Congratulations to the CFNIL Scholarship Class of 2025!

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is pleased to announce its 2025 scholarship recipients: 267 awards worth over $540,000, supporting the post-secondary educational aspirations of 217 individuals from 41 high schools.

CFNIL's scholarships 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 needs. Many of CFNIL’s scholarships are memorials, which celebrate the life and passions of individuals. Since 2000, CFNIL has awarded over $5,500,000 to local students thanks to the generosity of scholarship fund creators. 

Most of this year's 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. This year’s recipients range in age from 17 to 47.

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. This year, over 150 volunteers participated in the selection process. 

CFNIL will host Scholarship Award Night 2025 on June 17 to celebrate the year's scholars with recipients, their families, scholarship donors, and CFNIL volunteers. Please join us for the celebration! RSVP Here.

View a full list of this year’s recipients in the table below (sorted by student first name, last initial).