Scholarships
Scholarship List for 2024-2025
*Scholarships are listed in Date Order*
The new FAFSA application process is at located at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Federal/state moneys are distributed on a first come/first serve basis. If you need assistance completing the application please contact the counselor’s office.
This list includes possible scholarships opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year. The site will be updated periodically as scholarships and/or due dates become available for the 2024-2025 school year. (Last year’s scholarship due date and/or scholarship will be left on the list until the new due date/scholarship is available so students can check criteria and have a general idea of the due date. Check the links every couple weeks for updated information. Some sites do not update the information until closer to the due date.)
If you have any questions please contact the counselor’s office.
***Scholarship links are added when the application or site becomes available. The underlined titles are linked to either a website or an application document. Check availability often and HIT REFRESH in your browser to ensure the most recent update is shown.
For more scholarship listings and college/loan information please visit the following web sites:
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ISAC - http://www.isac.org/
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Fastweb - financial aid - www.fastweb.com
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Scholarship Aid - www.scholarsaid.com
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Sallie Mae - www.salliemae.com
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Financial aid - www.finaid.org
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ACT's Free Financial Aide Book http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/act-profile/financial-aid.html
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Federal Student Financial Aid Homepage – https://studentaid.gov/
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Pre-Paid Tuition – www.collegeillinois.com
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Student Award Search Aid http://www.studentawardsearch.com/
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Student Scholarships www.studentscholarships.org/scholarship.php
Reminder: Scholarships are free money; you should not pay a fee to apply.
Follow the High School Guidance Office on Facebook for up to date reminders and announcements. Just "like" the Mercer County HS Guidance Office when you log in.
Horatio Alger National Career & Technical Scholarship Program
Due: September 15, 2023
StudyCori Annual Video Contest Scholarship
Eligibility: Current high school, college, or university students from ANY country
Awards: The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The runner-up prize is $500
Due Date - Sept. 17, 2024
Due Date - Must be postmarked no later than Sept. 20, 2024
Due Date - Sept. 30, 2024 by 5 p.m. Est.
Due Date - October 8, 2025
Applications begin October 15, 2024 and ends - Dec. 15, 2024
IvyPanda Video Contest Scholarship
Each year IvyPanda awards creative and talented in movie making students with scholarships $1500 total. Scholarships are given to two winners: the winner receives a $1,000 scholarship; the runner-up prize is $500.
Deadline: October 31, 2024
Stokes Educational Scholarship
Due October 31, 2023
Prudential Spirit of Community Award
Due Date - Nov. 2, 2023
*cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above required
Due Date - November 14, 2024
Due Date - November 15, 2024
**NEW**Gold Star FS Scholarship & Work Program
Gold Star FS, Inc. will grant two scholarships, each in the amount of $500 per semester. These will be granted to high school seniors or college students pursuing a two-year degree at Black Hawk College East in either Agribusiness Management or Agriculture Production and an additional $500 per semester can be awarded by participating in our program.
Due: July 15th (for Fall semester) & Nov 30th (for Spring semester)
WIU President's Scholarship
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3.75+ GPA OR
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Meet 2 of the following 3 criteria: 3.4+ GPA, top 15% graduating class, 24+/1160+ ACT/SAT
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Enroll in the Centennial Honors College
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Demonstrated leadership ability and community engagement
https://www.wiu.edu/student_success/scholarship/2025/presidential.php
Due: December 15, 2024
Kids’ Chance Inc. of Illinois was founded with the goal of awarding academic college scholarships to deserving children of workers serious injured or killed on the job.
Due Date - Dec 31, 2024
Brooks Law Group Car Accident Scholarship
The contest is open to current high school seniors & undergraduate college students who will be attending a US college or university in the next fall semester.
Due: December 31
*There are numerous scholarships that can be applied for through the FFA Scholarship.
Due Date - January 9, 2025 by 1:59 a.m.
Equitable Excellence Scholarship
Due Date - January 13, 2025
Illinois State Historical Society
Postmarked or emailed by January 15, 2025
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Granger E. Westberg Pastoral Care Award
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Kenneth D. Moburg Administrative Award
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Kenneth D. Moburg Educational Scholarship
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Lynn Vermeer Youth Development Scholarship
Due Date - January 15, 2025
Illinois School Counselor Association - Post-Secondary Scholarship
$1,000 ISCA student scholarship. All applications must be completed online through the Google Form.
All applications MUST be submitted by 11:59pm on Friday, January 17, 2025.
JCI Charitable Foundation Scholarship
Each year, the U.S. Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate Foundation grants $1,500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities or vocational schools.
Due: January 17, 2025
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
Due Date - Jan. 17, 2025
Quad City Regional Auto Show Scholarship
For those: Planning to attend a 2 or 4 yr college and working or have a parent /guardian who works at a new car dealership OR for those wanting to be trained as an automotive technician.
