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By Neil Doyle
BLOOMINGTON – High school students from McLean County who are admitted to Illinois Wesleyan University are now guaranteed a total scholarship package of at least $30,000 a year.
The McLean County Scholarship was created by IWU last year to entice local students to stay close to home.
The Illinois Wesleyan Associates, a group of business and community leaders, have raised more than $1.1 million over the past two years, enabling the annual award to increase by $3,000, according to a news release Tuesday. The scholarship will go from $27,000 to $30,000, or $120,000 over four years.
“It is fitting that our community leaders of today are helping make it possible for the leaders of tomorrow to attend and flourish at Illinois Wesleyan,” said IWU President Georgia Nugent.
This year, 42 incoming McLean County students enrolled at the university, a 56% increase from 27 local students in 2017.
Seniors from 13 McLean County high schools are eligible for the scholarship; Bloomington, Central Catholic, Normal Community, Normal West, University High School, Olympia, Ridgeview, Tri-Valley, LeRoy, Lexington, Heyworth, Calvary Christian, and Cornerstone Christian Academy.
Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]