Chicago Heights, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The Prairie State College (PSC) Board of Trustees Scholarship application is open to qualified high school seniors in community college district 515.
The scholarship covers tuition and fees for six-consecutive semesters at PSC and will be awarded to up to three qualified students from each district high school. Each recipient is considered a presidential ambassador and will be called upon to participate in various events hosted by the PSC president.
According to PSC Board of Trustees Chair Jacqueline Agee, “with this scholarship, high achieving students can earn their associate degree at PSC, debt free, and then transfer to an institution of their choice as a junior. PSC offers many of the same general education classes as four-year college and universities and are taught by exceptional, highly qualified faculty.”
Dr. Stefanie Coleman, director of First Year Experience (FYE) at PSC, says many high school seniors are graduating without a clear plan for their future, and some are still deciding on a major.
“PSC gives students the opportunity to explore their options and find what fits,” she said.
This was true for Homewood-Flossmoor High School graduate Elijah Leake, who was awarded the Board of Trustees Scholarship in 2017. Leake says he was undecided and thought it was a smart choice to attend PSC.
“I wanted to finish my gen eds, figure out my major and also raise my self-esteem and get more comfortable with college classes,” he said.
In high school, Leake was a high achieving student who was heavily involved in extracurricular activities. He says he could have chosen to go straight to a university, but decided that starting at PSC was a better fit. A pathway, Coleman says, many high school students are encouraged to take.
“ Seniors who exemplify academic excellence are urged to apply for the scholarship and continue their education at PSC,” said Coleman.
Leake heard about the PSC Board of Trustees Scholarship through his mom, and Coleman provided him the information he needed to get started. In May 2019, Leake will graduate with an associate degree in business. He says he is proud of his decision to attend PSC, even though he initially had doubts.
“I felt bad because a lot of my peers were going off to four-year universities, but I have no regrets,” he said. “Be confident about coming to PSC and don’t back down or let anyone make you waver from your decision.”
To qualify for the Board of Trustees Scholarship, applicants must be high school seniors in PSC district 515 with a minimum of 3.25 GPA. District 515 high schools include Beecher High School, Bloom High School, Bloom Trail High School, Crete-Monee High School, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Rich Central High School, Rich East High School, Rich South High School, and Marian Catholic High School. Scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA at PSC and maintain residency in District 515 throughout the scholarship term.
For directions on how to apply for a Board of Trustees Scholarship, visit prairiestate.edu/fye.
This is a release from Prairie State College.
