Informational
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is pleased to announce its 2023 scholarship recipients: 215 scholarships worth up to $429,677 to local students. The scholarships will support the post-secondary educational aspirations of 185 local students from 29 high schools.
CFNIL administers over 100 scholarship endowments, all created by individuals and organizations that recognize the importance of education. Many of CFNIL’s scholarships are memorials, which celebrate the lives and passions of individuals. Thanks to the generosity of scholarship fund creators, since 2000 CFNIL has awarded over $4,500,000 to local students.
Most 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. Learn more about the CFNIL scholarship class of 2023 at www.cfnil.org/2023-scholarship-recipients
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 read and scored over 1,500 scholarship applications.
“The CFNIL Scholarship Program is rooted in decades of generosity and provides an annual reminder of our community’s longstanding commitment to education,” said CFNIL President Dan Ross. “It also reminds us that if this year’s recipients are any indication, the future of our community is in very good hands. It is our privilege to connect local generosity with local needs and to continue to close the gap between aspiration and reality for hundreds of students.”
In celebration of this year’s scholars, CFNIL will host a Scholarship Award Night Thursday, June 15, 6:30pm at Cliffbreakers/Riverview Event Center (700 W Riverside, Rockford). This celebration of scholarship honors all recipients and welcomes families, donors, and community members.
View a full list of this year’s recipients at cfnil.org/2023-scholarship-recipients and in the table below (sorted by student last name). This information is current as of Monday, May 1, 2023.
| FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | HIGH SCHOOL | CLASS | SCHOLARSHIP(S) |
| Luke | Alberstett | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Geoffrey R. Laird Memorial Scholarship |
| Emily | Allison | Pecatonica High School | 2023 | Irene K. Karsk Memorial Scholarship |
| Kassidy | Anderson | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Janet L. Williams Mathematics Scholarship |
| Ryan | Anderson | Hononegah High School | 2022 | Howard D. Colman Scholarship Honorarium |
| Caleb | Andre | Belvidere North High School | 2020 | Wilbur and William Cummings Memorial Scholarship |
| Ethan | Andre | Belvidere North High School | 2023 | Wilbur and William Cummings Memorial Scholarship |
| Isabella | Andre | Belvidere North High School | 2021 | Wilbur and William Cummings Memorial Scholarship |
| Charlie | Andres | Belvidere North High School | 2023 | IAFF 413: Terrance Freeman, Sr. Memorial Scholarship |
| Christina | Anyebuno | Rockford Christian High School | 2023 | Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship |
| Teresa | Anyebuno | Rockford Christian High School | 2023 |
Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship Taus Community Endowment Scholarship |
| Anja | Arvesen | Hononegah High School | 2020 |
Alpha Delta Kappa Xi Education Scholarship Early Childhood Educators Scholarship |
| Samantha | Baker | Belvidere North High School | 2020 | Wilbur and William Cummings Memorial Scholarship |
| Abigail | Barnhardt | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Howard D. Colman Scholarship Recipient |
| Ryan | Barrack | Pecatonica High School | 2022 | Howard D. Colman Scholarship Honorarium |
| Amanda | Beam | Guilford High School | 2020 | Karen E. and Robert K. Harter Recruitment Grant |
| Jenna | Beam | Guilford High School | 2023 | Roger L. Ekstrom Memorial Scholarship |
| Casey | Bohn | Hononegah High School | 2023 | In Youth We Trust Award |
| Noella | Bonsol | Belvidere High School | 2021 |
Sorensen Memorial Theater Scholarship William R. Durham Drama/Theater Scholarship |
| Seth | Caiola | Rockford Christian High School | 2023 | Anna Schiller Scholarship |
| Alexandria | Cassens | Byron High School | 2022 | Amber Huber Memorial Scholarship |
| Tahany | Castelan | Jefferson High School | 2023 | Walter K. Raczynski Family Scholarship |
