Community Foundation Awards Nearly $240,000 in Scholarships, Including Student of the Year

SPRINGFIELD – The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln announced 102 scholarship awards and scholarship renewals for 2025 totaling nearly $240,000. These scholarships were made possible through charitable funds established at the Community Foundation by more than 43 individuals, families and organizations.
 
This year’s awards bring the cumulative scholarship distributions from the Community Foundation to more than $2.5 million over the past 21 years.
 
A highlight of the scholarship program is the Student of the Year Award. This is the 11th year that the Community Foundation assumed responsibility for the administration of the local (Sangamon County) Student of the Year Award, made possible by funding from the Susan Cook House Educational Trust:
 

1. The second runner-up winners, who each received a $2,500 scholarship, are Kitt Bryant of Glenwood High School and Alexander Hockenyos of Springfield High School.
2. The first runner-up winners, who each received a $5,000 scholarship, are Taylor Brewer of Pleasant Plains High School and Rylee Mitts of Lanphier High School.
3. Isha Ramkumar of Springfield High School was selected as the Student of the Year, which includes a $10,000 scholarship.

 
For more information concerning the scholarship program or establishing a scholarship fund, please call the Community Foundation at 217-789-4431. The next application season for students is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026, with applications due March 1, 2026. Scholarship criteria and information will be posted on the Community Foundation’s website, CFLL.org.
 
(list of recipients following)
 
2025 Community Foundation Scholarship Recipients
 
Ada McCombs White Memorial Scholarship
Jayce Privia, A-C Central High School, $1,200
 
American Legion Post 32 Scholarship
Alivia Kent, Taylorville High School/Illinois State University, $2,500
Allison Klinner, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, $2,500
 
Anthony Benson Memorial Scholarship
Colton Campbell, Springfield High School, $2,000
 
Auntie Barb/Held Family Scholarship
Abilene Norris, Lincolnwood High School, $1,500
 
Brody Wilson Memorial Scholarship
Sophie Rock, Williamsville High School, $1,000
 
Camp Care-A-Lot Scholarship
Eric West, University of Illinois Springfield, $3,000
 
CFLL Service Scholarship
Trager Shultz, Pleasant Plains High School, $2,000
 
Charlie Cottle Scholarship
Carter Simmons, Glenwood High School, $3,000
 
COUNTRY Financial Community Scholarship
Neko Baker, Springfield High School, $2,000
Isabella Canny, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, $2,000
Morgan Cowdrey, Lincolnwood High School, $2,000
Lucy Graham, Lanphier High School, $2,000
Becca Hill, Nokomis High School, $2,000
Elaina Lansaw, Greenfield High School, $2,000
Lillian McEvers, Triopia High School, $2,000
Skylar Patterson, Glenwood High School, $2,000
Holt Zeidler, Rochester High School, $2,000
Katie Zobus, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, $2,000
 
Davey Scholarship
Leah Robinson, Springfield Southeast High School, $5,000
 
Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship
Jordan Borders, Springfield High School, $1,000
Jada Jackson, Springfield Southeast High School, $1,000
Imani Jones, Springfield High School, $1,000
 
Savannah Knox, Springfield Southeast High School, $1,000
Alexandria Rice, MacArthur High School, $1,000
Leah Robinson, Springfield Southeast High School, $1,000
Devyn Slater, Saint Teresa High School, $1,000
Anijah Wallace, Lanphier High School, $1,000
Haydyn Watson, MacArthur High School, $1,000
Wyatt Wilder, MacArthur High School, $1,000
 
Donna and Donald Lee Wolaver Memorial Golf Scholarship
Macie Petropoulos, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, $600
 
Dr. Ruth Richardson Scholarship
Anijah Wallace, Lanphier High School, $5,000
 
Frontiers $2K - J.D. Washington Scholarship
Jamarion Bardwell, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, $3,000
Niri French, Auburn High School, $3,000
Jaylin Haley, Springfield Southeast High School, $1,000
Braimah Kanu Jr., Springfield Southeast High School, $3,000
Luke Smith, Glenwood High School, $3,000
 
