Eastern Illinois University :: Rural School Initiative

Rural Scholarships

Below are the scholarships for students from rural areas/high schools at the freshmen level.
If you have any questions, please contact Financial Aid or login to AcademicWorks.

Alice Groff Pennybacker Secondary Education Scholarship 1. The recipient(s) must be a full-time student, seeking certification in Secondary Education, accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. The recipient(s) must have an overall GPA of 2.5 or better. 3. Preference shall be given to students who graduated from high schools in Lawrence County. 4. The recipient(s) must be planning to become a teacher. 5. If all else is equal, recipient selection will be determined by financial need.
Balsaar and Ruth Bubeck Scholarship 1. The recipient(s) must be a full-time student enrolled at Eastern Illinois University. 2. The recipient(s) must have completed 30 credit hours and be seeking teacher certification. 3. The recipient(s) shall hold a high school diploma from Marshall High School in Marshall, Illinois or successor school district. 4. If there are no qualifying applicants from Marshall High School in Marshall, Illinois, then a recipient(s) that holds a high school diploma from a Clark County, Illinois school district may qualify. 5. The recipient(s) shall have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). 6. Financial need is not a consideration. 7. The recipient(s) may not be eligible to apply for, and receive, the award again.
Bertha G. Hoedebecke Scholarship 1. The recipient(s) of the award must be a resident of Montgomery County. 2. The recipients(s) must be a full-time student, majoring in Elementary Education, accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 3. The recipient(s) may be a high school senior who will be an incoming freshman, OR a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior at Eastern Illinois University. 4. A senior from Hillsboro Community High School will be given preference over those from other high schools in the county.
Bryan and Adra Heise Elementary Education Scholarship 1. The scholarship recipients must be full-time students, majoring in Early Childhood, Elementary, or Middle Level Education accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. Financial need is a consideration. The donor would like to allow a full scholarship should funds permit. 3. GPA is not a consideration. 4. Preference will be given to students from Decatur high schools, then to students in Macon County, and then it is open to students from other schools.
Buffenmeyer Friend Scholarship 1. Recipient(s) must be a full-time undergraduate student majoring in Career and Technical Education (with an emphasis in Business Education), Special Education, and/or Recreation Administration accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. The recipient(s) must be from Charleston High School with preference given to incoming freshmen. If no incoming freshmen qualify, then a previous undergraduate recipient who continues to meet the criteria may be awarded the scholarship. 3. The recipient must have an overall minimum 3.0 GPA on high school or college coursework. 4. Financial need is not a consideration.
Charles and Barbara Clark Elementary Education Scholarship 1. The scholarship recipients must be full-time students, majoring in Early Childhood, Elementary, or Middle Level Education, accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. Financial need is a consideration. The donor would like to allow a full scholarship should funds permit. 3. GPA is not a consideration. 4. Preference will be given to students from Decatur high schools, then to students in Macon County, and then it is open to students from other schools.
Coles-Douglas Scholarship 1. The recipient must be an Elementary Education major at the undergraduate level. 2. The student must demonstrate financial need. 3. The student must be a good scholar. 4. The recipient must be a resident of either Coles or Douglas County. 5. The recipient may continue to receive the Coles-Douglas Scholarship as long as she/he remains in elementary education, continues to demonstrate financial need, and maintains a GPA of 3.0. 6. Should all other criteria be equal, the award shall go to the student demonstrating the greatest financial need.
Marjorie Baker Schnorf Teaching Scholarship 1. Must be a graduating senior from Charleston High School who has indicated an intent to major in Education, and who has been accepted by and intends to enroll at Eastern Illinois University as a full-time student; or be a past recipient of the scholarship who is a full-time student majoring in Education and is in good academic standings at Eastern Illinois University. 2. If there are no students meeting the above listed criteria, then the award may be made to a CHS graduate who is a full-time student attending Eastern and majoring in Education that was not a prior recipient.
