Private Scholarships
Many community organizations, banks, credit unions, clubs, fraternal orders, businesses and employers sponsor a variety of private scholarships. Students are encouraged to contact these organizations about scholarship opportunities. High school guidance offices are also an excellent resource for scholarship listings, searches and assistance. Many private scholarships are awarded well before the fall semester begins, so students should start the search and application process early and pay close attention to deadlines.
Bree Montoya is an accountant based in Oklahoma. She wants to help the next generation of accountants in the United States, and would like to give back through the “Bree Montoya Scholarship for Accounting”.
This scholarship is available for students in the United States who are currently enrolled in a university to study to become an accountant.
The scholarship is meant to help a deserving student with scholarship funding who wishes to become an accountant.
Here is some brief information about our scholarship:
• Award of $1,000 to a Single Student
• Deadline for this scholarship is July 15, 2026
• A winner will be announced by August 15, 2026
All of the details and criteria can be found on our page:
https://breemontoyascholarship.com/bree-montoya-scholarship/
You can read some press about the scholarship from Yahoo News here:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bree-montoya-scholarship-accounting-announces-182200577.html
Casey State Bank is interested in promoting higher education opportunities for graduating High School Seniors in the communities we serve.
Casey State Bank accepts applications for scholarships from March 1st to April 15th every year. An applicant must be a graduating senior in Illinois from Casey-Westfield, Lawrenceville, Red Hill, Martinsville, Robinson, Charleston, Mattoon, or Marshall and plan to pursue a degree in business, finance or agriculture.
The scholarship recipients will be announced at their school’s Honors Night as well as on the Casey State Bank website and Casey State Bank Facebook page. The scholarship recipients will receive a check for $1,000.00 payable to the student with proof of enrollment to a college or university.
Students who wish to be considered for a scholarship must complete and submit their application to their school’s guidance counselor or directly to Casey State Bank beginning March 1st and no later than April 15th.
There will be no restriction on any applicant for reason of race, religion, gender or national origin or any protected characteristic as established by law.
CMEC currently awards the following scholarships:
- Six $500 scholarships
- Randall Beasley Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) – Preference will be given to an individual attending lineman school or majoring in the electrical or engineering field of study
Available Scholarships:
- Must be enrolled in a Medical Field of Study
- Must be a resident of Coles or Cumberland Counties for the last 5 years
- Must be a full-time student (12 or more semester credit hours)
- Must be a graduate of Mattoon, Charleston, Cumberland or Neoga High School
- Must have been admitted to or attending an accredited college in the field of agriculture
- Must have attended a high school in Coles County and graduated or obtained a GED
- Must be entering a vocational field and not seeking a four year degree
- May be part-time, but must indicate intended hours
- Preference give to those already in the work force and who are also in the nursing or agricultural field
- Must be a graduate of Mattoon High School
- Must be a full-time student
- Must be enrolled in the field of nursing
- Must be a graduate of Mattoon High School
- Must be a full-time student
- Must be enrolled in the field of nursing
The Aldrich Green Scholarship fund hopes to aid educational endeavors by offering scholarships to graduating Cumberland high school seniors. The fund will offer educational grants as scholarships to graduating high school seniors who aspire to continue their education at the college level. We would like to invite all seniors to apply who conform to the criteria below.
General information: Up to a $2,000 scholarship will be given to a student, distributed $250 per semester, up to 8 semesters, for the time he or she is enrolled in the college of his or her choice. The money could be used for tuition, fees, books, or living expenses for any two or four-year College, Technical School, or Junior College. Preference will be given to applicants who are less financially able to obtain a higher education and may not be receiving other scholarships or grants.
Criteria
- Applicant should have good academic standing.
- Applicant should have some school involvement.
- We may consider work experience for determining recipient.
- Applicant should have good citizenship/behavior.
- Special consideration will be given to students planning to return to the county where they currently reside in to seek employment.
- Upon completion of the application, it is the property of the scholarship committee and is non-returnable to the applicant.
- Your transcript should also be included with your application.
Download 2026 Aldrich Green Scholarship application.
Deadline to apply for scholarship is April 1, 2026.
Please submit your entry to either our Greenup or Toledo branch locations.
