The Illinois State Alumni Association and the groups that work in conjunction with the Association provide scholarship opportunities for current and future Redbirds of Illinois State University.
Alumni Association & Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarships
- The Student Alumni Council/Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship is awarded to a limited number of sons, daughters, siblings, or grandchildren of Illinois State University graduates as a way to ease strain of college expenses and recognize legacy families continuing the Illinois State tradition. The nonrenewable scholarship was made possible by a donation from the family of Marian H. Dean, Class of 1927, and contributions from Student Alumni Council and the Illinois State Alumni Association.
- The Alumni Association Scholarship was made possible thanks to an initiative launched by the Alumni Association in 2009. The scholarship addresses the accessibility of undergraduate education to students who exhibit outstanding academic achievement and leadership, and who demonstrate a financial need. Additional consideration is given to students whose immediate family members have attended or graduate from Illinois State University.
Those interested in applying for either of these scholarships must complete an online application and essay questions as well as have two letters of recommendation submitted by December 11, 2015, at 4:30 p.m.
Black Colleagues Association Scholarships
There are also several scholarships awarded by the Illinois State University Black Colleagues Association (ISUBCA), a chartered affinity network of the Alumni Association.
- Judge Russel DeBow Scholarship is a $1,000 award named after Judge DeBow, one of the charter members of ISUBCA and an instrumental figure in writing the original constitution and by-laws for the network. Students are also considered for book scholarships through the President’s Office and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
- Vincent Lionel Davis Scholarship is a $1,000 award established by the Davis family in memory of Vincent Lionel Davis, a 1981 graduate of Illinois State University who died in the line of duty as an employee of the Dallas fire department.
- Commemorative Public Service Scholarship is a $1,000 award established by alumnae who were initiated into the Theta Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Illinois State University, in memory of Carol Lynn Johnson. Carol, a 1979 graduate of Illinois State University, passed away in 2004 after a brave and lengthy battle with breast cancer.
- Lewis and Mills Endowed Scholarship was established in 2014 by Alfred Lewis ’90 and Stephen Mills ’90 whose wives both succumbed to personal battles with cancer. This scholarship will support sophomore, junior, or senior students with a major within the College of Business or College of Arts and Science. Preference will be given to African-Americans and to students diagnosed with cancer or those who have parents that succumbed to cancer or who are cancer survivors.
Those interested in applying for any of the ISUBCA scholarships must complete an online application and essay questions as well as have two letters of recommendation submitted by January 8, 2016, at 4:30 p.m.
Additional questions can be sent to Illinois State University Alumni Relations.
