Scholarship Recipients
The Community Foundation for McHenry County offers scholarships to students seeking to advance their education. Each Scholarship Fund was created by members of the McHenry County community and designated for a certain cause, school or region.
The Foundation is pleased to announce our 2025 scholarship recipients.
Cooney Scholarship
Henry Bonnet - Marian Central Catholic High School
Don Penza Athletic Scholarship
Evan Brubaker - Marian Central Catholic High School
Sabrina Noon - Marian Central Catholic High School
Kristina Emerson - Marian Central Catholic High School
Emily Banuelos-Gamboa - Marian Central Catholic High School
Yanely Banuelos-Gamboa - Marian Central Catholic High School
Jake Arndt Memorial Scholarship
Kendra Heidtke - Woodstock High School
Keira Bogott - Woodstock High School
Noah Rodriguez - Woodstock High School
Jennifer Samson Memorial Scholarship
Corey Atkinson - Crystal Lake Central High School
Joe Carnes Scholarship
Macie Coffey - Crystal Lake South High School
LeAnn Golembiewski Memorial Scholarship
Nina Notaro - Marian Central Catholic High School
Lorna D. Rowland Scholarship
Ashley Osborne - Wauconda High School
Mariana Szczesny Scholarship
Kassandra Nestle - Jacobs High School
Mykaela Wallen - Crystal Lake Central High School
Patricia McNamara Scholarship
Kirsten Sheldon - Cary-Grove High School
Corinne Goodall - Cary-Grove High School
Mary Michaelis - Cary-Grove High School
Diviany Escobar - Cary-Grove High School
Ron Bendis Memorial Scholarship
Cleus Tyler Ricafort - Woodstock High School
TC Industries, Inc. Scholarship
Lucas Winkelman - McHenry Community High School
VAC Foundation Veteran's Memorial Scholarship
Sara Kaunas - Johnsburg High School
Grace Croswell - McHenry Community High School
Woodstock Lions Club Scholarship
Annalise Wickersheim - Woodstock High School
Julia Laidig - Woodstock High School
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Allen Family Scholarship |
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Abigail Adams |
Rolling Meadows High School |
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Cooney Scholarship |
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Ireland Dunnett |
Woodstock High School |
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Don Penza Athletic Scholarship |
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Adriana Wrzos |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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Dominic Sciarrone |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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Taso Sossong |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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Vallorie Williams |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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Jennifer Samson Memorial Scholarship |
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Lily Landoch |
Huntley High School |
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Joe Carnes Scholarship |
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Angel Humphrey-Chinaka |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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LeAnn Golembiewski Memorial Scholarship |
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Stella Ross |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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Lorna D. Rowland Scholarship |
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Frida Salgado |
Wauconda High School |
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Mariana Szczesny Scholarship |
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Majeste Kyei-Amponsah |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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Emma Schuler |
Richmond-Burton High School |
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Patricia McNamara Scholarship |
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Isabella Aguilera |
Cary-Grove High School |
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Ryan Smith |
Cary-Grove High School |
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Ron Bendis Memorial Scholarship |
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Jack Flores |
Woodstock North High School |
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TC Industries, Inc. Scholarship |
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Diya Shah |
Adlai E. Stevenson High School |
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Avary Shrum |
McHenry High School - West Campus |
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VAC Veterans Memorial Scholarship |
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Avary Shrum |
McHenry High School - West Campus |
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Woodstock Lions Club Scholarship |
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Gavin Loiselle |
Woodstock High School |
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Zachary Blalock |
Woodstock North High School |
Established 2018
The Allen Family Scholarship was established in memory of Robert and Georgia Allen to assist Rolling Meadows High School graduating seniors to continue in a higher education program of their choice. This scholarship is to assist a student in achieving a two or four year degree.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Nathan Georg |
Rolling Meadows High School |
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2022 |
Abigail Adams |
Rolling Meadows High School |
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2019 |
Ashley Kuhel |
Rolling Meadows High School |
Established 2020
The Cooney Scholarship is awarded annually annually to a current or former graduate of a Woodstock, Illinois high school, either public or private. This scholarship is to assist a student(s) pursuing a two-year or four-year college degree in any area of endeavor.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Gabriella Hagen |
Woodstock North High School |
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2023 |
Braden Barrette |
Woodstock High School |
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2022 |
Ireland Dunnett |
Woodstock High School |
Established 2020
The Don Penza Athletic Scholarship is designed to support athletic students of Marian Central Catholic High School determined by FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment as in need of financial support.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Kristina Emerson |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2024 |
Colin Kowalsky |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2024 |
Kaylie Kowalsky |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2024 |
Vance Williams |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2023 |
Vance Williams |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2023 |
Adriana Wrzos |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2023 |
Adam Wrzos |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2022 |
Adriana Wrzos |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2022 |
Dominic Sciarrone |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2022 |
Taso Sossong |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2022 |
Vallorie Williams |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2021 |
Aidan Sullivan |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2021 |
Dominic Sciarrone |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2021 |
Vance Williams |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2020 |
Jasmine Stevens |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2020 |
Christian Bentancur |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2020 |
Abigail Kwasigroch |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2020 |
Nikolas Jimenez |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
Established 2011
The Erling K. Nor Education Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Erling K. Nor and the contributions he made to the community by providing college tuition assistance for educational expense. This scholarship is open to all majors and is to be used at a four year degree at college or university of the recipients choice.
