Every gift made to EIU -- whether it is big or small -- makes a difference. The “ripple effect” of each donation is amazing to watch and inspires giving in others. When recent scholarship recipients were asked what they would like to say to alumni, friends and donors to EIU, this is what they wrote:
“I would like to sincerely thank the donor(s) of this award for selecting me. I believe I work very hard and to be recognized is a great honor and reward. I plan to do everything in my power to represent the prestige of this award through my actions in and out of the classroom. I chose to attend EIU because of the population size and the small, but close-knit community it has [and] receiving this scholarship will further enable me to continue my education in a field I am passionate about. It will also aid in me being one of the first people in my family to graduate college.”
— Daniel Jones
Journalism
Recipient of James A. Saunders Scholarship
“Thank you so much for this scholarship! It really means the world to me. Geography is where I found my love for weather and I am so thankful for all of my professors. I also have found my passion in broadcasting and now know that is where I want to take my career. Scholarships like these not only make me proud of myself but I know that I have made my family proud. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me and my family and now seeing those certificates on the wall inspires me and hopefully younger weather students and other student-athletes. It’s an honor to receive a scholarship from you and again it means the world to me. Thank you so much and hopefully next year I will be writing more thank you letters like this. I hope to make you proud again in the next semester and again thank you for helping students like me get through college.”
— Stephen Elmore
Geography
Recipient of the Dalias Price Memorial Weather Fund
“I am sincerely honored to have been selected as the recipient of the Barbara Hill Memorial Scholarship. Thank you for your generosity which has allowed me to pay for my higher education. I am beyond ecstatic to pursue my journey to become a future educator and difference maker. I have also joined the Rural Teacher Corp and Phi Alpha Eta in order to become involved on campus and in the community. This opportunity will allow me to connect with prospective employers and communities for my career. As I complete my education at Eastern Illinois University, I am very thankful for receiving your thoughtful gift. Because of [this] scholarship, I am one step closer…to becoming an outstanding educator. I cannot wait to see the impact that I am capable of making for my future students. Thank you again for your thoughtful and generous gift. With the scholarship…I can strive to become a better student by my central focus on my studies and making connections in the Eastern community.”
— Nicole Brown
Education
Recipient of the Barbara Hill Memorial Scholarship
Many students attending EIU are eager to attain a college degree, but most cannot afford to pay for their education on their own. At Eastern Illinois University, 67.8 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid. Without generous donors like yourself, many students would not be able to fulfill their dreams of graduating from EIU.
At Eastern Illinois University, we are constantly striving to provide our students, faculty and staff with the essential tools they need to learn. We also pride ourselves in being at the forefront of technology and scientific research. EIU houses one of the largest biomass renewable energy projects in the country and is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to The Princeton Review.