Midland States Bank Gifts EIU $20K to Support Local Students, Economy Through Scholarships
Mar-16-2018
Representatives from Midland States Bank gift $20,000 to Eastern Illinois University to advance the university’s Community Ambassador Scholarship program, which encourages local high school graduates to stay in the area by continuing their academic careers at EIU. Pictured here are (left to right) Midland States Bank’s Sara Mette, senior accountant; Eric Chojnicki, president of wealth management; Jeffrey Ludwig, chief executive officer; John Dietrich, director of marketing; Cindy Kremer, senior accounting manager; Mike Brummer, senior accountant; Jeffrey Lorenz, business unit controller; and EIU’s Mike Murray, director of development. All bank employees in the photo are EIU alumni.
Leaders from Midland States Bank in Effingham and Eastern Illinois University came together March 13 to support the university’s Community Ambassador Scholarship program, which encourages local high school graduates to stay in the area by continuing their academic careers at EIU. A ceremonial $20,000 check presentation was held at Midland State Bank’s Effingham headquarters Tuesday morning with representatives from both organizations in attendance.
“Midland States Bank recognizes the importance of a strong regional workforce and a strong regional economy—not just for Effingham but for all of east central Illinois,” said Jeffrey Ludwig, chief executive officer of Midland States Bank. “Eastern Illinois University graduates like those who work at Midland often stay in the region, strengthening and supporting our communities with their intellects and their incomes. That’s why this partnership is so critical in incentivizing local and regional students to enroll, attend and graduate from EIU.”
Dr. David Glassman, president of Eastern Illinois University, was unable to attend the check presentation, but celebrated Midland State Bank’s commitment to the university and for creating additional scholarship opportunities in the region.
“The Community Ambassador Scholarship demonstrates EIU’s commitment to keeping local high school students and EIU graduates in the region,” said Glassman. “We thank Midland States Bank for its generous gift, which will allow us to act even more assertively toward that commitment and to ensure EIU is doing all it can to continue to grow the region at both the educational and the economic levels.”
That economic growth in particular is backed by a recent independent study that indicates EIU adds $503.5 million in economic output to the State of Illinois while contributing $461.8 million in economic output to the region alone on an annual basis.
Overwhelming Support Compels EIU to Extend Community Ambassador Scholarship Application Deadline to April 1
In addition, due to the immense regional support of EIU’s Community Ambassador Scholarship program—including the recent $20,000 gift from Midland States Bank—university leaders have agreed to extend the original mid-March application deadline for that scholarship. The new deadline is April 1.
Qualifications for earning the $2,000 Community Ambassador Scholarships—as well as scholarship submission guidelines—are available on the EIU Community Ambassador Scholarship website at www.eiu.edu/ambassador-scholarship/.
For more information on the EIU Community Ambassador Scholarship or the EIU application process, contact Molly Button at mmbutton@eiu.edu or (217) 581-2299; contact the Office of Admissions at (877) 581-BEIU(2348), admissions@eiu.edu, or find more contact information online at www.eiu.edu/admissions.php.