| Joseph | Chan | Rockford Christian High School | 2022 | Sorensen Memorial Engineering Scholarship |
| Jonathan | Claerbout | Winnebago High School | 2023 | Howard D. Colman Scholarship Recipient |
| Gabriel | Claros | Other | 2018 | Margaret T. Craig Community Service Scholarship |
| Madelyn | Craft | Auburn High School | 2020 | Sorensen Memorial Architecture Scholarship |
| Alexander | Crowell | Auburn High School | 2023 | Geoffrey R. Laird Memorial Scholarship |
| Angel | Cruz | Rochelle Township High School | 2020 | Leonard D. Carmichael Community Service Scholarship |
| Nick | Davenport | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | Billy Smith Memorial Scholarship |
| James | Davis | Rockford East High School | 2023 | In Youth We Trust Award |
| Samuel | Delgado | Guilford High School | 2023 | IAFF 413: Tyler Kinison Memorial Scholarship |
| Annah | Dulaney | Pecatonica High School | 2021 |
Alpha Delta Kappa Xi Education Scholarship Anthony and Charlotte Kinney Scholarship |
| Julianna | Edwards | Harlem High School | 2023 | Zeta Chapter Memorial Award |
| Sher | Eh | Jefferson High School | 2023 | Senior Memorial Scholarship |
| Mayar | Elamin | Other | 2017 | Nettie and Jesse Gorov Scholarship |
| Marissa | Enke | Guilford High School | 2023 | May-Cassioppi Scholarship |
| Arianna | Ferguson | Guilford High School | 2023 |
Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship Sorensen Memorial Architecture Scholarship Taus Community Endowment Scholarship |
| Kaitlynne | Franklin | Auburn High School | 2023 |
Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship Pi Gamma Omega Scholarship |
| Magen | Franklin | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Fred Peterson, Jr. Memorial Scholarship |
| Sutton | Gaines | Belvidere High School | 2023 | Wilbur and William Cummings Memorial Scholarship |
| Logan | Gensler | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Jack Lovejoy Vocational Scholarship |
| Ayah | Gheith | Guilford High School | 2022 | Willard J. Corbett and Alice C. Corbett Scholarship |
| Takara | Gilbert | Auburn High School | 2023 | Pi Gamma Omega Scholarship |
| Michelle | Gornicki | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | Willard J. and Alice C. Corbett Scholarship |
| Carl | Granath | Auburn High School | 2020 | Sorensen Memorial Engineering Scholarship |
| Jillian | Grashorn | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2022 | Sorensen Memorial Architecture Scholarship |
| John | Green | Rochelle Township High School | 2023 |
Keith Maffioli Scholarship Rockford Products Corporation Foundation Scholarship |
| Hailey | Groharing | Byron High School | 2021 | Amber Huber Memorial Scholarship |
| Puranjay | Gupta | Auburn High School | 2022 | Howard D. Colman Scholarship Honorarium |
| Courtney | Hamberlin | Auburn High School | 2012 | Elsie Jefko Carlson Scholarship |
| McKenna | Handy | Pecatonica High School | 2021 | Jouris Family Scholarship |
| Amarie | Harris | Jefferson High School | 2023 | Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship |
| William | Hatch | Auburn High School | 2023 | In Youth We Trust Award |
| Erik | Hendriex | Roosevelt Community Education Center | 2023 | Geoffrey R. Laird Memorial Scholarship |
| Natalie | Herbert | Pecatonica High School | 2023 |
Anthony and Charlotte Kinney Scholarship Howard and Eithal Curry Elementary Education Recruitment Grant Zeta Chapter Memorial Award |
| Christian | Hernandez | Rockford East High School | 2023 |
Dorothy Cleland Memorial NSDAR Scholarship Rockford Products Corporation Foundation Scholarship |
| Ariahnna | Hightower | Jefferson High School | 2021 | Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity Scholarship |
| Grace | Hoening | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2020 | Sorensen Memorial Music Scholarship |
| Hope | Hotchkiss | Freeport High School | 2023 | Helen R. (Finley) Loescher & Stephen B. Loescher Scholarship |
| Shanell | Jackson | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2023 | In Youth We Trust Award |
| Ethan | Jacobson | Stillman Valley High School | 2021 | Daniel Edwards Memorial Scholarship |
