About the Scholarship
Lee and Janet Cobb, through the Western Illinois Regional Council – Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA), are offering a $5,000 Nathan Cobb Academic Award. Consideration for this prestigious scholarship will be open to income qualified residents of McDonough County. This is an award that is designed to financially assist students with their higher education expenses.
The Nathan Cobb Academic Award may be used for tuition and fees, textbooks, or room and board if living in campus housing, and payment on behalf of the recipient will made directly to the Financial Aid Department of the indicated college/university.
Nathan’s Legacy
Nathan Cobb joined the Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC) team in June 2009. He was hired as a Housing Specialist and stayed in that position for 2-1/2 years. In this position, he worked with individuals and families who were struggling with poverty and not living in the most ideal of conditions. He assessed homes to determine areas for energy related improvements in order to generate cost savings for the clients. In 2012, Nathan transferred into an Assistant Planner position within the WIRC Community Development Department and was later promoted to Principal Planner. In this role, he worked closely with the technical assistance and grant writing/administration side of the agency; assisting municipalities and counties in finding solutions and funding to meet the needs of the residents including infrastructure improvements and energy efficiency grant funding. He had many successes in this capacity. In 2014, Nathan was promoted to Transit Director for the McDonough County Transportation Program (MCPT); a program that serves both Hancock and McDonough counties. In this capacity, he managed the Vehicle Maintenance Center building and was responsible for the day-to-day operational oversight of the transit program; including grant writing and administration. Shortly before his death, he had been named WIRC Interim Executive Director.
Nathan was an extremely bright and talented young man. He was not afraid to get in to the trenches; to get his hands dirty in order to get a job done. He also was a wonderful researcher. If he was given a seed of an idea or a problem that needed to be addressed, he would actively research to see what could be done to implement something new or to find a solution to the problem expressed. He was also a very kind and gentle soul, with a big and generous heart. He deeply cared about his work and the persons that he served; going the extra mile to ensure that a job was done well. He was totally committed to his family and friends; always expressing sensitivity and a profound loyalty when speaking of them. Nathan was loved by all that knew him, either in a work or friendship capacity, for the person that he was with all of the attributes that were unique to him and his genuine and profoundly moral and compassionate character. Nathan was very special for all of the kindnesses that he shared; for his heartwarming smile and demeanor; and for being a very special person.
This scholarship has been established by Nathan’s parents; Janet and Lee Cobb. It is intended that Nathan’s legacy live on and that he not be forgotten; for the person that he was, the wonderful work that he did, the contributions that he made, and for all the lives he touched in his young life; a life cut short.
Cobb Scholarship Eligibility Guidelines
- You must currently live in McDonough County, and have lived there for at least one year.
- You must have earned a high school diploma or GED.
- You must be accepted into a college, university, community college, or occupational training program as a FULL-TIME student.
- Your household’s total annual income cannot be higher than 300% of the current poverty guidelines (refer to the income chart shown below).
Cobb Scholarship Income Guidelines
Check the following chart to see if you are within the income guidelines for the Cobb Scholarship. The household size includes you, plus any other people who live at your permanent (primary) address.
| Household Size | Combined Annual Income Limit (Gross) |
| 1 person | $ 43,740 |
| 2 people | $ 59,160 |
| 3 people | $ 74,580 |
| 4 people | $ 90,000 |
| 5 people | $ 105,420 |
| 6 people | $ 120,840 |
| 7 people | $ 136,260 |
| 8 people | $ 151,680 |
| For each additional person in your home, add | $ 15,420 |
Evaluation
All complete applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by a scholarship committee. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2023
Application Forms
Contact Information
If you have any questions, please contact Haley (she/her) by emailing Haley@wirpc.org or by calling WIRC at 309-837-2997 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
WIRC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.