Deborah Jean Rydberg Photo

Deborah Jean Rydberg Memorial Scholarship

Supporting female athletes who want to impact the lives of others.

Winter Scholarship - Closed Closed This scholarship is part of the Winter application cycle. The application is open December 1st to February 1st every year. How to Apply

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must:

- Be female.
- Be a graduating senior at Guilford High School.
- Be involved in athletics.

Specifications

Academic performance will be given moderate consideration in the selection process.

Providing a reference from a Guilford High School coach is strongly recommended but not required.

Written Prompt

Each CFNIL scholarship is created with a specific purpose in mind. As you complete the application, the system automatically matches you with every scholarship for which you are eligible and will present you with a specific written prompt for each. You're encouraged to craft a unique response to each prompt to show the reviewers why you're the best candidate for that scholarship. 

Scholarship Background and Intent

Deborah Jean Rydberg was a coach, friend and mentor to the girls she coached in softball, basketball and volleyball at Guilford High School. Deb knew from an early age that she wanted to get a teaching degree, and she knew just how she was going to do it: “I’m going to college to be a teacher,” she told her parents. “And, I’m going on a scholarship.”

And she did, developing her athletic talent to attend Illinois State University on a softball scholarship. She received a teaching degree and returned to her hometown to teach and to her alma mater, Guilford High School, to coach and to make a difference in the lives of countless young women.

Even after her untimely death in March of 1998, Coach Rydberg continues to inspire and encourage young women through the Deborah Jean Rydberg Memorial Scholarship.