Due Date - Jan. 19, 2025
Quad City Engineering & Science Council
*Plan to pursue a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degree at a 4 year university.
Due Date - January 28, 2025
Dean Ritter Trust for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Must have significant hearing loss in one or both ears.
Due date - January 31, 2025
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Applicant must be a high school senior or a post secondary student.
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Applicants must be pursuing a degree in an agriculture field.
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The application must be submitted by January 31, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
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Scholarship winner must attend at least one IL Corn leadership meeting or event within a year of receiving scholarship.
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Applicant must have an active ICGA membership*
Due: January 31, 2025 by 11:59 pm CT
Applicants may start applying in the second semester of their junior year, with transcripts submitted through junior or senior year.
Due: January 31, 2025-Seniors
Application will reopen April 1,2025 for Juniors
Illinois Pork Donor-Advised Scholarship
Due: February 1, 2025
Davidson Fellows Scholarships
Due Date - February 12, 2025
IAA Foundation Scholarship Foundation
** Steve Willits Memorial Scholarship - a renewing scholarship each year of college if the student maintains a 3.5 GPA. Mercer County residents only.
Due Date Feb. 15, 2025
IHMVCU Cash for Class Scholarship
Due by 5pm February 15, 2025
Quad Cities Community Foundation
* Includes the following scholarships for residents of Mercer or Rock Island County:
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Brand Boeshaar Scholarship
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Bryant-Holmes Scholarship for Mercer County High School
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Diana DePover-Nesseler Memorial Scholarship
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Don. E. & Charlotte Williams
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Edwin R. Adland & Ruth Adland
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Elise Brett Scholarship
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Great River Bend Cyclone Award Scholarship
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John R Kiley Memorial Scholarship
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Kelly Marie McQuate Memorial Scholarship
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Louis F. Bulechek Memorial
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Morency Family Scholarship
Deadline extended to - Feb. 15, 2025
Society of American Military Engineers Rock Island Post
Pursuing a career in engineering or physical sciences.
Due Date - February 21, 2025
The CVM-Illinois Youth Mentoring Health Scholarship
*Quad City area high school seniors and /or undergraduate students who plan to pursue or are enrolled in a full-time undergraduate course of study in math, science or the medical sciences from an accredited college or university.
Due Date - February 28, 2025
*must attend the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign to apply.
Due Date - Feb. 28, 2025
*Parents must be members of the Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau.
*Pursuing education in agriculture or agri-business.
Due Date - Feb. 28, 2025
**NEW** Galesburg Elks Lodge #894 Memorial Scholarship
Due February 28, 2025
**NEW** Will Cook Memorial Scholarship
Must be a high school senior; Plan to pursue an agricultural area of study, including, but not limited to, farm labor, grower, farm/ranch management, biology, horticulture, farm science, agriculture sales or insurance; Be in good academic standing; and Be a US Citizen residing in Illinois
Due March 1, 2025
**NEW** Sam Taylor Memorial Scholarship
Available to any Illinois FFA member who is a graduating senior planning to major in agriculture or is a student already enrolled in an agricultural program at a two or four year college or university. Preference will be given to applicants majoring in agriculture education,but all agriculture majors are encouraged to apply.
Due March 1, 2025
National Wild Turkey Federation's Academic Scholarship
*Applicant must provide a copy of current hunting license
*If selected as the scholarship recipient, student is required to attend the NWTF banquet.
Due Date - March 1, 2025
Due Date - March 1, 2025
Holocaust Education Scholarship
Ida Kramer Essay Contest Theme: Children of the Holocaust
Due date - March 1, 2025
Due: 4pm CST on March 1, 2025
Illinois Odd Fellows And Rebekahs
*Applicants need not be affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but must be a resident of Illinois and a citizen of the U.S.
Due Date - March 1, 2025
Applicant must reside in the local area or have a parent/sponsor residing in the local area AND meet one of the following criteria: (a) hold a valid Military ID card (including dependent ID card) or a valid Federal ID card issued by Rock Island Arsenal, or volunteer in a Rock Island Arsenal philanthropic organization b) have a parent/sponsor who holds a valid Military ID card or valid Federal ID card issued by Rock Island Arsenal, or have a parent who volunteers in a Rock Island Arsenal philanthropic organization.
Due Date - March 1, 2025
Mercer County 4-H Memorial Scholarship
Must be an active member of a Mercer County 4-H club & a high school senior.
Due Date - March 1, 2025
Patti Jeanne Higgins 4-H Scholarship
Resident of Mercer or Warren County, actively involved in 4-H for a minimum of 3 years.
Due Date - March 1 by 4:00 p.m.
Township Officials of Illinois
Due -March 1, 2025
Eligibility Requirements:
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Veteran with a permanent Illinois address.
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Honorably Discharged
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Enrolled as a part-time or full-time student at a college, university, vocational or technical school in Illinois. Student does not need to be freshman.
