensen Memorial Theater Scholarship
Ben Johnson | Harlem High School | 2020
Gabrielle Tifft | Belvidere North High School | 2019
Susan Kay Munson Gilmore Memorial Scholarship
Nehemiah Johnson | Guilford High School | 2020
Esmeralda Perez | Mendota Township High School | 2020
Taus Community Endowment Scholarship
Zariyah Newble | Guilford High School | 2020
Amari Richardson | Guilford High School | 2020
Terrance Freeman Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Haylee King | Stillman Valley High School | 2020
Tyler Kinison Memorial Scholarship
Michael Ahrens | Hononegah High School | 2019
University of Michigan Scholarship
Hidayah Afzal | Auburn High School | 2020
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 984 Scholarship
Alexandria DeVinney | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2020
James Wiedow | Belvidere High School | 2020
Walter K. Raczynski Family Scholarship
Melis Dik | Auburn High School | 2019
Maram Quhshi | Rockford East High School | 2020
Wilbur & William Cummings Memorial Scholarship
Samantha Baker | Belvidere North High School | 2020
Katya Garza | Belvidere High School | 2017
Jessica Jimenez | Belvidere High School | 2017
Connor McGuire | Belvidere North High School | 2020
MacKenzie Powers | Belvidere North High School | 2018
Courtney Williams | Belvidere High School | 2018
Nixie Lopez Leon | Belvidere North High School | 2019
John Ryan | Belvidere High School | 2019
William J. Galaway Library and Information Science
Amanda Juhlin | Hononegah High School | 2017
William Pigott Memorial Scholarship
Sabrina Meng | Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy | 2020
William R. Durham Drama/Theater Scholarship
Julia Baker | Hononegah High School | 2019
Ben Johnson | Harlem High School | 2020
Women of Today's Manufacturing Scholarship
Rashad Ahmad | Guilford High School | 2020
Lucas Carlson | Guilford High School | 2020
Grant Fiedler | Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy | 2020
Rachel Gander | Harlem High School | 2019
Zeta Chapter Memorial Award
Lauren Osterberg | North Boone High School | 2020
Jamie Ward | Rockford East High School | 2020