| Hannah | Jacobson | Winnebago High School | 2022 |
Howard D. Colman Scholar Rockford Products Corporation Foundation Scholarship |
| Lucia | Jahn | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Hegel Family Soccer Scholarship |
| Amanda | Jamrog | Sycamore High School | 2023 | Charles Lee Anderson Memorial Scholarship |
| Katie | Jensen | Guilford High School | 2023 | May-Cassioppi Scholarship |
| Ben | Johnson | Harlem High School | 2020 | Sorensen Memorial Theater Scholarship |
| Daydreem | Johnson | Auburn High School | 2023 | Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship |
| Katie | Jones | Hononegah High School | 2023 |
Fred Peterson, Jr. Memorial Scholarship International Management Council (IMC) Scholarship |
| LaKayla | Jordan | Auburn High School | 2023 | West Gateway Coalition Scholarship |
| Annette | Kallstrom | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Winnebago County Veterans Association Scholarship |
| Laura | Kane | Other | 2001 |
Margaret T. Craig Community Service Scholarship Nettie and Jesse Gorov Scholarship |
| Pam | Kee | Rockford East High School | 2023 | Pay It Forward Scholarship |
| Jasmine | Keith | Guilford High School | 2020 | Karen E. and Robert K. Harter Recruitment Grant |
| Austin | Kirwin | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Hegel Family Soccer Scholarship |
| Connor (Tim) | Knauf | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | In Youth We Trust Award |
| Samantha | Kohls | Belvidere North High School | 2023 | Richard Dopp Memorial Scholarship |
| Spencer | Kohls | Belvidere North High School | 2023 | Howard D. Colman Scholarship Recipient |
| Noah | Kowalski | Guilford High School | 2022 | IAFF 413: Phyllis Howard Memorial Scholarship |
| Sarah | Krein | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 |
IAFF 413: Lieutenant Kelli Ingardona Memorial Scholarship John D. and Melinda (Mindy) L. Stadel Scholarship |
| Alyssa | LaBarge | Belvidere North High School | 2023 | It's Up To Me Scholarship |
| Trinity | Lambert | Belvidere North High School | 2023 | In Youth We Trust Award |
| Alexandra | Lee | Jefferson High School | 2023 | Buster Lindsay Memorial Scholarship |
| Kyra | Lewis | Hononegah High School | 2023 |
Carolyn Wones Recruitment Grant Rockton Lions Club Scholarship |
| Sreyansh | Mamidi | Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy | 2021 | Howard D. Colman Scholar |
| Trenton | Martin | Pecatonica High School | 2022 | Sorensen Memorial Theater Scholarship |
| Benegusengo | Mbateye | Rockford East High School | 2023 |
Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship Willard J. and Alice C. Corbett Scholarship |
| Abigail | McBee | Homeschooled | 2020 |
Nettie and Jesse Gorov Scholarship William R. Durham Drama/Theater Scholarship |
| Alex | McCarthy | Hononegah High School | 2023 |
Dr. Loomis/Rockton Lions Club Scholarship Rockford Products Corporation Foundation Scholarship |
| Connor | McGuire | Belvidere North High School | 2020 | Wilbur and William Cummings Memorial Scholarship |
| Ella | McKinney | Rochelle Township High School | 2022 | Leonard D. Carmichael Community Service Scholarship |
| Juan | Medrano Centeno | Belvidere North High School | 2023 | Frances Grant Triebel Memorial NSDAR Scholarship |
| Taw | Meh | Jefferson High School | 2021 |
Jan Stringer Memorial Scholarship Willard J. Corbett & Alice C. Corbett Scholarship |
| Sabrina | Meng | Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy | 2020 | Howard D. Colman Scholar |
| Jennifer | Meyers | Roosevelt Community Education Center | 2023 | Nancy Kalchbrenner Scholarship |
| Mary | Meyers | Harlem High School | 2023 |
Sorensen Memorial Engineering Scholarship Winnebago County Veterans Association Scholarship |
| Trinity | Miller | Guilford High School | 2023 |
Annie and Oscar Blackwell Scholarship Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship |
| Lauren | Mohaupt | Pecatonica High School | 2023 |
John Flynn Memorial Scholarship WoTM Scholarship |
| Autumn | Mohring | Hononegah High School | 2023 |
Dr. Loomis/Rockton Lions Club Scholarship Fred Peterson, Jr. Memorial Scholarship |