Due Date - March 1, 2025
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Due Date - March 1, 2025
Great River Teacher Corps Scholarship
*For Education Majors planning to attend or attending WIU
*Must agree to teach in a small town or rural school in West-central Illinois after graduation
Due Date - March 1, 2025
Marquis "What Fuels You" Scholarship
Marquis "What Fuels You" Scholarship, awarding a total of $10,000 in scholarships with up to two $2,500 scholarships for all students that live within a 90 mile radius of Hennepin and will be enrolled in college, graduate school, or a technical institute for the Fall 2024 semester.
The scholarship requires applicants to complete three essay questions (500-750 words) and provide one teacher recommendation
Due Date - March 1, 2025
Due: March 1, 2025
*GPA at least 3.0 on 4.0 scale
Due Date - March 2, 2025 by 11:59pm CST
CBAI Foundation for Community Banking
*Questions? E-mail cortnib@cbai.com
*Banks participating in our area: BankORION, Aledo, IL
Due Date - Students should return essays to their sponsoring bank by March 3, 2025
Metallica Scholars Initiative is designed to directly support students while elevating the importance of career and technical education. Clinton Community College students enrolled in the Engineering Technology program can apply for a full tuition or a $1,500 scholarship.
Due: March 3, 2025
$3,000 scholarship given out to a Christian male freshman attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Fall 2023. Runner-ups may be eligible for $1,000.
Due Date - March 4, 2023
Open to graduating seniors in the Mercer County School District #404.
● Applicants must have formal plans to pursue post-secondary education, including:
○ College or university
○ Trade school or vocational school
○ Military service
○ Workforce
Scholarship applications accepted March 4- April 30, 2025
Illinois Retired Teacher Association
Applicant must be endorsed by an active IRTA member or descendant of an IRTA member
Application must be submitted prior to student’s junior or senior year of college. Student must be accepted into a Teacher Certificate Program.
Must be postmarked or emailed and sent by March 7, 2025
Edmond and Hebel FFA Scholarship
Turn application into Guidance Office please.
Due Date - March 9, 2025
Students are eligible to receive up to $5,000.
Due Date - March 10, 2025
Illinois Chemical Education Foundation Scholarship
*open to all future chemists, chemical engineers or environmental engineers
Due: postmarked no later than Friday, March 7, 2025, and received no later than Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Pursuing a higher education in an office professional, secretarial, or business-related field within the State of IL with preference given at the Univ. of IL.
Due Date - March 12, 2025
Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District Scholarship
$500.00 Scholarship is awarded to a Mercer County resident who is a senior pursuing a career in Agriculture, Natural Resources, or Environmental Studies. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Due Date - March 14, 2025
Due March 14, 2025
Illinois Sheriffs' Association
Return applications to Mercer County Sheriff’s Department: Att: Dusty Terrill, Sheriff 906 SW 3rd Street, Aledo, IL 61231
Due Date - March 14, 2025
Horatio Alger Scholarship **Juniors only**
Eligibility Criteria: Must be a High School Junior, demonstrate financial need, and be a United States citizen.
Due Date - 12pm ET on March 15, 2025
Compeer Financial High School Senior Scholarship
Graduating high school seniors who have an agriculture or rural background, or plan to major in an agriculture-related field at a community college, university or technical school are encouraged to apply between now and March 15.
Each scholarship recipient will receive $1,500 for educational tuition expenses. Qualified applicants must be graduating seniors who live in Compeer Financial’s 144-county territory and have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Recipients will be selected based on a combination of academic achievement; agricultural, community and youth organization involvement; and essays.
Due Date - March 15, 2025
Rock Island County Farm Bureau
*Applicants must be a member or a dependent of a member of the RI Farm Bureau. Applicants DO NOT need to major in agriculture to be eligible.
Due Date - March 24, 2025 by 4:00 PM
BPW Illinois Foundation Scholarship
Returning Student Financially Independent
Returning Student Dependent on Parents
Applicant must be female, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the state of Illinois.
Due Date - March 25, 2025
Fortunaires Foundation Scholarship
Due Date - March 27, 2025
Students must be a member or a dependent of a Mercer County Farm Bureau member to qualify. This scholarship is for students planning to attend junior colleges, 4 year universities, or trade schools.
Due Date - March 28, 2025
Exchange Club Youth of the Year
Due Date - March 28, 2025
Farmers State Bank of Western IL
Farmers State Bank will award one (1) $2,000 scholarship to a graduating senior that plans to continue his/her education through an accredited program at a 4-year college, 2-year college, trade school or vocational school.
Due: March 28, 2025
Due: March 31, 2025
Due Date March 31, 2025
The Cirkled In “No Sweat” Scholarship is a $2500 CASH scholarship you can use for any educational purpose, from books to summer camp. In just two steps, you’re in! Apply by signing-up for a Cirkled In account and then complete your portfolio.
Due: March 31, 2025
Pepsi-Cola of Rock Island Scholarship
Due Date - March 31, 2025