2021 Scholarship Recipients

Introducing the CFNIL Scholarship Class of 2021

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is pleased to announce its 2021 scholarship recipients: 175 scholarships worth up to $335,874 to local students. The scholarships will support the post-secondary educational aspirations of 140 local students from 28 high schools.

CFNIL administers nearly 100 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 $3,630,000 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 nearly 1,000 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 Dan Ross.

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 10th. Learn More >>

2021 CFNIL Scholarship Report by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

Download a PDF of the Scholarship Report

CFNIL 2021 Virtual Scholarship Award Night Video

This year 140 students from 28 high schools were awarded 175 scholarships totaling over $335,000. Celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of this year's recipients and the generosity of community members who established these scholarships. Hear testimonials from recipients, encouraging words from special guests, and cheer on the scholars in your family or from your school!

2021 Scholarship Recipients

Alpha Delta Kappa Xi Education Scholarship

Khrisa Miskell | Hononegah High School |1992
Antonio Ramirez III | Jefferson High School | 2018

Amanda Reed Memorial Scholarship

Mykel Goodloe | Jefferson High School | 2013
Syeria Scott | Auburn High School | 2017

Amber Huber Memorial Scholarship

Brenden Brass | Rockford Christian High School | 2021
Christopher Whelan | Rockford Christian High School | 2021

Annie and Oscar Blackwell Scholarship

Maryianya Jackson | Rockford East High School | 2021

Anthony and Charlotte Kinney Scholarship

Annah Dulaney | Pecatonica High School | 2021
Brianna Meyer | Pecatonica High School | 2018

Ashley E. Ketcher Memorial Scholarship

Ieva Surantas | Auburn High School | 2021

Beta Gamma Recruitment Grant

Marina Klein | Harlem High School | 2021

Betty Harlan Memorial Art Scholarship

Emma Gocken | Pecatonica High School 2021

Billy Smith Memorial Scholarship

Braden Politsch | Forreston High School | 2021

Bonnie Sorenson Scudder Scholarship

Gwendolyn Uppleger | Harvard High School | 2021

Buster Lindsay Memorial Scholarship

Carter Anderson | Jefferson High School | 2021

Carolyn Wones Recruitment Grant

Paige Stolp | Belvidere North High School | 2021

Charles Lee Anderson Memorial Scholarship

Judy Kohler | Stillman Valley High School | 2019

Deborah Jean Rydberg Memorial Scholarship

Kaiya Kolberg | Guilford High School | 2021

Dorothy Cleland Memorial NSDAR Scholarship

Taylor Lapp | Pecatonica High School | 2021
Taw Meh | Jefferson High School | 2021

Dr. Constance L. Goode Memorial Scholarship

Tobia Thomas | Jefferson High School | 2013

Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship

Riley Shores | Hononegah High School | 2021

Early Childhood Educators Scholarship

Kylee Semenchuk | Harlem High School | 2020

Elsie Jefko Carlson Scholarship

Felipe Gelacio | Guilford High School | 2003

Era L. and Frances L. Walker Scholarship

Aindo Issa | Rockford East High School | 2021

Ernest and Charlene Stachowiak Memorial Scholarship

Felipe Gelacio | Guilford High School | 2003
Natalia Mihigo | Rockford East High School | 2019

Frances Grant Triebel Memorial NSDAR Scholarship

Thomas Schramer | DeKalb High School | 2021

Gary S. Wilmer/RAMI Music Scholarship

Aria Beert | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2021

Gene Bradford Memorial Scholarship

Paige Bukoski | Byron High School | 2021

Geoffrey R. Laird Memorial Scholarship

Abby Cline | Dakota High School | 2021
Annah Dulaney | Pecatonica High School | 2021

Hazel Mortimer Hyde Memorial Conservation NSDAR Scholarship

Phuong Pham | Auburn High School | 2021

Hegel Family Soccer Scholarship

Isabel Henry | Hononegah High School | 2021
Owen Ivanuck | Hononegah High School | 2021

Helen R. (Finley) Loescher and Stephen B. Loescher Scholarship

Sydnee Forrester | Freeport High School | 2021

Howard and Eithal Curry Elementary Education Recruitment Grant

Darby McGowan | Rockford East High School | 2021
Julie Oetting | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2021

