Written by: Jamie Roth, Community Services & Public Relations Director
July 22, 2025 (Macomb, Illinois) – WIRC-Community Action Agency (WIRC) has a mission of lifting up people in need in western Illinois through their services, programs and partnerships. The scholarship program aims to help eligible students with paying for college to achieve their academic goals, when they otherwise might not be able to do so. After reviewing many applications from students across five counties (Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren), WIRC officials are happy to announce that two students were selected for the 2025 award: Lucas Shirey and Madelyn Thurman.
Each student was awarded $3,000 to be used towards tuition, books, supplies, equipment, and/or fees. Scholarship funds are given directly to the university.
To be considered for the scholarship, students had to write a competitive essay about their personal and educational goals. Those essays were scored using a blind review process, meaning student names and other identifying information were redacted.
Shirey and Thurman’s essays stood out from others and scored highest because of their dedication towards achieving their goals, clarity of their writing, excellent professional references, and their passion for helping others in the community.
Lucas Shirey is studying Supply Chain Management at Western Illinois University. He has been motivated to gain real-world experience through multiple internships. So far, he has worked at ADM as a Rail Rate Intern and plans to be a Department Manager Intern at Pella this summer.
“I aim to apply the technical knowledge from my internships, the leadership insights from my extracurricular activities, and the analytical skills developed through competitions to become a well-rounded and effective supply chain professional,” said Shirey.
Madelyn Thurman is studying Early Childhood Education, also at Western Illinois University. She is passionate about exploring ways to integrate technology with traditional learning methods to help students learn problem-solving and explore their creativity.
“My goal is to create an inclusive, engaging and supportive learning environment where all children can thrive,” said Thurman. “I believe that early childhood education is the foundation for lifelong learning, and I want to ensure that each child has the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, creativity and confidence in their abilities.”
The students were celebrated at a small gathering with their families at WIRC. Nickie Wike of the Community Services department presented each student with their award. Also in attendance were CEO Stacy Nimmo, Community Services & Public Relations Director Jamie Roth, and Food Pantry Manager Kelly Shiraki.
Funding for the WIRC Scholarship is provided by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Equal opportunity provider/employer.