Written by: Jamie Roth, Community Services & Public Relations Director
College students in western Illinois are encouraged to apply for scholarships now being offered by two groups partnering to help students in need: The $3,000 WIRC-CAA Scholarship, and the $5,000 Nathan Cobb Memorial Scholarship. Multiple awards are available, and the online application can be found at wirpc.org/scholarships/.
“Students can apply online, and the application itself is relatively short,” said Jamie Roth, Community Services and Public Relations Director for WIRC-CAA. “The essay portion is only 500 words or less, and the remainder asks details like contact information and where the student is enrolled. We hope this short application will reduce barriers to applying, and we look forward to helping several students this year on their academic journey.”
The WIRC-CAA scholarship is open to students living in Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties in Illinois. Two awards of $3,000 each are available. To be considered, the applicant must meet the following criteria: (1) The applicant’s primary residence is within the five counties listed previously; (2) The applicant must complete a 500-word essay and submit at least two professional letters of recommendation; and (3) The applicant’s household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. For example, a three-person household cannot make more than $53,300 per year. A complete income chart can be found in the application or on wirpc.org by searching for ‘income guidelines.’ Funding for this scholarship is provided by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
The Nathan Cobb Memorial Scholarship is open only to students in McDonough County, Illinois. Two awards of $5,000 each are available. This scholarship was created in memory of McDonough County resident Nathan Cobb; a proud team member of WIRC known for his kindness and compassion to help others in need. His parents, Janet and Lee Cobb, provide funding for the scholarship through the McDonough County Community Foundation (MCCF).
To be considered for the Cobb scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria: (1) The applicant is a McDonough County resident; (2) The applicant completes a short essay within the application and submits at least two letters of recommendation; and (3) The applicant’s household income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. For example, a three-person household cannot make more than $79,950 per year. An income chart is available within the application.
Both scholarships distribute award funds directly to the successful applicant’s college or university that can be used to pay for tuition, books, or fees.
The application deadline for both scholarships is Friday, March 14, 2025. Apply online at wirpc.org/scholarships/. Paper applications are available upon request by calling WIRC at 309-837-2997.
WIRC-Community Action Agency (WIRC) is a nonprofit social service agency whose mission is to help and empower people and communities in western Illinois through their programs and services.
The McDonough County Community Foundation (MCCF) works to further philanthropy in a community minded way with a commitment to good stewardship.
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