Scholarships
The Alumni Association and the groups that work in conjunction with the Association provide scholarship opportunities for current and future students of Illinois State University. Please see the links below for more information on the monetary awards. Application deadlines vary. Please read through each scholarship to learn about criteria and deadlines.
Alumni Association Scholarship
In 2009, the Alumni Association launched an initiative to create the Illinois State University Alumni Association Scholarship. This scholarship addresses the accessibility of undergraduate education to students who exhibit outstanding academic achievement and leadership, and who demonstrate a financial need. Additional consideration is given to students whose immediate family members have attended or graduated from Illinois State University and to students that will be juniors and seniors in the fall. Award is $1000 per semester and will be automatically renewed based on students good academic standing and full-time enrollment up to earning a bachelor's degree. Support this scholarship.
Criteria/Eligibility
- An undergraduate student who is accepted for enrollment or enrolled as full-time student and in good standing meaning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale at Illinois State University or other previously attended higher education institutions, if applicable
- Preference given to students with at least 60 credit hours completed by fall 2023
- Demonstrated contributions to the enrichment of the individual's school or community through active involvement in cocurricular and/or community activities. The recipient(s) will have demonstrated individual initiative, creativity, responsibility, cooperation, and leadership ability.
- Students will be required to submit three leadership/civic engagement activities they are currently involved in and why they are important to them (125-word min / 300-word max).
This application is closed. Deadline: February 10, 2023.
Scholarships Provided to Legacies of Illinois State Alumni
A legacy is a student who has a parent, guardian, grandparent, or sibling who is an Illinois State graduate.
Student Alumni Council/Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship
The Illinois State University Student Alumni Council awards a limited number of legacy scholarships to sons, daughters, siblings, or grandkids of Illinois State University graduates each year. The Student Alumni Council/Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship was first established in 1989 and additional support from the estate of Marian H. Dean made a significant impact in the creation of this scholarship.
Donald L. and Marie E. Dillow Family Memorial Scholarship
The Donald L. and Marie E. Dillow Family Memorial Scholarship was established by family and friends in November 2011 as a way to honor and recognize Donald and Marie’s commitment to further education, strong involvement in the community, and close relationship with Illinois State University. Their commitment to education survives in a total of eight Illinois State alumni amongst their children, children’s spouses, grandchildren, and grandchildren’s spouses. It is more than fitting that a scholarship in their name lives on to benefit the children or grandchildren of Illinois State University alumni.
Redbird Family Partial Tuition Waiver
The Illinois State University Alumni Association is pleased to offer a limited number of legacy student partial tuition waivers to be awarded to selected students annually.
Criteria/ Eligibility
- Candidate must be a part of a legacy family tradition, which means any of the following must be an Illinois State graduate: mother, father, guardian, sister, brother, grandmother, and/or grandfather
- An undergraduate student who is accepted for enrollment or enrolled as full-time student and in good standing meaning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale at Illinois State University or other previously attended higher education institutions, if applicable
- Preference given to students with at least 60 credit hours completed by fall 2023
- Demonstrated contributions to the enrichment of the individual's school or community through active involvement in cocurricular and/or community activities. The recipient(s) will have demonstrated individual initiative, creativity, responsibility, cooperation, and leadership ability.
- Students will be required to submit three leadership/civic engagement activities they are currently involved in and why they are important to them (125-word min / 300-word max).
- Exhibited potential as a future alumni leader
- Preference given to those who have not previously received the award
Only one application is needed to apply for the Student Alumni Council/Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship, the Dillow Family Memorial Scholarship, and the Redbird Family Partial Tuition Waiver. Each scholarship is $500 per semester for two semesters, not automatically renewed but students can reapply. Please review the criteria below to be considered for these scholarships.
This application is closed. Deadline: February 10, 2023.
Scholarships Provided/Selected by Alumni Groups
Black Colleagues Association Scholarships
The following scholarships are awarded by the Black Colleagues Association, a chartered affinity network of the Alumni Association. In addition, alumni who contribute to ISUBCA made it possible for the scholarship to be increased for a total award of $2,000 with the exception of the Andrew Purnell Jr. Scholarship. Recipients of the scholarships should review all criteria and information needed within the application. Only one application is required per student.
- Undergraduates are eligible to apply for all scholarships administered by the Black Colleagues Association.
- Graduate students are eligible to apply for the Judge Russell DeBow Scholarship, the Theta Delta Commemorative Public Service Scholarship, the Andrew Purnell Jr. Scholarship, the Jones Family Scholarship, and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc Lambda Epsilon Chapter Scholarship.
- Students applying for the Theta Delta Commemorative Public Service, the Vincent Lionel Davis, and the Judge Russell DeBow Scholarships are not eligible to receive more than one of the awards during the same academic year.
- For current student applicants of the Andrew Purnell Jr. Scholarship, Jones Family Scholarship, or Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Lambda Epsilon Chapter Scholarship, preference is given to those who are a member of a minimum of one African American-related student organization. If the applicant is an incoming student, no preference for student organization membership is required.