RECIPIENTS
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2021 |
Caroline Norton |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2019 |
Justin Strand |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2017 |
Emily Webber |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2017 |
Tally Lalor |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2016 |
Evelyn Gonzalez |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2016 |
James LeJeune |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2015 |
Hannah Behrens |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2015 |
Madison Brown |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2014 |
Jacqueline Walters |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2014 |
Jacqueline LeJeune |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2014 |
Gabrielle Peterson |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2013 |
Eric Johnson |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2013 |
Brianna Olson |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2012 |
Kathryn Epst |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2012 |
Cristian Gonzalez Hernandez |
Alden-Hebron High School |
Established 2020
The Jennifer Samson Memorial Scholarship is awarded to assist a student in achieving a two or four-year degree in any area of the Fine Arts.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Ben Sosnowski |
Prairie Ridge High School |
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2024 |
Megan Stephens |
McHenry High School |
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2023 |
Naomi Virgil |
Crystal Lake Central High School |
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2023 |
Kyleigh Buelow |
Crystal Lake Central High School |
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2022 |
Lily Landoch |
Huntley High School |
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2021 |
Trevor Book |
Huntley High School |
Established 2010
The Joe Carnes Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Joseph Carnes and the contributions he made to the community by providing college tuition assistance for educational expenses. This scholarship is open to all majors, with preference given to applicants pursing degrees in aviation-related fields, educational fields or public/community service fields. The scholarship is to be used at a college or university of the recipient’s choice.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Viktoriya Zamkova |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2023 |
Madison Ross |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2022 |
Angel Humphrey-Chinaka |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2021 |
Jocelyn Lopez |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2020 |
Abigail Enck |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2019 |
Mairead Stotz |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2018 |
Chloe Skorija |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2017 |
Joseph Kovack |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2015 |
Alexis O'Halleran |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2014 |
Kyle Loftus |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2013 |
Erin Stump |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2012 |
Paige Schumacher |
Crystal Lake South High School |
Established 2019
The purpose of the LeAnn Golembiewski Memorial Scholarship is to support the educational pursuits of female, varsity athletes from Marian Central Catholic High School who exhibit excellence in the classroom, the playing field and the community. This scholarship is to assist a student in achieving a two year or four year degree.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Madison Kenyon |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2023 |
Maggie Schneider |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2022 |
Stella Ross |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
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2020 |
Claudia Zuwala |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
Established 2018
The Lorna D. Rowland Scholarship was established to honor Lorna Rowland and the contributions she has made to the community. The purpose of this scholarship is to support female graduates interested in pursuing a college degree in social sciences and/or social issues.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Sophia Khobdeh |
Wauconda High School |
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2022 |
Frida Salgado |
Wauconda High School |
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2020 |
Karly Pikel |
Wauconda High School |
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2019 |
Isabella Gmitrovic |
Wauconda High School |
Established 2013
The Mariana Szczesny Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Mariana Szczesny and is intended to assist McHenry County high school graduating seniors to continue in a higher education program of their choice. This scholarship is open to all majors, for students enrolled in a four-year bachelor’s program, a two-year associates program, or a vocational/technical school.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Matilda Guerrerop |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2024 |
Grace Hosford |
McHenry High School |
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2023 |
Grace Moore |
Crystal Lake Central High School |
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2023 |
Braden Barrette |
Woodstock High School |
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2022 |
Majeste Kyei-Amponsah |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2022 |
Emma Schuler |
Richmond-Burton High School |
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2021 |
