SCHOLARSHIPS AND EDUCATIONAL
ENRICHMENT GRANTS

Scholarships are awarded in May of each year, except as noted below.

The Community Foundation offers a variety of scholarships and educational enrichment grants. The list below explains each award and its eligibility requirements. Click on the name of the scholarship to view application instructions and download forms where available.

College Scholarships

Scholarship: 19th Century Charitable Association Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 four-year, renewable college scholarships
Description: The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association promotes social responsibility and life-long learning as it serves our community.
Eligibility: Female graduating seniors at Oak Park and River Forest High School
Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Scholarship: Kathy McMahon Adams Scholarship Amount: $1000 college scholarships Description: The Kathy McMahon Adams Fund provides college scholarships to graduates of Ascension School in Oak Park, or parishioners of Ascension Church. Special consideration is given students considering the teaching profession. Eligibility: Open to graduates of Ascension School or Ascension Church parishioners. (teaching focus receives extra consideration) Applications available May 15 Application Deadline: July 1, 2012

Scholarship: Bolin-Cooper Scholarship
Amount: $1,200 four-year, renewable college scholarship
Description: The Bolin-Cooper scholarship honors the memory of former Hockey Club players Kevin Bolin, who died in 2001, and John Cooper, who died in 1979.
Eligibility: Open to members of the Oak Park-River Forest Hockey Club.
Application Deadline: Contact the OPRFHS Hockey Club

Scholarship: Catherine Devereux Brandstrader Scholarship Amount: $1,000 college scholarship. Description: Mrs. Brandstrader's grandchildren established this scholarship to honor their grandmother who raised eight children with her husband Frederick in Oak Park. All three sons attended college, but the family did not have the funds to send their daughters. Eligibility: Female graduating senior from Oak Park and River Forest, Fenwick or Trinity High Schools and who is also from a large family. Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Scholarship: Chicago Musical Arts Club Scholarship Amount: $600 college scholarship Description: The Chicago Musical Arts Club Fund provides a scholarship each year to a student or students nominated in alternating years by the Merit Music School and the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Eligibility: Students at Merit Music School or the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Application Deadline: December 1, 2011

Scholarship: Farr Brothers Technical Scholarship (Rotary Club)
Amount: $1,000 technical school scholarship
Description: The Oak Park-River Forest Rotary club was founded in 1919 and is dedicated to the Rotary mission of service above self.
Eligibility: Person entering or completing training in a vocation, trade, or other than a four-year college program. Resident of Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Elmwood Park or Austin.
Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Scholarship: Kathleen Marian Garrigan Leadership Award
Amount: $1,000 award to individuals between the ages of 17-25 to participate in a domestic community service project.
Description: The Kathleen Marian Garrigan Leadership award was established to commemorate the life of Kathleen Garrigan and inspire individuals to participate in domestic service programs. Kathleen, an alumnus of Oak Park and River Forest High School and St. Joseph College, Indiana was participating in a year-long service project in Alaska at the time of her death in 2007.
Eligibility: Individuals between the ages of 17 and 25 with an uplifting attitude and a desire to serve others, one's community and one's nation. Applicants are required to complete a brief application and finalists will interview with the Kathleen Marian Garrigan Scholarship selection committee.
Application Deadline: 5:00pm February 13, 2012!

Scholarship: Bernard "Duke" Gawne Scholarship
Amount: $1,500 college scholarship
Description: The Bernard "Duke" Gawne scholarship was established in memory of Mr. Gawne, a long-time Oak Park resident whose children attended Oak Park and River Forest High School.
Eligibility: Graduating senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School.
Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Scholarship: Oak Park-River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation Scholarships
Amount: Various scholarships
Description: The Oak Park and River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation Fund provides a number of scholarships and awards to graduating seniors at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Criteria depend upon the individual scholarship awarded.
Eligibility: Students of Oak Park and River Forest High School.
Application Deadline: To Be Determined

Scholarship: Rotary Club Scholarship Amount: $1,500 college scholarship Description: The Oak Park-River Forest Rotary club was founded in 1919 and is dedicated to the Rotary mission of service above self. Eligibility: Graduating seniors who are residents of Oak Park or River Forest and are active in community service. Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Scholarship: Elizabeth Snow Memorial Scholarship Amount: $500 college scholarship Description: Elizabeth Snow was a much loved, respected and active leader in the civic and cultural life of Oak Park. Eligibility: Graduating senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School planning to pursue the study of French. Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Scholarship: John C. Swanson Scholarship
Amount: Various scholarships
Description: Named for the former superintendent of Oak Park and River Forest High School, this fund provides awards for enrichment programs for both students and staff at the high school.
Eligibility: Students and faculty of Oak Park and River Forest High School.
Application Deadline: To Be Announced

