State of Illinois Grants for College

General Assembly Scholarships

• The Illinois legislature allows each member to nominate two students a year to receive Illinois General Assembly Legislative scholarships, according to the State Board of Education website. The legislator also can divide each four-year scholarship into two two-year scholarships or four one-year scholarships. The scholarships cover full tuition and some student fees at any state-supported college in Illinois. Applicants must live within the legislator's district. Interested students should contact their senators or representatives for information about the application process, which differs with each member of the General Assembly.

  Illinois State Board of Education

  100 N. First St.

  Springfield, IL 62777

  866-262-6663

  isbe.state.il.us

Illinois Dollars for Scholars

• According to its website, the Illinois Dollars for Scholars program is a division of Scholarship America. Dollars for Scholars focuses on raising scholarship funds at the community level and provides a number of academic support and mentoring programs, including tutoring and help finding financial aid. According to its website, Illinois Dollars for Scholars “has awarded more than $2.5 million in scholarships to 2,986 students in 153 Illinois Dollars for Scholars chapters” between 1997 and 2010. In Illinois, the founding sponsor for Dollars for Scholars is the Nicor Gas company.

  Illinois Dollars for Scholars

  P.O. Box 712

  Mokena, IL 60448

  888-255-9140

  illinoisdollarsforscholars.org

Golden Apple Scholars

• The Golden Apple Scholars program seeks to prepare teachers to take on the challenges of working in high-needs environments throughout Illinois. According to the Golden Apple Scholars website, applicants must submit seven essays, letters of reference, test scores and transcripts. Students selected as finalists must submit to an interview. To receive the awards--$2,500 annually for freshmen and sophomores and $5,000 annually for juniors and seniors paid directly to the scholar's undergraduate institution--Golden Apple Scholars must attend a participating college or university in Illinois. Scholars can receive advanced teacher training during summer institutes and get a $2,000 stipend each summer that they participate. In return, the Golden Apple scholars must agree to teach at an Illinois school in need for at least five years.

  Golden Apple Foundation

  8 S. Michigan Ave.

  Suite 700

  Chicago, IL 60603

  312-407-0006

  goldenapple.org