The Mahomet-Seymour Educational Foundation and Mahomet businesses and organizations are once again partnering to provide thousands of dollars in scholarships to Mahomet-Seymour seniors this year.
On Monday, seniors were granted access to over 20 local scholarship opportunities, and Scholarship Sponsor Lisa Martin said the list continues to grow. The Foundation and the High School will continue to collect scholarship opportunities through the end of March.
The senior scholarship program, also known as Senior Awards Night, began 20 years ago with just a few scholarships, which were funneled through the Foundation.
“The marriage that we have with the Foundation, the relationship is what spawned this all those years ago,” Martin said. “We wouldn’t have the event we do today without their help, without them allowing us to make those connections.”
Today, Senior Awards Night highlights students who are selected for a number of scholarship, those which go through the Foundation, those funneled through the school and even larger scholarships that come from the Army ROTC or from a University.
This year, nearly $30,000 total will be divided amongst 20 to 25 students who apply for the scholarships.
Each scholarship has its own criteria students must adhere to. While some scholarships focus on academics, others highlight a student’s character or community service. Some scholarship donors participate in the selection process, but the Foundation and school staff often evaluate the applications for the donors, choosing a recipient.
The Foundation handles nearly eight scholarships, including many memorial scholarships. The Luke Busch Memorial Scholarship is given to a student who has integrity and respectable character, much like its namesake. The Ida Haack Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship which follows a student through their entire college education with merited grades, is given to a student which good grades and financial needs.
Martin said the scholarship program even gives hope to some students who did not believe college was an option. Scholarships like the American Legion Scholarship that is given to a student who is looking for a trade career.
Martin also pointed out that students are often overwhelmed at this time of the year by the number of financial assistance opportunities available nationwide. Because of the scholarship program at Mahomet-Seymour High School, some students get excited by believing they can obtain a local scholarship.
Scholarship donor, Barb Barker, who has also been a part of the Foundation for 20 years said there is nothing like seeing the students faces as they receive their scholarship. Students are not notified of their award before the ceremony. Instead they receive a letter in the mail asking them to come to the Senior Award Ceremony.
When a business or organization calls the student’s name, the scholarship is a surprise to them. Barker said she has witnessed many smiles over the years, but she is also touched when students send her a thank you card later in their education to update her on their progress.
Seniors interested in applying for a scholarship or for students interested in learning about scholarship opportunities available in the future, visit the Foundation’s website or the MSHS Counselor website.
This year’s Senior Award Ceremony will be held at the Mahomet-Seymour High School Auditorium on May 21.
