Adult Scholarships
Spring 2025 Adult Scholarship Applications open September, 1 2024 - Piatt County Residents Now Eligible!
The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation Adult Scholarship Fund provides adults and nontraditional students with the opportunity to earn their degrees. The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation encourages individuals who interrupted their schooling to pursue completion of their education. This scholarship supports two- and four-year degrees, or a master's degrees at Richland Community College, Millikin University or any other regionally accredited college/university by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) nationwide in person or online. However, the applicant still must reside in Macon or Piatt County. In addition, individuals participating in Macon County union apprenticeship programs also are eligible for adult scholarships to cover fees, books, and equipment.
Meet Chelsi
"Being a recipient of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation's Adult Scholarship gave me the opportunity to prioritize my education. The scholarship removed financial burdens and allowed me to focus on completing my studies. Because of this, I was able to graduate with a 3.9 GPA, high honors, and retained enrollment in elite academic honor societies.
Adult Scholarship TestimonialsEligibility requirements - for Spring 2025 semester
- Applicants must be Macon or Piatt County residents age 22 or older.
- Applicants must demonstrate legal residency in Macon or Piatt County for at least the past year. Documentation such as housing receipts, utility bills, tax forms or a voter's registration card may be used to verify residency.
- Selected applicants may attend Richland Community College, Millikin University, or any other regionally accredited college/university by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) nationwide in person or online. However, the applicant must reside in Macon or Piatt County. In addition, applicants participating in Macon County union apprenticeship programs are eligible for adult scholarships to cover fees, books, and equipment.
- Applicants must have earned a high school diploma or GED.
- For applicants pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree: Applicants must have a gap of at least three years before pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree. Applicant’s three-year break must be reflected through transcripts. Currently enrolled college students are eligible if a three-year break occurred at some time, or the student previously received a HICF Adult Scholarship and is therefore eligible to renew for consecutive semesters.
- For applicants pursuing a master’s degree or PhD: Applicants do not have to have a 3-year gap in education. For example, if the applicant received a bachelor’s degree in Fall 2024 and is immediately pursing a master’s in Spring 2025, they are eligible to apply for an adult scholarship.
- Financial need is considered when determining award recipients. Applicants must provide relevant financial documents for the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation to review, including a completed FAFSA form (available at fafsa.gov) or income tax documentation.
Available funding
Scholarship awards range up to $2,500 per individual and may be used for tuition, course/program-related fees and books. The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation will provide total funding for the adult scholarship program of up to $100,000 annually over two scholarship cycles, spring and fall.
Selected applicants may apply for successive semesters of scholarship support.
Meet Amanda
"I want to express my gratitude to the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation for believing in me and awarding me an adult scholarship. It helped me achieve my goal of getting my Master’s degree in Nursing. To have the personal and financial support of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation is humbling. "
Adult Scholarship Testimonials
Kathy Carter
Questions
If you have a question about the application process, contact Kathy Carter, HICF Scholarship Coordinator, by calling 217.429.3000 or by email at kcarter@heartofillinois.org