The First Neighbor Bank, N.A. Scholarship hopes to aid educational endeavors by offering scholarships to graduating high school seniors. The funds will offer educational grants as scholarships to graduating high school seniors who aspire to continue their education at the college level. We would like to invite all seniors to apply who conform to the criteria below. Seniors enrolled in any of the following high schools may apply: Arthur/Lovington/Atwood/Hammond, Cumberland, Casey, Charleston, Chrisman, Kansas, Mattoon, Neoga, Oakland, Paris, or Shiloh.
General information: A five-hundred-dollar scholarship will be presented at the High School Awards ceremony to a student enrolled in a two- or four-year college. The money could be used for tuition, fees, books, or living expenses for any two- or four-year College, Technical School, or Junior College. Preference will be given to applicants who are less financially able to obtain a higher education and may not be receiving other scholarships or grants.
Criteria:
- Applicant should have good academic standing.
- Applicant should have some school involvement.
- We may consider work experience for determining recipient.
- Applicant should have good citizenship/behavior.
- Special consideration will be given to students planning to return to the county where they currently reside min to seek employment.
- Upon completion of the application, it is the property of the scholarship committee and is non-returnable to the applicant.
- Your transcript should also be included with your application.
Award information: First Neighbor Bank branches serving their immediate communities will be awarding a single scholarship to the chosen high school student. Some First Neighbor Bank branches serve more than their immediate communities. For those communities covered by a branch that is not physically located in their town, those student’s applications will be submitted and reviewed by staff at the nearest branch.
If a First Neighbor Bank branch covers more than one high school, only one scholarship will be awarded from that branch location. The following is a breakdown of the scholarships awarded by branch.
- Arthur Branch – 1 Scholarship awarded to a Arthur/Lovington/Atwood/Hammond High School senior
- Casey Branch – 1 Scholarship awarded to Casey High School senior
- Charleston Branch – 2 Scholarships: 1 awarded to a Charleston High School senior and 1 awarded to a Oakland High School senior
- Greenup Branch – 1 Scholarship awarded to a Cumberland High School senior
- Mattoon Branch – 1 Scholarship awarded to a Mattoon High School senior
- Neoga Branch – 1 Scholarship awarded to a Neoga High School senior
- Newman Branch – 1 Scholarship awarded to a Shiloh High School senior
- Paris Branch – 3 Scholarships: 1 awarded to a Paris High School senior, 1 awarded to a Chrisman High School senior, and 1 awarded to a Kansas High School senior
- Toledo Branch – 1 Scholarship awarded to a Cumberland High School senior
Download the 2026 First Neighbor Bank, N.A. Scholarship application.
Deadline to apply for scholarship is April 1, 2026.
Please submit your entry to any of the 9 First Neighbor Bank locations – Arthur, Casey, Charleston, Greenup, Mattoon, Neoga, Newman, Paris or Toledo.
The William and Elizabeth Shadley Scholarship fund hopes to aid educational endeavors by offering scholarships to graduating Cumberland high school seniors. The fund will offer educational grants as scholarships to graduating high school seniors who aspire to continue their education at the college level. We would like to invite all seniors to apply who conform to the criteria below.
General information:
One $500 scholarship will be presented at the Cumberland High School Awards ceremony to a student enrolled in a two or four year college. The money could be used for tuition, fees, books, or living expenses for any two or four year College, Technical School, or Junior College. Preference will be given to applicants who are less financially able to obtain a higher education and may not be receiving other scholarships or grants.
Criteria
- Applicant should have good academic standing.
- Applicant should have some school involvement.
- We may consider work experience for determining recipient.
- Applicant should have good citizenship/behavior.
- Special consideration will be given to students planning to return to the county where they currently reside in to seek employment.
- Upon completion of this application, it is the property of the scholarship committee and is non-returnable to the applicant.
- Your transcript should also be included with this application.
Download the 2026 William and Elizabeth Shadley Scholarship application.
Deadline to apply for scholarship is April 1, 2026.
Please submit your entry to either our Greenup or Toledo branch locations.
We are excited to announce that the GROWMARK Foundation Scholarship is now open, providing an opportunity for deserving students to pursue their academic goals in agriculture and business-related fields!