Andrew Purnell Jr. Scholarship
Andrew Purnell ‘57 became one of the founders of the student chapter of the NAACP and served as the chapter president as an undergraduate and later worked to establish the ISU Black Colleagues Association (BCA) in 1984 where he served in several leadership positions. Long considered an invaluable alumnus, Purnell had been active in the Alumni Association. For his dedication to students and the University, he was inducted into the University’s Steve and Sandi Adams Legacy Hall of Fame, received the Alumni Association Mercier Outstanding Service Award, and was named Alumni Homecoming King in 2013. Purnell was slated to receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters during the Founding Celebration activities in 2020 before his untimely passing.
Today, his legacy lives on as BCA actively raises money for student scholarships to support and empower Black students. In March 2021, BCA established the Andrew Purnell Jr. Scholarship in honor of Andrew’s valuable contributions to the Black Colleagues Association. As the premier scholarship at $5,000, this award supports a student who exhibits excellence in academic achievement and community service.
This application is closed. Deadline: Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
Judge Russell DeBow Scholarship
Judge Russell DeBow was one of the charter members of ISUBCA and was instrumental in writing the original constitution and by-laws in 1994. Formerly known as the Black Colleagues scholarship, this scholarship was later renamed in honor of Judge DeBow’s valuable contribution toward formalizing this organization. Annual donations from alumni and friends of ISUBCA fund this $2,000 scholarship each year. Applying for this scholarship allows consideration for the Office of the President Scholarship and the Vice President for Student Affairs Scholarship.
- Office of the President Scholarship - This $1,000 scholarship is sponsored by Illinois State’s President Dr. Terry Goss Kinzy and has been awarded every year since 2000.
- Vice President for Student Affairs Scholarship - This $1,000 scholarship is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and has been awarded since 2008.
This application is closed. Deadline: Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
The Vincent Lionel Davis Scholarship
This $1,500 scholarship was established by the Davis Family in memory of Vincent Lionel Davis, a 1981 graduate of Illinois State University who died in the line of duty as an employee of the Dallas fire department.
This application is closed. Deadline: Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
The Commemorative Public Service Scholarship
This $1,000 scholarship was established by alumnae who were initiated into the Theta Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Illinois State University, in memory of Carol Lynn Johnson. Carol, a 1979 graduate of Illinois State University, passed away in 2004 after a brave and lengthy battle with breast cancer. This scholarship will be awarded to a student who exhibits excellence in academics and community service. Recipient(s) are selected by the Commemorative Public Service Scholarship Committee, which consists of members of the Black Colleagues Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
This application is closed. Deadline: Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
Lewis and Mills Endowed Scholarship
The Lewis and Mills Endowed Scholarship was established in 2014 by Alfred Lewis '90 and Stephen Mills '90. This scholarship will support a sophomore, junior or senior with a major within the College of Business or College of Arts and Science. This $1000 scholarship will be awarded with preference given to students diagnosed with cancer or those who have parents that succumbed to cancer or who are cancer survivors.
This application is closed. Deadline: Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
Eric D. Tapley, Brothers On Campus, Inc. Scholarship
The Eric D. Tapley, Brothers On Campus, Inc. Scholarship was established in 2020 to honor Brother/Member Eric D. Tapley. This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to an Illinois State sophomore, junior or senior who embodies the qualities that Eric displayed in his life including leadership, volunteer service, and student engagement.
This application is closed. Deadline: Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
Jones Family Scholarship
The Jones Family Scholarship was established in 2021 by Natasha Jones in memory of Brian L.C. Jones. While living and working in Normal, Brian chose Illinois State University to continue his post-graduate studies. Brian had very fond memories of ISU since this was the place that he met Natasha Jones ’94, the mother of his two children, and the place where his lifetime commitment began with his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Pi Beta Chapter. This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a student who embodies the qualities Brian displayed in his life including excellence in academic achievement and community service.
This application is closed. Deadline: Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Lambda Epsilon Chapter Scholarship
In preparation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lambda Epsilon Charter at Illinois State University in 2023, alumni members of the chapter established the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Lambda Epsilon Chapter Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship preserves the legacy of the chapter and celebrates the community-conscious, action-oriented organization while assisting Illinois State University students in their pursuit of scholarship and service.
This application is closed. Deadline: Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
Latinx Alumni Network Scholarship
Jaime and Lizet Flores Endowed Scholarship
The Jaime and Lizet Flores Endowed Scholarship was established in 2021 by Jaime ’80 and Lizet Flores. This $1,000 scholarship will support an undergraduate student enrolled in the College of Business with a preference for a student with a GPA of 2.3-3.0/4.0 scale and who has a commitment to education and the Latinx community. Jaime has been a trailblazer at Illinois State University. He served a 10-year term on the inaugural Board of Trustees, founded the Latinx Alumni Network in 2014, and was most recently inducted into the 2021 class of the College of Business Hall of Fame. None of this would be possible without the love and support of his beautiful wife, Lizet. The Flores’ have two daughters, College of Business alum Elizabeth ’12 and Helen.
This application is closed. Deadline: Wednesday, December 7, 2022.