Miriam Bland McMahan Early Childhood Education Scholarship 1. The recipient shall be a full-time student accepted to Eastern Illinois University with a declared major in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education. 2. The scholarship recipient shall be accepted into the Teacher Education Program. 3. The recipient shall have a 3.25 overall GPA and a 3.5 GPA in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education coursework. 4. The selection committee shall require an essay of the applicants. Applicants should outline in the essay why they want to pursue a career in Pre-K – 3 teaching, preferably at the 1st or 2nd-grade level as a profession.5. The scholarship shall be given to a student whose hometown is within the State of Illinois, within a 100-mile radius of Charleston, Illinois, and preferably from Coles County. 6. The scholarship shall be given as an incentive to achieve success and preference shall be given to a student who demonstrates the greatest potential for lifetime success, as a 1st or 2nd-grade teacher. 7. Financial need shall be a consideration at the discretion of the Selection Committee.
Rachel Stapp Teaching Scholarship 1. The recipient(s) must be a full-time, majoring in Elementary or Secondary Education, accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. Financial need is a consideration. 3. Applicants must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors. 4. The selection committee shall give first preference to a graduate of Brownstown (IL) High School. If there are no applicants from Brownstown (IL) High School, the secondary preference is a teacher candidate from any high school in Fayette County, Illinois. If there is not a viable candidate from either of these preferences, then the best overall applicant will be selected. 5. The recipient is in good academic standing.
Ray and Evelyn Duncan Teaching Scholarship 1.Applicants will be awarded pending review by principals of the high schools of Crawford, Jasper, Cumberland, Clark, Richland, and Lawrence counties in Illinois. 2. Preference will be given to applicant(s) from Crawford County, Illinois. 3. The recipient(s) must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.65 on a 4.0 scale. 4. The recipient(s) must be enrolled or accepted to be enrolled, full-time at Eastern Illinois University in a program that leads to teacher certification. 5. Preference shall be given to students demonstrating financial need. 6. Preference shall be given to an incoming freshman with consideration given to additional upper-class candidates if earnings of said Fund permit.7. Upper-class candidates are not required to have the nomination of a principal. 8. Each Applicant must present a signed statement declaring their intention to become a teacher and one letter of recommendation that evaluates the student’s potential as a teacher. 9. The applicant(s) must write an essay explaining why they want to teach in a rural school setting
Rural Teacher Scholarship (Previously called the Education Scholars Award) 1. The recipient(s) shall be enrolled or accepted to Eastern Illinois University and plan to major in a field that leads to teacher licensure, and plan to teach in a rural Illinois school. 2. The recipient(s) shall maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.65 on a 4.0 scale. 3. Preference shall be given to students that demonstrate financial need, and then to incoming freshman. 4. The applicant(s) must write an essay explaining why they want to teach in a rural school setting.
Sardella Family Elementary Education Scholarship 1. The recipient shall be a full-time student accepted to Eastern Illinois University with a declared major in Elementary Education. 2. The scholarship recipient shall be accepted into the Teacher Education Program. 3. The recipient shall have a 3.25 overall GPA and 3.5 GPA in Elementary Education coursework (on a 4.0 scale). 4. The Selection Committee shall require an essay of the applicants. Applicants should outline in the essay why they want to pursue a career in teaching at the elementary school level as a profession. 5. The scholarship shall be given to a student whose hometown is within the State of Illinois and within a 100-mile radius of Charleston, Illinois. 6. The scholarship shall be given as an incentive to achieve success, and preference shall be given to a student who demonstrates the greatest potential for lifetime success as a teacher. 7. Financial need shall be a consideration at the discretion of the Selection Committee. Students who have not earned any previous academic aid will be given preference. 8. The recipient(s) may receive the scholarship only once.
Sue (Archibald) and Randy Taylor Scholarship in Education 1. The recipient(s) must be a full-time student enrolled in the Early Childhood, Elementary & Middle Level Education department and accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. Recipient(s) will have graduated high school in Douglas, Coles, or Clark Counties in Illinois or Unity High School in Tolono, IL. 3. If no one from the preferred counties and high school meet the criteria, students from surrounding counties may also be eligible. 4. The committee may also consider the following factors: financial need, personal hardship, family considerations (e.g. single parent, several children, special needs, etc.). 5. Preference will be given to recipient(s) with experience in agricultural and/or farm activities within Douglas County, IL. 6. Applicants shall submit a letter of application stating career goals within the classroom and education area as well as past experiences with agricultural and farm activities.

