background graphic is a blueprint of a mechanical component. foreground includes two black and white pictures of a man wearing glasses. text reads application open now! Howard D. Colman Scholarship Program

Howard D. Colman Scholarship Application Opens

November 1, 2022

Today the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois announces the opening of the Howard D. Colman Scholarship Program application, which seeks to uplift the legacy of local inventor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the Barber-Colman Company, Howard D. Colman.

Established in 1987 by Colman’s daughter, Ruth Colman Tower, the Howard D. Colman Scholarship Program seeks to support local students who possess an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit and who are invested in supporting the Rockford community through industry. In addition to providing scholarships to awarded students, the program connects honorees with one-of-a-kind internships at local firms and provides opportunities to embody the spirit of Howard Colman as ambassadors for his legacy. Past internship placements have included: Leading Edge Hydraulics, University of Illinois – Chicago College of Medicine at Rockford, Raytheon Technologies, Woods Equipment, and the City of Rockford.

Each year up to four students will be selected for the Howard D. Colman Scholarship, a $2,500 award, and provided with personalized assistance with placement at a local firm for an internship in engineering, computer science, applied science, or a comparable technology field. Additionally, one of the previous year's four scholarship recipients will be selected as the Howard D. Colman Scholar and receive a $10,000 scholarship which is renewable up to two times provided program criteria continue to be met. Total award over four years could be as much as $32,500. 

The Howard D. Colman Scholarship Program has a separate application and timeline than the majority of CFNIL Scholarships. The online application opens each year on November 1st and closes January 2nd. Applicants must:

•    Be a high school graduating senior that resides in Boone or Winnebago County,
•    Major in engineering, computer science, applied science, or a comparable technology field,
•    Have a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0, and
•    Personify the spirit of Howard D. Colman: local students with an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit who are invested in supporting the Rockford community through industry.

Full details about this program and a link to the online application may be found at http://cfnil.org/howard-d-colman-scholarship-program.

Howard D. Colman Scholarship Reception 2022
The 2022 Howard D. Colman Scholarship reception was held on the grounds of the Barber-Colman company campus, in anticipation of the redevelopment planned for the property. Recipients, their families, former Barber-Colman managers, and members of Howard D. Colman's family came together to celebrate Colman's legacy and anticipate the good things to come for this property AND for the Colman scholarship recipients.