Howard D. Colman Honorarium

Howard D. Colman Scholar

Malavika Menon | Hononegah High School | 2021

"It's Up To Me" Scholarship

Taw Meh | Jefferson High School | 2021

Janet L. Williams Mathematics Scholarship

Ephraim Boomer | Hononegah High School | 2021

John E. Lindley Memorial Swim Scholarship

Sophia Durbin | Guilford High School | 2021
Ieva Surantas | Auburn High School | 2021

John Flynn Memorial Scholarship

Andrew Daly | Pecatonica High School | 2021

Jouris Family Scholarship

McKenna Handy | Pecatonica High School | 2021

Karen E. and Robert K. Harter Recruitment Grant

Alondra Torres | Jefferson High School | 2016

Keith Maffioli Scholarship

Joshua Oetting | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2021

Kjellstrom Women's Scholarship

Nicole Hall | GED Program | N/A
Claire Reck | Rockford Christian High School | 2014

Larry and Betty McGee Scholarship

Maya Pandya | Auburn High School | 2020

Leonard D. Carmichael Community Service Scholarship

Logan Villafuerte | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2021

Margaret T. Craig Community Service Scholarship

Sophia Durbin | Guilford High School | 2021

Mike Lindberg Memorial Scholarship

Alana Levine | North Boone High School | 2021
Olivia Marx | North Boone High School | 2021

Nancy Kalchbrenner Scholarship

Taw Meh | Jefferson High School | 2021

Nettie and Jesse Gorov Scholarship

Mykel Goodloe | Jefferson High School | 2013

Northwestern Illinois Building Trades Blais Family Scholarship

Kyle Strite | Oregon High School | 2021

Phyllis Howard Memorial Scholarship

Brett Beaman | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 1996

Pi Gamma Omega Scholarship

Kalilah Chears | Rockford East High School | 2021
Nia Williams | Harlem High School | 2021

President's Discretionary Scholarship

Markiese Morgan | Harlem High School | 2017

R.I.S.E. Nursing Scholarship

Jessica Contreras | Rochelle Township High School | 2013

Randall A. Blank Memorial Scholarship

Thuy Linh Nguyen | South Beloit High School | 2020

Richard Dopp Memorial Scholarship

Elesea Galvan-Neubauer | Rockford East High School | 2021

Richard L. Bernardi Memorial Scholarship

Kouther Ali-kabsh | Guilford High School | 2018

Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity College Scholarship

Ariahnna Hightower | Jefferson High School | 2021
Syeria Scott | Auburn High School | 2017

Rockford Products Corporation Foundation Scholarship

Bryn Hansmeier | Hononegah High School | 2021

Roger L. Ekstrom Memorial Scholarship

Isabel Villagomez | Guilford High School | 2021

Senior Memorial Scholarship

Mohammed Aljobori | Guilford High School | 2021
Phuong Pham | Auburn High School | 2021

Soil and Water Stewardship Scholarship

Benjamin Schaub | Downers Grove North High School | 2021

Sorensen Memorial Architecture Scholarship

Sorensen Memorial Music Scholarship

Kouther Ali-kabsh | Guilford High School | 2018

Taus Community Endowment Scholarship

Osayenmwen Omozusi | Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy | 2021

Terrance Freeman Sr. Memorial Scholarship

Brenden Brass | Rockford Christian High School | 2021

Tyler Kinison Memorial Scholarship

Agius Adamany | Guilford High School | 2021

University of Michigan Scholarship

William Snedegar | Auburn High School | 2018

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 984 Scholarship

Adam Belinson | Belvidere North High School | 2021
Meghan Harris | Auburn High School | 2013

Walter K. Raczynski Family Scholarship

Luke Grocholl | Hononegah High School | 2021

William R. Durham Drama/Theater Scholarship

Agius Adamany | Guilford High School | 2021
Abigail McBee | Homeschooled | 2020

WoTM Ruthann Gaston Women in Engineering Scholarship

Milica Samoukovic | Guilford High School | 2019

WoTM Scholarship

Abigail Houk | Belvidere High School | 2021
Darby McGowan | Rockford East High School | 2021