Mikayla Borrowdale |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2021 |
Renee Crawley |
Prairie Ridge High School |
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2021 |
Viviana Galindo |
Crystal Lake Central High School |
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2020 |
Casandra Rausch |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2020 |
Manas Trivedi |
Richmond-Burton Community High School |
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2019 |
Samantha Carr |
Prairie Ridge High School |
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2019 |
Halie Collins |
Prairie Ridge High School |
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2019 |
Hannah Faber |
Marengo High School |
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2019 |
Maya Keesey |
McHenry High School |
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2019 |
Mary Lazzaro |
Jacobs High School |
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2018 |
Patrick Nasta |
Prairie Ridge High School |
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2018 |
Molly Jean Stotz |
Crystal Lake South High School |
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2017 |
Grace Mussell |
Marengo Community High School |
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2017 |
Abigail Mitchell |
Richmond-Burton High School |
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2016 |
Spencer Stumpff |
Woodstock High School |
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2015 |
Cody Nelson |
Alden-Hebron High School |
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2015 |
Alexis Olson |
Marengo Community High School |
|
2014 |
Omar Cazares |
McHenry High School - West |
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2014 |
Megan Wilson |
Huntley High School |
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2014 |
Kathryn Melanouris |
Richmond-Burton High School |
|
2014 |
Dakota Becofske |
Crystal Lake South High School |
Established 2017
The Patricia McNamara Scholarship was established to honor Patti McNamara, who would want the scholarship to acknowledge and reward students who exhibit a strong work ethic, dedication to the community and a love of life.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Dean Kearns |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2024 |
Eleanore Neyfeldt |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2024 |
Peter Ptaszek |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2023 |
Andrea Angeles |
Cary-Grove Community High School |
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2022 |
Isabella Aguilera |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2022 |
Ryan Smith |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2021 |
Julia Vogt |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2021 |
Katelyn O'Laughlin |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2020 |
Sean McAlpine |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2020 |
Marta Dixon Kola |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2020 |
Cody Berger |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2020 |
Cole Foss |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2020 |
Quenan LeBlanc |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2019 |
Jennifer Apitz |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2019 |
Evan Eckheart |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2019 |
Kimberly Farr |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2019 |
Greg Heineman |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2018 |
John Glienke |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2018 |
Heidi Epp |
Cary-Grove High School |
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2018 |
Leigh Rembacz |
Cary-Grove High School |
|
2018 |
Ricky Ayala |
Cary-Grove High School |
Established 2019
The Ron Bendis Scholarship was established to honor the career and contributions Ron Bendis made to the Woodstock High School community and to individuals needing significant academic or personal support in order to graduate and pursue future opportunities.
RECIPIENTS
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2024 |
Julianna LopezGodinez |
Woodstock High School |
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2023 |
Thea Raczon |
Woodstock High School |
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2022 |
Jack Flores |
Woodstock High School |
|
2021 |
Amareon Allen |
Woodstock High School |
Established 2013
The purpose of the TC Industries, Inc. Scholarship is to assist dependent children of current employees of TC Industries, Inc.
RECIPIENTS
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2023 |
Daniel Reed |
Warren Township High School |
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2022 |
Diya Shah |
Adlai E. Stevenson High School |
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2022 |
Avary Shrum |
McHenry High School - West Campus |
|
2021 |
Gloria-Marianna Escobar |
University Of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
|
2020 |
Maitri Shah |
Adlai E. Stevenson High School |
|
2020 |
Morgan Heinisch |
Sycamore High School |
|
2019 |
Claudia Alanis |
Woodstock North High School |
|
2018 |
Daniela Garcia-Gonzalez |
Harvard High School |
|
2017 |
Allyson Kamrat |
McHenry High School - East |
|
2016 |
Katelynn Russ |
Crystal Lake South High School |
|
2016 |
Branden Kmetz |
Woodstock North High School |
|
2015 |
Alma Diaz |
University of Illinois at Chicago |
|
2015 |
Amy Walter |
Buffalo Grove High School |
|
2014 |
Marissa Gomez |
Woodstock High School |
|
2013 |
Krysta Walter |
Buffalo Grove High School |
|
2013 |
Emily Daniel |
Prairie Ridge High School |
Established 2015
The purpose of the VAC Veterans Memorial Scholarship is to assist the children or grandchildren of veterans with the higher education program of their choice.