Alice Groff Pennybacker Secondary Education Scholarship

1. The recipient(s) must be a full-time student, seeking certification in Secondary Education, accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. The recipient(s) must have an overall GPA of 2.5 or better. 3. Preference shall be given to students who graduated from high schools in Lawrence County. 4. The recipient(s) must be planning to become a teacher. 5. If all else is equal, recipient selection will be determined by financial need.

Balsaar and Ruth Bubeck Scholarship

1. The recipient(s) must be a full-time student enrolled at Eastern Illinois University. 2. The recipient(s) must have completed 30 credit hours and be seeking teacher certification. 3. The recipient(s) shall hold a high school diploma from Marshall High School in Marshall, Illinois or successor school district. 4. If there are no qualifying applicants from Marshall High School in Marshall, Illinois, then a recipient(s) that holds a high school diploma from a Clark County, Illinois school district may qualify. 5. The recipient(s) shall have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). 6. Financial need is not a consideration. 7. The recipient(s) may not be eligible to apply for, and receive, the award again.

Bertha G. Hoedebecke Scholarship

1. The recipient(s) of the award must be a resident of Montgomery County. 2. The recipients(s) must be a full-time student, majoring in Elementary Education, accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 3. The recipient(s) may be a high school senior who will be an incoming freshman, OR a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior at Eastern Illinois University. 4. A senior from Hillsboro Community High School will be given preference over those from other high schools in the county.

Bryan and Adra Heise Elementary Education Scholarship

1. The scholarship recipients must be full-time students, majoring in Early Childhood, Elementary, or Middle Level Education accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. Financial need is a consideration. The donor would like to allow a full scholarship should funds permit. 3. GPA is not a consideration. 4. Preference will be given to students from Decatur high schools, then to students in Macon County, and then it is open to students from other schools.

Buffenmeyer Friend Scholarship

1. Recipient(s) must be a full-time undergraduate student majoring in Career and Technical Education (with an emphasis in Business Education), Special Education, and/or Recreation Administration accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. The recipient(s) must be from Charleston High School with preference given to incoming freshmen. If no incoming freshmen qualify, then a previous undergraduate recipient who continues to meet the criteria may be awarded the scholarship. 3. The recipient must have an overall minimum 3.0 GPA on high school or college coursework. 4. Financial need is not a consideration.

Charles and Barbara Clark Elementary Education Scholarship

1. The scholarship recipients must be full-time students, majoring in Early Childhood, Elementary, or Middle Level Education, accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. Financial need is a consideration. The donor would like to allow a full scholarship should funds permit. 3. GPA is not a consideration. 4. Preference will be given to students from Decatur high schools, then to students in Macon County, and then it is open to students from other schools.

Coles-Douglas Scholarship

1. The recipient must be an Elementary Education major at the undergraduate level. 2. The student must demonstrate financial need. 3. The student must be a good scholar. 4. The recipient must be a resident of either Coles or Douglas County. 5. The recipient may continue to receive the Coles-Douglas Scholarship as long as she/he remains in elementary education, continues to demonstrate financial need, and maintains a GPA of 3.0. 6. Should all other criteria be equal, the award shall go to the student demonstrating the greatest financial need.

Marjorie Baker Schnorf Teaching Scholarship

1. Must be a graduating senior from Charleston High School who has indicated an intent to major in Education, and who has been accepted by and intends to enroll at Eastern Illinois University as a full-time student; or be a past recipient of the scholarship who is a full-time student majoring in Education and is in good academic standings at Eastern Illinois University. 2. If there are no students meeting the above listed criteria, then the award may be made to a CHS graduate who is a full-time student attending Eastern and majoring in Education that was not a prior recipient.

