The Illinois 4-H Foundation awarded $67,500 in scholarships to forty-five Illinois 4-H members across nine categories, according to an announcement on April 20. The recipients were recognized for their achievements during a ceremony held on April 3 in Champaign.
These scholarships are intended to support youth as they prepare for college and careers. Melissa Irwin, University of Illinois Extension 4-H club support and awards associate, said, “These scholarships recognize more than achievement, they reflect the leadership, responsibility, and real-world skills 4-H members have built through their experiences. Recipients are not only excelling in 4-H, they are preparing to succeed in college, careers, and their communities.”
Each scholarship winner receives $1,250 after being selected based on merit and a demonstrated standard of excellence within the program. Categories included Animal Sciences; Civil Engagement & Global Living; Creative & Performing Arts & Communications; Gardening, Agriculture & Food Access; Healthy Living & Nutrition; Leadership; Natural Resources & Environmental Science; Personal Growth; and STEM & Robotics. Sponsors for each award ranged from individuals honoring loved ones to endowments established specifically for the scholarship program.
A Signing Day event was also part of the celebration recognizing graduating seniors as they choose paths such as work, military service, college or apprenticeship programs under the Beyond Ready National 4-H initiative.
Irwin said further: “Through the Illinois 4-H scholarship program, we are investing in young people who have demonstrated commitment, growth, and a strong foundation for the future. These awards help open doors while reinforcing the career-ready skills youth gain through 4-H.”
Illinois 4-H operates under University of Illinois Extension within the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The university is situated in Urbana-Champaign and serves as a public research institution enrolling students from all fifty states and over one hundred countries while offering more than one hundred fifty undergraduate programs and one hundred graduate programs according to its official website. The university aims to advance discovery through research efforts that contribute both economically and societally according to its official website.