RECIPIENTS
|
2024 |
Katelyn Duber |
Harvard High School |
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2024 |
Zachary Rogers |
Huntley High School |
|
2023 |
Holly Maye |
McHenry High School |
|
2023 |
Jonathan Snelgrove |
Marengo High School |
|
2022 |
Avary Shrum |
McHenry High School - West Campus |
|
2021 |
Grace Rogers |
Prairie Ridge High School |
|
2021 |
Paloma Gasparov |
Prairie Ridge High School |
|
2021 |
Thomas Landt |
Crystal Lake Central High School |
|
2020 |
Casandra Rausch |
Crystal Lake South High School |
|
2020 |
Megan Lowe |
Crystal Lake South High School |
|
2020 |
Katelyn Rokusek |
Crystal Lake South High School |
|
2019 |
Halie Collins |
Prairie Ridge High School |
|
2019 |
Brooklyn Crowley |
Woodstock High School |
|
2019 |
William Epperson |
Crystal Lake South High School |
|
2019 |
Sarah Howdeshell |
Cary-Grove High School |
|
2019 |
Donald Scott |
Keller Central High |
|
2018 |
Sophia Wilson Rogers |
Carleton College |
|
2018 |
Gabriela Schweizer |
Crystal Lake Central HS |
|
2018 |
Cameron Norton |
Alden-Hebron High School |
|
2018 |
Mia Widhalm |
Crystal Lake Central High School |
|
2017 |
Sophia Wilson Rogers |
Woodstock High School |
|
2017 |
Emily Mueller |
Crystal Lake South High School |
|
2017 |
Shannon Fetzner |
Woodstock High School |
|
2017 |
Alec Molve |
Woodstock North High School |
|
2016 |
Alexandra Grossman |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
|
2016 |
Noah Dehn Franklin |
Woodstock High School |
Established 2005
The primary purpose of the Woodstock Lion's Club Scholarship is to provide support for educational expenses of individuals who reside within the boundaries of Woodstock Community Unit School District 200, comprising of Woodstock, Illinois and the immediately surrounding unincorporated area.
RECIPIENTS
|
2024 |
Maggie Adams |
Woodstock High School |
|
2024 |
Kamila Kay |
Woodstock High School |
|
2024 |
Emilia Markuson |
Woodstock North High School |
|
2024 |
Maricarmen Paredes |
Woodstock High School |
|
2024 |
Renee Schleutermann |
Woodstock High School |
|
2024 |
Cohen Shutt |
Woodstock High School |
|
2023 |
Sophia Meiners |
Woodstock North High School |
|
2023 |
Braden Barrette |
Woodstock High School |
|
2022 |
Gavin Loiselle |
Woodstock High School |
|
2022 |
Zachary Blalock |
Woodstock North High School |
|
2021 |
Meghan McCann |
Woodstock North High School |
|
2016 |
Fernando Orozco |
Woodstock HS |
|
2016 |
Timothy Kempster |
Woodstock North HS |
|
2016 |
Alondra Flores |
Woodstock HS |
|
2015 |
Kennedy Beck |
Marian Central Catholic High School |
|
2015 |
Clarissa Ihssen |
Woodstock HS |
|
2015 |
Stephanie Olivar |
Woodstock North HS |
|
2014 |
Kristin Brenner |
Woodstock North HS |
|
2013 |
Anne-Marie Elsinger |
Marian Central Catholic HS |
|
2013 |
Kinsey Weikel |
Woodstock North HS |
|
2013 |
Samantha Reis |
Woodstock North HS |
Manas Trivedi, 2020 Mariana Szczesny Scholarship
I am writing to express my gratitude for receiving the Mariana Szczesney Scholarship. I was astonished when I received your email just a few days ago and I am deeply appreciative of the Community Foundation's support.
I'm going to be going to UC Berkeley this fall, majoring in EECS. This scholarship really helps relieve some of the financial stressors I have. With the UC system not providing much aid to out of state students, I knew I would have to work and take out loans if I were to follow my dreams of attending. This scholarship helps ease my burden and I'll forever be grateful. After college, I am planning on pursuing a career in software engineering, working with autonomous vehicles.
Thank you again for choosing me as the receipt of the Mariana Szczesney scholarship. With everything going on today, this is a ray of bright light! -Manas Trivedi, Richmond, IL
Abigail Enck, 2020 Joe Carnes Scholarship
Emily Webber, 2017 Erling K. Nor Education Scholarship
Emily W. is currently a junior at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. She is studying Movement Science with the goal of becoming a Physical Therapist. Emily is a past recipient of the Erling K. Nor Education Fund Scholarship.
Since her freshman year, Emily has been part of U-M’s Dance Marathon club, which raises funds and awareness for a local pediatric rehab program. The club is the biggest student-run nonprofit in Michigan, and Emily loves being part of it.
Along with helping to host events like accessible tree climbing therapy and adaptive martial arts, Emily is on the leadership committee for the club’s largest fundraiser of the year, a 24-hour dance marathon. “It’s given me a lot of professional experience in connecting with sponsors and vendors,” Emily explains about her role as the Event Partnership Chair.
Emily also volunteers weekly assisting with pediatric care. She says, “The kids are so cool. They’re so cute.”
Emily is a graduate of Alden-Hebron High School. During her time there, she volunteered at the rehab department of Northwestern Medicine in McHenry, as well as volunteering with elementary and middle-school basketball camps in Hebron.
The Community Foundation for McHenry County is proud to support incredible students from our community, like Emily, through our scholarship program. Way to go, Emily!