Application Period: February 2nd to March 31st
Total Scholarships:
- (55) $2,000 scholarships
- 20 Agriculture Scholarships (Bachelor’s Degree)
- 20 Agriculture Scholarships (Associate’s Degree or Certification)
- 15 Business Scholarships (Bachelor’s Degree)
Eligibility Criteria:
- High School Senior or Continuing Student
- Enrolled at a university, community college, or technical school for Fall 2026 in the United States or Ontario, Canada
- Pursuing an agriculture or business-related degree/certificate
Application Link: View Details
Previous recipients are not eligible to apply.
Current GROWMARK employees are not eligible to apply.
The PCNI Scholarship 2026 is a $2500 unrestricted scholarship for Illinois LGBTQ+ undergraduate, graduate and continuing students from 17 to 28 years of age with the purpose of encouraging LGBTQ+ people to continue their educational and career aspirations after high school. All responses are confidential.
The student must be a:
- Member of the LGBTQ+ Community
- Senior in High School
- State of Illinois Resident
- Accepted to the Post Secondary Institution of their choosing
- Undergraduate,
- Graduate or
- Continuing Education student
- Ages 17 to 28 years of age
Open to Any Major, minimum GPA not required, FAFSA not required, DREAMers welcome
Promotion begins 2/1/26 and will continue through numerous and varied outlets
Online Applications will be accepted 2/1/26 through 4/15/26
Scholarships will be awarded by 5/15/26
The PCNI Scholarship 2026 is made possible by a generous grant from the PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois.
This application will close after April 15th, 2026.
Safe. Celebrated. Empowered. Loved
“PFLAG is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, education, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. PFLAG is there for every parent seeking to affirm their LGBTQ+ child, every LGBTQ+ person needing support, and every ally looking for more ways to education themselves on issues that affect the LGTBQ+ community.” – Suzanne Manford Swan, daughter of PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford
If you have any questions, please contact info@pflagillinois.org
Access more information and the application by scanning or going here: https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/program/PFLAGILScholarship2026
The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association announces it will be awarding over $58,000 in college scholarships, throughout the State of Illinois, to students wishing to pursue higher education during the 2026-2027 academic year. The scholarships are to be applied to tuition, books, and fees only. The student must be enrolled full-time at a certified institution of higher learning. Online learning is also acceptable.
Effingham County Sheriff Paul F. Kuhns, will be awarding one scholarship in the amount of $500.00.
There will be no restriction on any applicant by reason of race, age, creed, color, sex or national origin. The only limitations are as follows:
- Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents
- Students must be enrolled as a full-time student during the 2026-2027 school year (excluding summer session).
Applications are now available at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office (101 N. Fourth Street, Suite 101, Effingham, IL), via the link below, or on the ISA Website https://www.ilsheriff.org/youth-2/. Students must complete the application, answer the essay question, and return all documentation to the Sheriff’s Office in their permanent county of residence by March 13, 2026 (must be postmarked by this date). A directory of Sheriffs’ offices is available on the ISA website at https://www.ilsheriff.org/sheriffs-directory/. For more information, please contact your local Sheriff’s Office, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, high school advising center, or college financial aid office.
Skid Tracks Depot Annual Scholarship
Skid Tracks Depot is proud to support the next generation of professionals in the construction and farming industries. We are offering a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded annually to a deserving student pursuing a career in these essential fields.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply, you must:
✔ Be enrolled at Lake Land College
✔ Be an incoming or current college/university student.
✔ The recipient must have a C or better cumulative GPA at the time of application.
✔ Be pursuing a career in the construction or farming industries.
How to Apply
To be considered for the scholarship, please submit an essay on a provided prompt. Send your essay and an email to scholarship@skidtracksdepot.com with the subject “Skid Tracks Depot Scholarship.”
A personal essay explaining how the student embodies the value of “service above self.”
Two (2) letters of recommendation.
Proof of admission to Lake Land College.
We look forward to supporting students who are passionate about making an impact in the construction and farming industries. Best of luck!
Need more information? View Skid Tracks Depot website
The Scholarship application will be open from January 20, 2026, through March 17, 2026.
Questions?
Call Kristen Bertrand at 217-342-5413 or email kristen@southeasternillinois.org.
