Dollars for Scholars

In recognition of Illinois State University’s 150th celebration, a philanthropic initiative called “Dollars for Scholars” was launched to build the endowment of four scholarship funds to ensure that financial assistance is available for future outstanding students at the University. Dollars for Scholars support Bowman Fellows, Bone Scholars, Presidential Scholars and the Olamide E. Adeyooye Memorial Scholarship.

Bowman Fellows are selected teacher candidates who are given the opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills, engage in mentoring relationships with local professional leaders, and participate in training designed to improve the quality and performance of organizations.

Being a Bone Scholar is the highest academic distinction that can be achieved by undergraduate students at Illinois State.   The scholarship, which is the highest level of recognition attainable by an ISU student, is named in honor of the late Robert G. Bone, president of Illinois State from 1956 to 1967.  Each year, up to 14 Bone Scholars are selected through a rigorous campus-wide competition.  Selection of new Bone Scholars is conducted under the aegis of the Honors Program.

The Presidential Scholarship is the most prestigious academic scholarship program available to new beginning freshmen.  It provides students a premiere educational experience while assisting their leadership development through a variety of professional and personally enriching programs.  Scholars complete a challenging and intellectually stimulating core curriculum, participate in a peer mentoring program with upper-class scholars and special programs in the Bloomington-Normal community, and participate in a service learning course where the student selects a not-for profit agency in the Bloomington-Normal community and completes a special 130-hour service project.  

The Olamide E. Adeyooye Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of an Illinois State senior whose life was tragically ended in October 2005.  To be eligible, students must be enrolled in good standing at the University, have a demonstrated academic achievement, have demonstrated financial need and will use the funds for educational and/or housing expenses, must have completed at least 30 credit hours at Illinois State, and has demonstrated a commitment to campus and/or community service.

To support this or any other scholarships or areas of campus, contact Barbara Todd, executive director of Internal Campaigns, Campus Box 3200, bttodd@ilstu.edu or phone (309) 438-2592.  Visit the web site at www.universityadvancement.ilstu.edu/ . Donors who give $150 or more will be recognized as Dollars for Scholars donors with special campus-wide recognition.  The initiative has been extended until the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2008.