| Phenixx | Montgomery-Bradley | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | West Gateway Coalition Scholarship |
| Alisa | Moore | Durand High School | 2023 | Harry H. and Floy B. Chapin Scholarship |
| Ariana | Moreno | Guilford High School | 2023 | Deborah Jean Rydberg Memorial Scholarship |
| Natalie | Muehlfelder | Rockford East High School | 2023 | Regina Potts Memorial Scholarship |
| Kyan | Muhammad | Auburn High School | 2023 |
Era L. and Frances L. Walker Scholarship Randall A. Blank Memorial Scholarship |
| Kemonte | Myles | Freeport High School | 2023 | Jan Stringer Memorial Scholarship |
| Zoe | Newton | Guilford High School | 2023 | Susan Kay Munson Gilmore Memorial Scholarship |
| Thuy Linh | Nguyen | South Beloit High School |
2020 | Willard J. Corbett & Alice C. Corbett Scholarship |
| Julian | Nichols | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | Betty Harlan Memorial Art Scholarship |
| Helaina | Nimmo | Hononegah High School | 2021 | William R. Durham Drama/Theater Scholarship |
| Christine | Noone-Rapp | Jefferson High School | 1984 | WCRTA Blanche J. Martin Scholarship |
| Audilon | Ntiringaniza | Rockford East High School | 2019 |
Dr. Constance L. Goode Memorial Scholarship WCRTA Blanche J. Martin Scholarship |
| Elaina | Nyen | Durand High School | 2023 | Harry H. and Floy B. Chapin Scholarship |
| Jasmine | Oley | Rock Valley College | 2005 |
Kjellstrom Women's Scholarship Richard L. Bernardi Memorial Scholarship |
| Madison | Ost | Rochelle Township High School | 2022 | Amanda Reed Memorial Scholarship |
| Maya | Pandya | Auburn High School | 2020 | Larry and Betty McGee Scholarship |
| Eric | Patterson | Roosevelt Community Education Center | 2011 | West Gateway Coalition Scholarship |
| Christopher | Perea | Jefferson High School | 2018 | Rockford Products Corporation Foundation Scholarship |
| Phuong | Pham | Auburn High School | 2021 | Sorensen Memorial Engineering Scholarship |
| Isabel | Pinedo | Jefferson High School | 2023 | Buster Lindsay Memorial Scholarship |
| Breana | Pink | Rockford Christian High School | 2023 | Anna Schiller Scholarship |
| Maram | Quhshi | Rockford East High School | 2020 | Walter K. Raczynski Family Scholarship |
| Lia | Rivera Mendoza | Jefferson High School | 2023 | Rockford Products Corporation Foundation Scholarship |
| Andrew | Roberts | Guilford High School | 2023 | William Pigott Memorial Scholarship |
| Jalen | Robinson | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2023 | In Youth We Trust Award |
| Isabella | Rodriguez | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | Rockford Historical Society Scholarship |
| Christian | Rodriguez-Hernandez | Belvidere High School | 2022 | William J. Galaway Library and Information Science Scholarship |
| Allison | Roser | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2023 | Northwestern Illinois Building Trades Blais Family Scholarship |
| Kolandra | Roundtree | Rockford East High School | 2022 |
Dr. Tom Moore Family Scholarship Nettie and Jesse Gorov Scholarship |
| Sophia | Rozanski | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | Beta Gamma Recruitment Grant |
| Molly | Ryan | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | John E. Lindley Memorial Swim Scholarship |
| Macy | Sager | Pecatonica High School | 2023 | Hazel Mortimer Hyde Memorial Conservation NSDAR Scholarship |
| Ayah | Sbeih | Rochelle Township High School | 2021 | Leonard D. Carmichael Community Service Scholarship |
| Erin | Schier | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Zeta Chapter Memorial Award |
| Isabella | Schmid | Rockford Lutheran High School | 2021 | Sorensen Memorial Music Scholarship |
| Aaralynn | Schneider | Harvard High School | 2023 | Paul and Ruth Neidhold Business Scholarship |
| Kendra | Schreck | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Rockton Lions Club Scholarship |
| Gabriel | Schroepfer | Homeschooled | 2019 | WoTM Scholarship |
| Jessica | Schrom | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | Sorensen Memorial Theater |
| Syeria | Scott | Auburn High School | 2017 |