Miriam Bland McMahan Early Childhood Education Scholarship

1. The recipient shall be a full-time student accepted to Eastern Illinois University with a declared major in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education. 2. The scholarship recipient shall be accepted into the Teacher Education Program. 3. The recipient shall have a 3.25 overall GPA and a 3.5 GPA in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education coursework. 4. The selection committee shall require an essay of the applicants. Applicants should outline in the essay why they want to pursue a career in Pre-K – 3 teaching, preferably at the 1st or 2nd-grade level as a profession.5. The scholarship shall be given to a student whose hometown is within the State of Illinois, within a 100-mile radius of Charleston, Illinois, and preferably from Coles County. 6. The scholarship shall be given as an incentive to achieve success and preference shall be given to a student who demonstrates the greatest potential for lifetime success, as a 1st or 2nd-grade teacher. 7. Financial need shall be a consideration at the discretion of the Selection Committee.

Rachel Stapp Teaching Scholarship

1. The recipient(s) must be a full-time, majoring in Elementary or Secondary Education, accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. Financial need is a consideration. 3. Applicants must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors. 4. The selection committee shall give first preference to a graduate of Brownstown (IL) High School. If there are no applicants from Brownstown (IL) High School, the secondary preference is a teacher candidate from any high school in Fayette County, Illinois. If there is not a viable candidate from either of these preferences, then the best overall applicant will be selected. 5. The recipient is in good academic standing.

Ray and Evelyn Duncan Teaching Scholarship

1.Applicants will be awarded pending review by principals of the high schools of Crawford, Jasper, Cumberland, Clark, Richland, and Lawrence counties in Illinois. 2. Preference will be given to applicant(s) from Crawford County, Illinois. 3. The recipient(s) must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.65 on a 4.0 scale. 4. The recipient(s) must be enrolled or accepted to be enrolled, full-time at Eastern Illinois University in a program that leads to teacher certification. 5. Preference shall be given to students demonstrating financial need. 6. Preference shall be given to an incoming freshman with consideration given to additional upper-class candidates if earnings of said Fund permit.7. Upper-class candidates are not required to have the nomination of a principal. 8. Each Applicant must present a signed statement declaring their intention to become a teacher and one letter of recommendation that evaluates the student’s potential as a teacher. 9. The applicant(s) must write an essay explaining why they want to teach in a rural school setting

Rural Teacher Scholarship (Previously called the Education Scholars Award)

1. The recipient(s) shall be enrolled or accepted to Eastern Illinois University and plan to major in a field that leads to teacher licensure, and plan to teach in a rural Illinois school. 2. The recipient(s) shall maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.65 on a 4.0 scale. 3. Preference shall be given to students that demonstrate financial need, and then to incoming freshman. 4. The applicant(s) must write an essay explaining why they want to teach in a rural school setting.

Sardella Family Elementary Education Scholarship

1. The recipient shall be a full-time student accepted to Eastern Illinois University with a declared major in Elementary Education. 2. The scholarship recipient shall be accepted into the Teacher Education Program. 3. The recipient shall have a 3.25 overall GPA and 3.5 GPA in Elementary Education coursework (on a 4.0 scale). 4. The Selection Committee shall require an essay of the applicants. Applicants should outline in the essay why they want to pursue a career in teaching at the elementary school level as a profession. 5. The scholarship shall be given to a student whose hometown is within the State of Illinois and within a 100-mile radius of Charleston, Illinois. 6. The scholarship shall be given as an incentive to achieve success, and preference shall be given to a student who demonstrates the greatest potential for lifetime success as a teacher. 7. Financial need shall be a consideration at the discretion of the Selection Committee. Students who have not earned any previous academic aid will be given preference. 8. The recipient(s) may receive the scholarship only once.

Sue (Archibald) and Randy Taylor Scholarship in Education

1. The recipient(s) must be a full-time student enrolled in the Early Childhood, Elementary & Middle Level Education department and accepted to Eastern Illinois University. 2. Recipient(s) will have graduated high school in Douglas, Coles, or Clark Counties in Illinois or Unity High School in Tolono, IL. 3. If no one from the preferred counties and high school meet the criteria, students from surrounding counties may also be eligible. 4. The committee may also consider the following factors: financial need, personal hardship, family considerations (e.g. single parent, several children, special needs, etc.). 5. Preference will be given to recipient(s) with experience in agricultural and/or farm activities within Douglas County, IL. 6. Applicants shall submit a letter of application stating career goals within the classroom and education area as well as past experiences with agricultural and farm activities.

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