Apply for any of the scholarships below through our application portal
ACHS Baseball Scholarship
Arland D. Williams, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Bruce V. Penwell, Jr. Nursing Scholarship
Captain R. Dean & Mary E. Postlewaite Scholarship
Casey Industries Scholarship
Croft Brothers Challenge Scholarship
Daily Farm Scholarship
Daisy H. Mason Scholarship
Del Willison Scholarship
Delbert E. Facklam and Maradyl T. Hughes Facklam Scholarship
Diane Siemer Scholarship
Dieterich American Legion Scholarship
Dieterich American Legion Trades Scholarship
Dieterich Community Education Scholarship
Eagle Country Water Works Jasper CEO Scholarship
Elizabeth Ann Weidner Memorial Scholarship
George Wilson Bauer Scholarship
Harry L., John L., and Catherine H Smysor Scholarship
Hazel York Scholarship
Heartland Beacon Scholarship
Jack Graham Scholarship
Kenneth Diehl Scholarship
Lebovitz Lively Arts Scholarship
Lou and Nancy Kincaid Family Full Armor Scholarship
Lou and Nancy Kincaid Family North Clay Scholarship
Mattoon High School Alumni Scholarship
Moehle Family Scholarship
Randy Lee, MD Health Profession Scholarship
Ray, Mary, and Tim Niebrugge Scholarship
Roy Robson and Roma Jackson Nursing Scholarship
The Effingham County Chamber Community Scholarship
Thomas J. Epplin Health Profession Scholarship
William, Agnes, & Elizabeth Burgess (Osborne) Memorial Scholarship
The Waldo E Honn and Son Scholarship was established by Gene Honn in honor his father, Waldo Honn, who farmed in the Oakland and Isabel area. The scholarship is funded by Gene, a 1968 graduate of Oakland High School, and administered by the Oakland Hindsboro Charitable Foundation.
The $1000 scholarship is awarded to an OHS senior planning to attend Lake Land College or OHS graduate currently enrolled at Lake Land College. Preference will be given to students in agriculture related study, or technical career trade program. Volunteerism in school and community organizations is encouraged. Half of the scholarship will be awarded for the fall semester and half for the spring semester.
Application Requirements:
- All responses except signatures must be typewritten. Hand-written applications are not accepted.
- In an approximately 300-400 word essay,
- describe your interest and enthusiasm for a career in agriculture, agriculture related field, or technical career trade program, and
- the agriculture program you plan to attend, and
- describe your career goals.
- Provide an official school transcript.
- Provide a letter of recommendation from a supervisor, faculty member, or community member who knows you well and knows your career plans. Recommendations from family members are not accepted.
- Sign and return the signature page with your essay, transcript, and letter of recommendation.
- Return the completed application by March 31.
- Mail the application to: OHCF, P.O. Box 331, Oakland IL 61943 by March 30.
Jack Shaffer Educational Fund: Any member of the Arcola Community who may prove the need to meet educational expenses.
Mattoon Chamber Charitable Corporation Scholarship: High school seniors living in the Mattoon school district attending any traditional or vocational school.
Jacob and Clara Mae Stump Memorial Scholarship Fund: Mattoon or Charleston High School graduates attending an Illinois tax-supported school (public only).
Stephen Dexter and Emily Tipton Dole Scholarship Trust: Any area high school graduate from the following counties: Coles, Clark, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, or Shelby who are attending any branch of the University of Illinois. Preference is given to Ag students, but all majors may apply.
Florence Ramsey Memorial Scholarship: Mattoon High School graduates attending an Illinois tax-supported school (public only).
Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3438: Any area student with a parent or grandparent in good standing with the Mattoon Fraternal Order of Eagles #3438 (or Auxiliary)—no high school restrictions.
Bill Boyd Memorial Scholarship Fund: Any area high school graduate from the following counties: Coles, Cumberland, or Moultrie who are continuing athletic participation.
Mattoon V.F.W. Post #4325: Any area student with a parent or grandparent in good standing with the Mattoon VFW Post #4325 (or Auxiliary)—no high school restrictions.
Charlie Brown Scholarship Fund: Any area high school graduate attending Lake Land College for Automotive.