Frontiers - James Forstall Scholarship
Jamarion Bardwell, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, $750
Jaylynn Clayton, Lanphier High School, $750
Lucy Graham, Lanphier High School, $750
David Greene, Springfield Southeast High School, $750
Jada Jackson, Springfield Southeast High School, $750
Lucas Smith, Glenwood High School, $750
Jae'Von Solomon, Springfield Southeast High School, $750
Adrian Whyte, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, $750
Talaya Williams, Springfield Southeast High School, $750
Dominique Wilson, Springfield High School, $750
 
Gerald F. and Luanna R. Kennedy Scholarship Fund
Isaiah Harbert, Pana High School, $2,000
 
Girls on the Run Founder Scholarship
Arianna Toney, Jacksonville High School, $1,500
 
Ila M. Skelton Scholarship
Payton Heise, Murray State, $3,500
Jada Jackson, Springfield Southeast High School, $3,500
 
Illinois Women in Leadership - Chrysalis
Amanda Pingleton, University of Illinois Springfield, $2,000
Kera Pusch, Lincoln Land Community College, $2,000
 
Illinois Women in Leadership - High School
Jaylynn Clayton, Lanphier High School, $2,000
Brooke Lyons, Springfield High School, $2,000
Isha Ramkumar, Springfield High School, $2,000
Reese Watson, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, $2,000
 
Jamie K. Patino Math and Science Scholarship
Mia Gephart, Springfield Southeast High School, $1,200
 
Jean Lee Hiller Memorial Scholarship
Aulona Letniku, Taylorville High School, $4,000
 
Jim Byron Scholarship
Kaedyn Locke, Williamsville High School, $1,000
 
Jim Muller Build a Better Future Scholarship
William Bushong, Athens Community High School, $500
Zakkary Edwards, Athens Community High School, $500
Cody Tobias, Athens Community High School, $500
RJ Wehmhoff, Athens Community High School, $500
 
John & Judy Woodruff Performing Arts Scholarship
Claire Wright, Springfield High School, $1,000
 
Joseph and Lois Morris Memorial Scholarship
Charles Boehl, Springfield High School, $1,500
Miracle Harrison, Springfield High School, $1,500
Reese Jennings, Springfield High School, $2,000
Aubri Kruse, Springfield High School, $1,500
Celia Potts, Springfield High School, $1,500
 
Linda S. Culver Memorial Scholarship
Maia Dothager, Staunton Community High School, $10,000
Sophia Pollock, Lutheran High School, $10,000
Emma Wiker, Athens Community High School, $10,000
 
Lori L. Kashmer Scholarship
Mia Volpert, Springfield High School, $3,500
 
Mary Lou and Dwight Pitman Scholarship
Darcy Jagels, Williamsville High School, $1,000
 
MMBL Scholarship
A'Jeont Lee, Lanphier High School, $3,500
 
Nicholas DeBrun Hands On Memorial Scholarship
Damien Tarrant, Morrisonville High School, $2,000
 
Paul V. Gage Community Service Scholarship
Leeann Jackson, Vienna High School, $1,000
 
Pearl Fairfield Scholarship
Leah Robinson, Springfield Southeast High School, $1,000
 
Polly Roesch Vocal Music Scholarship
Jackie Tucka, Springfield High School, $1,000
 
Roland Machinery Scholarship
Gavin Zoerner, Glenwood High School, $1,000
 
SAHBA Construction/Robert E. von Behren Memorial Scholarship
Garrett Hale, Litchfield High School, $1,500
 
Sgt. John Dalhaus Scholarship
Payton Noyes, Litchfield High School, $1,000
 
Tom and Dee O'Brien Scholarship for the Study of Nursing
Jamya Fallen, Concordia University (Wisc.), $2,000
Sawyer Fraase, Springfield High School, $2,000
Gabriel Lobmaster, Springfield Southeast High School, $2,000
Bailey Morris, Jacksonville High School, $2,000
Braden Nicoll, Lincoln Land Community College, $2,000
 
Tripp Bringe Scholarship
Barrett Morse, PORTA High School, $5,000
Tyler Sathoff, PORTA High School, $5,000
Addison Stadsholt, PORTA High School, $5,000
 
W.G. Bird Teachers' Scholarship
Jett Cocagne, Auburn High School, $1,800
 
Walter and Polly Roesch Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois Scholarship
Jamarian Bardwell, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, $1,000
 
World War II Illinois Descendants Scholarship
Kimber Linderman, Pawnee High School, $1,000
Lucy Graham, Lanphier High School, $1,000