League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford Scholarship Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity Scholarship |
| Kylee | Semenchuk | Harlem High School | 2020 | WCRTA Blanche J. Martin Scholarship |
| Madeline | Seuring | Auburn High School | 2023 |
Ashley Ketcher Memorial In Youth We Trust Award |
| Tahjanay | Shelton | Guilford High School | 2020 | Willard J. Corbett & Alice C. Corbett Scholarship |
| Courtney | Shimp | Harlem High School | 2020 | WoTM Scholarship |
| Samantha | Shimp | Harlem High School | 2023 |
Beta Gamma Recruitment Grant Howard and Eithal Curry Elementary Education Recruitment Grant |
| Mary Clare | Sisk | Other | 2021 | Nettie and Jesse Gorov Scholarship |
| Xion | Smith | Winnebago High School | 2023 | It's Up To Me Scholarship |
| Henry | Snyder | Winnebago High School | 2023 | Keith Maffioli Scholarship |
| Audrey | Soetermans | Homeschooled | 2022 | Sorensen Memorial Music Scholarship |
| Jocelyn | Solis | Auburn High School | 2022 | Willard J. Corbett and Alice C. Corbett Scholarship |
| Ava | Sommer | Auburn High School | 2021 | Walter K. Raczynski Family Scholarship |
| Grace | Sommerio | Pecatonica High School | 2022 | Randall A. Blank Memorial Scholarship |
| Aidan | Sosnowski | Rockford Christian High School | 2023 | Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 984 Scholarship |
| Myla | Stanford | Auburn High School | 2020 | Ernest and Charlene Stachowiak Memorial Scholarship |
| Alexandria | Sterenberg | Belvidere High School | 2022 | Wilbur and William Cummings Memorial Scholarship |
| Elena | Steurer | Homeschooled | 2023 |
Dorothy Cleland Memorial NSDAR Scholarship Rockford Products Corporation Foundation Scholarship |
| Olivia | Stewart | Hononegah High School | 2023 | R.I.S.E. Nursing Scholarship |
| Keelyn | Stoeckicht | Homeschooled | 2022 | Margaret T. Craig Community Service Scholarship |
| Paige | Stolp | Belvidere North High School | 2021 | Alpha Delta Kappa Xi Education Scholarship |
| Eli | Stoneberg | Guilford High School | 2021 | Willard J. Corbett & Alice C. Corbett Scholarship |
| Ieva | Surantas | Auburn High School | 2021 | University of Michigan Scholarship |
| Ahoud | Thabet | Rockford East High School | 2021 | Sorensen Memorial Architecture Scholarship |
| Elizabeth | Trenhaile | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | In Youth We Trust Award |
| Jadyn | Vail | Belvidere High School | 2022 | Wilbur and William Cummings Memorial Scholarship |
| Paloma | Velasco | Auburn High School | 2018 |
Margaret T. Craig Community Service Scholarship Northwest Community Center Scholarship West Gateway Coalition Scholarship |
| Wolfgang | Vergara | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Gary S. Wilmer RAMI Music Scholarship |
| Bailey | Vincer | Hononegah High School | 2022 | WoTM Scholarship |
| Aidan | Wedwick | Boylan Central Catholic High School | 2023 | Geoffrey R. Laird Memorial Scholarship |
| Zachary | Wheeler | Hononegah High School | 2023 | Howard D. Colman Scholarship Recipient |
| Amanda | Williams | Byron High School | 2020 |
Amber Huber Memorial Scholarship Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 984 Scholarship |
| Kathryn | Wolfgram | Belvidere North High School | 2023 | Sorensen Memorial Music |
| Kaitlyn | Wrage | Hononegah High School | 2022 | Walter K. Raczynski Family Scholarship |
| Charo | Young | Other | 1997 | Kjellstrom Women's Scholarship |
| Sama | Yousif | Guilford High School | 2022 | Susan Kay Munson Gilmore Memorial Scholarship |
| Emma | Zeller | Durand High School | 2022 |
Nettie and Jesse Gorov Scholarship Willard J. Corbett and Alice C. Corbett Scholarship |
| TBA | TBA | Byron High School | 2023 | Amber Huber Memorial Scholarship |
| TBA | TBA | Byron High School | 2023 | David L. Johnson Memorial Scholarship |
| TBA | TBA | Byron High School | 2023 | Gene Bradford Memorial Scholarship |
| TBA | TBA | Rochelle Township High School | 2023 | Leonard D. Carmichael Community Service Scholarship |
| TBA | TBA | North Boone High School | 2023 | Mike Lindberg Memorial Scholarship |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | 2023 | Soil and Water Stewardship Scholarship |