Scholarship: Tibensky Family Scholarship
Amount: $2,000 four-year renewable college scholarship
Description: The Tibensky family established this scholarship to provide mentoring and opportunities like those their family received through similar programs.
Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School students.
Application Deadline: Not available in 2012

Scholarship: William and Joyce Wartmann Scholarship Amount: $1000 college scholarship Description: Mr. Wartmann honors his mentor, art teacher Arthur Peltz, with this scholarship that encourages students that are inspired by the arts but might not have excelled otherwise academically. Eligibility: Students of Oak Park and River Forest High School, active in the arts, special consideration given to students with mid-level academic performance. Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Scholarship: Braley Family/Wood Scholarship
Amount: $1,500 college scholarships
Description: This scholarship honors long-time community leaders James and Yvonne Wood.
Eligibility: Graduating senior at Oak Park and River Forest and Geneva High Schools.
Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Educational Enrichment Grants

Scholarship:  Carlos Baldoceda Memorial Scholarship 
Amount: $1000 for programs, materials, equipment, or instruction that furthers the applicant's musical goals. The award cannot be used for high school or college tuition or fees.
Description: Carlos Baldoceda was an Oak Park resident who loved music but passed away too soon from brain tumor complications.
Eligibility: Chicago area resident, 14-25 years of age, interested in music.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2012
The Carlos Baldoceda Memorial Scholarship may be applied for online at www.carlosfund.org

Scholarship: Carlos Baldoceda Senior Music Award Amount: $1500 for programs, materials, equipment, or instruction that furthers the applicant's musical goals. The award cannot be used for high school or college tuition or fees. Description: Carlos Baldoceda was an Oak Park resident who loved music but passed away too soon from brain tumor complications. Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School Senior; overall Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above; interested in music. Application Deadline: March 16, 2012 The Carlos Baldoceda Senior Music Award may be applied for online at:carlosfund.org

Scholarship: Crystal Fund Application
 Agency Feedback Form       Applicant Feedback Form
Amount: Up to $4000 for cultural/educational travel programs
Description: The Crystal Fund was established to support grants for an extended "away from home" cultural or educational experience that provide a skill, knowledge and/or personal value as a means of support.
Eligibility: Scholarships are limited to Chicago area students ages 11 to 19 that are able to demonstrate extreme financial need and have a potential for providing leadership.
No application deadline.

Scholarship: Follett Music Awards Amount: $100 achievement awards Description: The Follet Music Award rewards achievement by music students at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Eligibility: Students nominated by Oak Park and River Forest High School faculty. Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Scholarship: Laura Southwick Award
Amount: $300-$500 awards to encourage work in the fine and applied arts
Description: This award honors the memory of Laura Southwick who loved the arts and was an Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate in 1986. For more information, please visit: http://laurasouthwick.org/
Eligibility: High School Freshmen-Juniors
Application Deadline: April 16, 2012

Scholarship: Oak Park & River Forest Rotary Club Enrichment Scholarship
Amount: Up to $4,500
Description: The Rotary Club award grants that allow students to participate in educational enrichment programs that enable them to explore new worlds, develop skills, assert their independence, grow their self-confidence, raise their expectations, broaden their horizons and return home as leaders.
Eligibility: Current resident of Oak Park or River Forest, and a freshman, sophomore or junior at Trinity, Fenwick or Oak Park & River Forest High School.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2012

Scholarship: Tom Neumann Summer Learning Scholarship Amount: Up to $6000 toward participation in an academic, cultural or travel enrichment activity between the junior and senior year of high school. Description: The Tom Neumann Memorial Fund honors Mr. Neumann's love for travel, appreciation for all types of culture and respect for the inherent worth of all people. Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School juniors. Application Deadline: March 1, 2012

Scholarship: Tibensky Academic Enrichment Award
Amount: Up to $2,500 enrichment scholarship
Description: The Tibensky family established this scholarship to provide mentoring and opportunities like those their family received through other programs.
Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School students
Application Deadline: December 1, 2011

Professional Development Grants

Scholarship: James A. Gates Oak Park District 97 Teacher Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 loan repayment
Description: This grant is awarded annually to a teacher who aspires to positively affect the futures of their students, embodies a worthy role model for their colleagues, and enhances the quality and the reputation of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.
Eligibility: Certified teachers in their first or second year of teaching in Oak Park Elementary School District 97.
Application Deadline: April 15, 2012

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